Nauru is the smallest member of the Commonwealth of Nations by area, covering about 21 square kilometres.
The Pacific republic joined the Commonwealth in 1968, the year it became independent. It is one of the organisation's smallest members in both territory and population, although membership includes countries on several continents and island regions.
Nauru was administered by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom under a United Nations trusteeship before independence. Its phosphate deposits later generated considerable income but also caused severe environmental damage through mining.
Tuvalu is another very small Pacific Commonwealth member and is often confused with Nauru in size comparisons. Tuvalu covers more land area than Nauru, so Nauru holds the area record within the Commonwealth.