Map of Northern Mariana Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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.


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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 reference: Oceania

Area
Comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1482 km

Maritime claims

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

Natural resources: arable land: fish

Land use

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

Geography
Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean


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Population: 71,912 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 3.75% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

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 profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.75% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 20.86 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 2.41 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 19.06 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 5.79 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

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

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

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

Executive branch

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)

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

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [chairman (currently vacant)]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

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

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development government operations and special programs. Since 1992 funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03 funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief source of income is the tourist industry which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts breadfruit tomatoes and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1 billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,300 (1996 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: coconuts fruits vegetables; cattle

Industries: tourism construction garments handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)
By occupation managerial: 20.5%
By occupation technical sales: 16.4%
By occupation services: 19.3%
By occupation farming: 3.1%
By occupation precision production: 13.8%
By occupation operators fabricators: 26.9%

Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.5% (1994 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1 billion (1998)
Commodities: garments
Partners: US

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: food construction equipment and materials petroleum products
Partners: US Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


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Electricity
Production: NA kWh
Consumption: NA kWh
Exports: NA kWh
Imports: NA kWh

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 15,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 1200 (1995)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 6 (1999 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs