List of Presidents of Nauru: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Nauru from 1968 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Nauru, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Nauru: David Adeang (in office since 2023). Nauru (officially Naoero) is a one-chamber parliamentary republic in which the president is both head of state and head of government, elected by Parliament for up to three years. Because governments changed so often, this page groups each person's separate terms into one entry. Parliament approved a change of the country's name to Naoero in May 2026, with a referendum still to come.

Presidents of Nauru in order, with years in office

Hammer DeRoburt

Served: 1968–1976, 1978–1989

Independence leader and first president from 1968; he returned in May 1978 and held office, with two brief interruptions in 1986, until August 1989. He died in 1992.

Bernard Dowiyogo

Served: 1976–1978, 1989–1995, 1996, 1998–1999, 2000–2001, 2003

Held the presidency on seven separate occasions, more than anyone else; he died in office in March 2003.

Lagumot Harris

Served: 1978, 1995–1996

President for 26 days in 1978 and again from November 1995 to November 1996.

Kennan Adeang

Served: 1986, 1996

President twice for short spells in 1986 (14 and 10 days) and again from 26 November to 19 December 1996.

Kenas Aroi

Served: 1989

President from 17 August to 12 December 1989, when Bernard Dowiyogo took over.

Ruben Kun

Served: 1996–1997

President from 19 December 1996 to 13 February 1997.

Kinza Clodumar

Served: 1997–1998

President from 13 February 1997 to 18 June 1998.

René Harris

Served: 1999–2000, 2001–2003, 2003–2004

President in three main periods between 1999 and 2004, plus one day on 17 January 2003; he died in 2008.

Derog Gioura

Served: 2003

Became acting president when Dowiyogo died on 9 March 2003 and served as president until 29 May 2003.

Ludwig Scotty

Served: 2003, 2004–2007

Served from May to August 2003 and again from June 2004 to December 2007; he died in February 2026.

Marcus Stephen

Served: 2007–2011

Former weightlifting champion; president from 19 December 2007 until 10 November 2011.

Freddie Pitcher

Served: 2011

President for five days, from 10 to 15 November 2011.

Sprent Dabwido

Served: 2011–2013

President from 15 November 2011 to 11 June 2013; he died in 2019.

Baron Waqa

Served: 2013–2019

Elected in June 2013 and re-elected in 2016; he served until August 2019.

Lionel Aingimea

Served: 2019–2022

Elected in August 2019 and replaced in September 2022; he became Nauru's first vice president in April 2026.

Russ Kun

Served: 2022–2023

Elected on 29 September 2022 and served until October 2023.

David Adeang

Served: 2023–present

Elected by Parliament on 30 October 2023 by ten votes to eight and re-elected unopposed after the October 2025 election.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Nauru

Who is the current president of Nauru?

The current president of Nauru is David Adeang, in office since 2023. Nauru (officially Naoero) is a one-chamber parliamentary republic in which the president is both head of state and head of government, elected by Parliament for up to three years. Because governments changed so often, this page groups each person's separate terms into one entry. Parliament approved a change of the country's name to Naoero in May 2026, with a referendum still to come.

Who were the previous presidents of Nauru?

The presidents and heads of state of Nauru listed on this page, in order, are: Hammer DeRoburt, Bernard Dowiyogo, Lagumot Harris, Kennan Adeang, Kenas Aroi, Ruben Kun, Kinza Clodumar, René Harris, Derog Gioura, Ludwig Scotty, Marcus Stephen, Freddie Pitcher, Sprent Dabwido, Baron Waqa, Lionel Aingimea, Russ Kun, David Adeang.

Who was the first president of Nauru?

Hammer DeRoburt was the first president of Nauru, in office 1968–1976, 1978–1989.

Sources: Wikipedia, President of Nauru; Archontology.org; RNZ, PINA and Nauru government reports on Adeang's October 2025 re-election and 2026 events (checked Nov 2026). Complete list of presidents since 1968, with each person's terms grouped in one entry.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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