| Northern Mariana Islands (commonwealth in political union with the US) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Northern Mariana Islands | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Northern Mariana Islands | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: | 15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area - comparative: | 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 1,482 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain: | southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: | arable land, fish

Land use: | arable land: 21% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 60%

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Environment - current issues: | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geography - note: | strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Northern Mariana Islands | People | Top of Page

Population: | 74,612 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: 23.55% (male 8,929; female 8,639) 15-64 years: 74.72% (male 26,242; female 29,509) 65 years and over: 1.73% (male 639; female 654) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 3.62% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | 20.6 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: | 2.4 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: | 18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: | 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.74 years male: 72.65 years female: 79.02 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: | 1.76 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: NA adjective: NA

Ethnic groups: | Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Religions: | Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages: | English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Dependency status: | commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type: | commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital: | Saipan

Administrative divisions: | none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence: | none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday: | Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution: | Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978

Legal system: | based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch: | chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican Party) 47%

Legislative branch: | bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 9 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2001); House of Representatives - last held 9 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 6, Democratic Party 2, Reform Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 10, Democratic Party 8 note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch: | Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders: | Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA

International organization participation: | ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Flag description: | blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Northern Mariana Islands | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $900 million (2000 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP - real growth rate: | NA%

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force: | 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)

Labor force - by occupation: | NA

Unemployment rate: | NA%

Budget: | revenues: $221 million expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7 million (1996)

Industries: | tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | NA kWh

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Agriculture - products: | coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Exports: | $NA

Exports - commodities: | garments

Exports - partners: | US

Imports: | $NA

Imports - commodities: | food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners: | US, Japan

Debt - external: | $NA

Economic aid - recipient: | extensive funding from US

Currency: | US dollar (USD)

Currency code: | USD

Exchange rates: | the US dollar is used

Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September

Northern Mariana Islands | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 21,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1,200 (1995)

Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: | NA

Television broadcast stations: | 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions: | NA

Internet country code: | .mp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Northern Mariana Islands | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 362 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1991)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.)

Airports: | 6 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Heliports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of the US

Northern Mariana Islands | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none