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

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Background:


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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
Total: 464 km²
Land: 464 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 1,482 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain: the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands

Elevation
Highest point: Agrihan Volcano 965 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 6.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 65.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 27.9% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 1 km² (2012)

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
Distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan: 51,295 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: -0.35% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: NA (US citizens)
Adjective: NA

Ethnic groups: Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.)

Languages: Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1% (includes Carolinian (official), Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.)

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.61% (male 6,232/female 5,367)
15-64 years: 67.95% (male 18,367/female 16,490)
65 years and over: 9.43% (2023 est.) (male 2,560/female 2,279)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 46
Youth dependency ratio: 31.7
Elderly dependency ratio: 14.3
Potential support ratio: 7 (2021)

Median age
Total: 32.3 years (2023 est.)
Male: 31.7 years
Female: 33.3 years

Population growth rate: -0.35% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 15.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -13.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan

Urbanization
Urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018)

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
At birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 74.8 years
Female: 79.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.59 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: NA

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Abbreviation: CNMI
Etymology: formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria

Government type: a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Capital
Name: Saipan
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the entire island of Saipan is organized as a single municipality and serves as the capital; according to legend, when the first native voyagers arrived in their outrigger canoes they found an uninhabited island; to them it was like an empty voyage, so they named the island saay meaning "a voyage," and peel meaning "empty"; over time Saaypeel - "island of the empty voyage" - became 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 4 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
History: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)
Amendments: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote; amended several times, last in 2012

Legal system: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United States

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)
Head of government: Governor Arnold PALACIOS (since 9 January 2023); Lieutenant Governor David APATANG (since 9 January 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate
Elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in 2,026)
Election results: percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round (held on 25 November 2022); percent of vote - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the CNMI Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court
Judge selection and term of office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms
Subordinate courts: Superior Court

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation
From the us embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)   

Flag description: blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a mwáár or head lei (wreath); blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the Chamorro latte stone and the Carolinian mwáár (head lei) represent elements of Marianas culture; the mwáár is composed of the flowers from four flowering plants: flores mayo (Plumeria), ylang-ylang or langilang (Cananga odorata), angagha or peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), and teibwo or Pacific basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

National symbols: latte stone; national colors: blue, white

National anthem
Name: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea)
Lyrics/music: Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN
Note: adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as "Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the US, in addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

National heritage


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Economy overview: US Pacific island commonwealth economy; growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination; hit hard by 2018 typhoon; dependent on energy imports; exempt from some US labor and immigration laws; longstanding garment production

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy; data are in 2013 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 43.1% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 28.9% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: (2016 est.) NA
Exports of goods and services: 73.6% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -71.9% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.7% (2016)
Industry: 58.1% (2016 est.)
Services: 40.2% (2016)

Agriculture products: vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products

Industries: tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 27,970 (2010 est.)
Note: includes foreign workers

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $389.6 million (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $344 million (2015 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: 3.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 31.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Public debt: 7.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:

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:
Partners: South Korea 73%, Peru 5% (2019)
Commodities: scrap iron, refined petroleum, scrap copper, hydraulic engines, integrated circuits, peas, scrap aluminum (2021)

Imports:
Partners: Hong Kong 29%, Japan 29%, Singapore 16%, South Korea 9% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, jewelry (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 20,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 20,474 (2004 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2004)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)

Internet
Country code: .mp
Users total: 12,299 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 25.1% (2021 est.)

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: 5 (2021)
With paved runways: 3
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 2
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports: 1 (2021)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 536 km (2008)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Saipan, Tinian, Rota


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Disputes international: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs