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, and came into force on
24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in
1978.
Geography ::Northern Mariana Islands
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: 464 sq km
country comparison to the world: 196
land:
464 sq km
water:
0 sq km
note:consists of 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
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: 13.04%
permanent crops:
4.35%
other:
82.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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
People ::Northern Mariana Islands
Population:
48,317 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 6,746/female 5,853)
15-64 years:
70.5% (male 15,701/female 18,383)
65 years and over:
3.4% (male 784/female 850) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.3 years
male:
29.9 years
female:
29.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-5.567% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233
Birth rate:
21.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
3.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
-73.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Urbanization:
urban population: 91% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.92 male(s)/female
total population:
0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 181
male:
6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.9 years
country comparison to the world: 64
male:
74.27 years
female:
79.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective:
NA
Ethnic groups:
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages:
Philippine languages
24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific
island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96% (1980 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Northern Mariana Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
abbreviation:
CNMI
former:
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
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:
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference:
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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:
Constitution of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978;
Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
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 Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government:
Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 1 May 2009)
cabinet:
the
cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal departments under the
executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate; other members include special assistants to the
governor and office heads appointed by and reporting directly to the
governor
elections:
under
the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in
elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in
the Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections;
governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular
vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last
held on 7 November 2009 (run-off election was held on 23 November 2009)
election results:
percent
of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL reelected with 51.4% over Heinz
HOFSCHNEIDER (48.6%) in the run-off election held on 23 November 2009
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature
consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections:
Senate
- last held on 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009);
House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2007 (next to be held
in November 2009)
election results:
Senate
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3,
Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3
note:the
Northern Mariana Islands elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House
of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be
held in November 2010); seats by party - independent 1
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
SPC, UPU
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
Economy ::Northern Mariana Islands
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 the employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers
and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$900 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
GDP (official exchange rate):
$633.4 million (2000)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,500 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Labor force:
38,450 total indigenous labor force; 28,717 foreign workers (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Unemployment rate:
8% (2005 est.)
3.9% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $193 million
expenditures:
$223 million (FY01/02 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 11
Agriculture - products:
vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry and eggs, fish and aquaculture products
