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 and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

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
Rank: 197
Comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1482 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: southern islands are limestone with flat terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed elevation on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: arable land: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 6.6%
Forest: 65.5%
Other: 27.9%

Irrigated land: 1 km² (2011)

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

Geography
Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Population: 52,344 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 209
Growth rate: 2.18% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 42
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: NA
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% 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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.6%
15-24 years: 14.39%
25-54 years: 44.3%
55-64 years: 10.76%
65 years and over: 4.95% (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 32.1 years
Male: 29.6 years
Female: 33 years

Population growth rate: 2.18% (2015 est.)
Rank: 42

Birth rate: 18.32 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 99

Death rate: 3.71 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 213

Net migration rate: 7.16 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 17

Urbanization
Urban population: 89.2% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.39% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: SAIPAN (capital) 49,000 (2014)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male/female
15-24 years: 1.27 male/female
25-54 years: 0.73 male/female
55-64 years: 1.17 male/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male/female
Total population: 0.93 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.4 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 5.78 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 172

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.82 years
Male: 75.15 years
Female: 80.65 years
Rank: 65

Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 124

Drinking water source:

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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

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

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

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

National holiday: Commonwealth Day 8 January (1978)

Constitution: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement); amended several times last in 2012 (2015)

Legal system: US system applies except for customs wages immigration laws and taxation

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 Barack H. OBAMA ; Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
Head of government: Governor Eloy S. INOS ; Lieutenant Governor Ralph TORRES (since 20 February 2013)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate
Electionsappointments: 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 ; 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 4 November 2014 with a runoff on 21 November 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
Election results: Eloy S. INOS reelected governor; percent of vote in runoff - Eloy S. INOS 57% Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Republican) 43%; Ralph TORRES reelected lieutenant governor
Note: Benigno R. FITIAL was impeached by House of Representatives on 11-12 February 2013 and resigned on 20 February 2013; Eloy INOS sworn in as governor the same day

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Northern Mariana Commonwealth Legislature consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 4 November 2014 ; House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3 Republican Party 3 Democratic Party 1 independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 13 Republican Party 7
Note: the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands or CNMI ; US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the Northern Mariannas Islands Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court
Judge selection and term of office: judges of the Supreme Court of the CNMI appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and can serve another term if approved through voter 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

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 wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture

National symbols: latte stone; national colors: blue white

National anthem
Name: 'Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi'
Lyrics and 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 United States in addition to the local anthem 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is official

Economy overview: The Northern Mariana Islands' economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. In fiscal year 2013 federal grants accounted for 35.4% of the Commonwealth’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts breadfruit tomatoes and melons. The Commonwealth’s economy continued to recover in 2013. Real GDP increased 4.4% following a 2.1% gain in 2012. Economic growth in 2013 reflected increases in consumer spending and exports of services mainly spending by foreign tourists. Tourism continued to grow in 2013 after posting double-digit growth in 2012. The tourist industry employs approximately a quarter of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to the main Island of Saipan it’s political and commercial center.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy
Rank: 209

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 65

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 115

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 91.3%
Government consumption: 51.5%
Investment in fixed assets: 3.8%
Exports of goods and services: 42.2%
Imports of goods and services: 42.2%

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.7%
Industry: 2.9%
Services: 95.4%

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
Note: includes foreign workers
Rank: 207
By occupation agriculture: 1.9%
By occupation industry: 10%
By occupation services: 88.1%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 124

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Budget
Revenues: $246.4 million
Expenditures: $249.8 million
Surplus or deficit: -0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 50

Taxes and other revenues: 20% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 163

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 1

Exports:
Rank: 181
Commodities: garments

Imports:
Rank: 190
Commodities: food construction equipment and materials petroleum products

Debt external: $N/A

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 60,600 kWh (January 2009)
Production rank: 219
Consumption: 48,300 kWh (January 2009)
Consumption rank: 219
Exports: 0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
Exports rank: 125
Imports: 0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
Imports rank: 135

Telephone system
International: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat

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

Airports: 5 (2013)
Rank: 180
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 536 km
Rank: 194

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Saipan Tinian Rota

Disputes international: none