Nauru — An Equatorial Climate
As an equatorial nation, Nauru has a hot and humid climate year-round, with balmy ocean temperatures.
Minimum temperatures hover around 25 degrees Celsius, with maximum temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius. And with a location just 42 kilometers from the equator, Nauru has minimal variation in daylight hours with an average of around 12 hours of daylight throughout the year.
Nauru’s climate is heavily influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, which can result in significant droughts, though monsoonal rains occur between December and April. This makes rainwater harvesting an essential part of providing a reliable water source for Nauruans, given the island’s lack of local streams and rivers.
Thanks to its equatorial location, Nauru does not experience tropical cyclones however it is projected to experience increasing average temperatures, including more frequent extreme heat events. Nauru’s limited supply of fertile land, which is concentrated largely in coastal areas, allows for small-scale cultivation of coconuts, passion fruit, taro, cassava and sweet potatoes.
Building climate resilience is a major priority for the Nauru Government, and underpins a range of initiatives, including its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program.