Nauru, the world's third-smallest country by population, has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, restoring the traditional local spelling and pronunciation that had previously been anglicised for the convenience of foreigners. President David Adeang said the change was intended to "more faithfully honour our nation's heritage, our language, and our identity", following approval by parliament through two required rounds of voting on a constitutional amendment.

Home to around 12,000 people, the tiny Pacific atoll will see its international country code shift from NRU to NRO, its citizens will be known as dei-Naoero rather than Nauruans, and the pronunciation will change from "Now-roo" to "Now-ero". Nauru was a German colony before being administered by Australia and gaining independence in 1968; phosphate mining brought brief prosperity in the 1970s before the economy collapsed by the 1990s, and the country now faces existential threats from rising sea levels. The United Nations, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and China have already updated their official records to reflect the new name.