Statistical information Northern Mariana Islands 1993

Northern Mariana Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: total: 477 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth)
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: 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; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)
ElevationNatural resources: arable land, fish
Land useArable land: 5% on Saipan
Permanent crops: NA%
Meadows and pastures: 19%
Forest and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 48,581 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.04% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: NA
Adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian,
Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 35.05 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during August through November)
Current issues note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.43 years
Male: 65.53 years
Female: 69.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age NA and over can read and write (1980)
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 96%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Government type: commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
ConstitutionLegal system: based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: US president; governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC
Diplomatic representationFlag 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $11,500 (1992)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables
Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%
Labor force: 7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990)
By occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $147.0 million; expenditures $127.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.)
Commodoties: manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron work
Partners: NA
Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
Commodoties: food, construction, equipment, materials
Partners: NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityProduction: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 6
Usable: 5
With permanentsurface runways: 3
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 2
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: none
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs