Independence Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Nauru, observed on January 31 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of when Nauru gained its independence in 1968.
The Republic of Nauru is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. It is the third smallest country and the smallest island nation, with a population of about 10,000.
People first inhabited Nauru island about 3000 years ago, and European contact only began in the late 18th century. The British Captain John Fearn first sight the island in 1798 and named it Pleasant Island. Europeans and whaling ships began to visit the islands regularly in the next 100 years.
In 1888, Nauru became a colony of Germany, but Australian troops captured the island in 1914. After World War I, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom administrated Nauru as a League of Nations mandate.
During World War II, Japanese troops occupied the island from 1942 to 1945, when it was liberated. The United Nations established a trusteeship in 1947, and Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom became trustees.
The Nauruans and the United Nations Trusteeship Council worked together and made Nauru self-governing in 1966. Two years after, Nauru gained its independence.
The following is the Independence Day in Nauru list from 2021 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2021 | Sunday |
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2022 | Monday |
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2023 | Tuesday |
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2024 | Wednesday |
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2025 | Friday |
| Independence Day | Jan 31, 2026 | Saturday |
Please check more public holidays in the Republic of Nauru: