diff --git a/include/openthread/instance.h b/include/openthread/instance.h
index 095db491c..b7c7dfa45 100644
--- a/include/openthread/instance.h
+++ b/include/openthread/instance.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ extern "C" {
  *
  * @note This number versions both OpenThread platform and user APIs.
  */
-#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (562)
+#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (563)
 
 /**
  * @addtogroup api-instance
diff --git a/include/openthread/nat64.h b/include/openthread/nat64.h
index bcaec32d1..aa52efe79 100644
--- a/include/openthread/nat64.h
+++ b/include/openthread/nat64.h
@@ -524,6 +524,15 @@ otError otIp4AddressFromString(const char *aString, otIp4Address *aAddress);
  */
 otError otNat64SynthesizeIp6Address(otInstance *aInstance, const otIp4Address *aIp4Address, otIp6Address *aIp6Address);
 
+/**
+ * Converts a given `otNat64State` to a human-readable string.
+ *
+ * @param[in] aState  The NAT64 state.
+ *
+ * @returns The string representation of @p aState.
+ */
+const char *otNat64StateToString(otNat64State aState);
+
 /**
  * @}
  */
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.cpp b/src/cli/cli.cpp
index f4a21e823..9c4dc4669 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -645,18 +645,11 @@ template <> otError Interpreter::Process<Cmd("nat64")>(Arg aArgs[])
      */
     else if (aArgs[0] == "state")
     {
-        static const char *const kNat64State[] = {"Disabled", "NotRunning", "Idle", "Active"};
-
-        static_assert(0 == OT_NAT64_STATE_DISABLED, "OT_NAT64_STATE_DISABLED value is incorrect");
-        static_assert(1 == OT_NAT64_STATE_NOT_RUNNING, "OT_NAT64_STATE_NOT_RUNNING value is incorrect");
-        static_assert(2 == OT_NAT64_STATE_IDLE, "OT_NAT64_STATE_IDLE value is incorrect");
-        static_assert(3 == OT_NAT64_STATE_ACTIVE, "OT_NAT64_STATE_ACTIVE value is incorrect");
-
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_BORDER_ROUTING_ENABLE
-        OutputLine("PrefixManager: %s", kNat64State[otNat64GetPrefixManagerState(GetInstancePtr())]);
+        OutputLine("PrefixManager: %s", otNat64StateToString(otNat64GetPrefixManagerState(GetInstancePtr())));
 #endif
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE
-        OutputLine("Translator: %s", kNat64State[otNat64GetTranslatorState(GetInstancePtr())]);
+        OutputLine("Translator: %s", otNat64StateToString(otNat64GetTranslatorState(GetInstancePtr())));
 #endif
     }
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE
diff --git a/src/core/api/nat64_api.cpp b/src/core/api/nat64_api.cpp
index 32f1bf6cf..c243aa983 100644
--- a/src/core/api/nat64_api.cpp
+++ b/src/core/api/nat64_api.cpp
@@ -180,3 +180,14 @@ void otIp4CidrToString(const otIp4Cidr *aCidr, char *aBuffer, uint16_t aSize)
 
     AsCoreType(aCidr).ToString(aBuffer, aSize);
 }
+
+const char *otNat64StateToString(otNat64State aState)
+{
+    const char *str = "Unknown";
+
+    VerifyOrExit(aState <= OT_NAT64_STATE_ACTIVE);
+    str = Nat64::StateToString(MapEnum(aState));
+
+exit:
+    return str;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/net/nat64_translator.cpp b/src/core/net/nat64_translator.cpp
index 347fdd655..b480bc48b 100644
--- a/src/core/net/nat64_translator.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/nat64_translator.cpp
@@ -33,15 +33,11 @@
 
 #include "nat64_translator.hpp"
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE
-
 #include "instance/instance.hpp"
 
 namespace ot {
 namespace Nat64 {
 
-RegisterLogModule("Nat64");
-
 const char *StateToString(State aState)
 {
     static const char *const kStateString[] = {
@@ -63,6 +59,10 @@ const char *StateToString(State aState)
     return kStateString[aState];
 }
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE
+
+RegisterLogModule("Nat64");
+
 Translator::Translator(Instance &aInstance)
     : InstanceLocator(aInstance)
     , mState(kStateDisabled)
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ void Translator::SetEnabled(bool aEnable)
     }
 }
 
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE
+
 } // namespace Nat64
 } // namespace ot
-
-#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NAT64_TRANSLATOR_ENABLE