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: note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land: 464 km²
Water: 0 km²
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: 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
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: unnamed elevation on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 6.6% (2011 est.)
Forest: 65.5% (2011 est.)
Other: 27.9% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 1 km² (2012)

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

Geography
Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Population
Distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan: 51,994 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 209
Growth rate: -0.52% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 222
Below poverty line note: 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%, 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: 26.17% (male 7,355 /female 6,252)
15-24 years: 15.71% (male 4,365 /female 3,804)
25-54 years: 39.14% (male 10,545 /female 9,805)
55-64 years: 13% (male 3,701 /female 3,057)
65 years and over: 5.98% (male 1672 /female 1438) (2018 est.)

Median age
Total: 33.4 years (2018 est.)
Male: 32.4 years
Female: 34.3 years
Rank: 94

Population growth rate: -0.52% (2018 est.)
Rank: 222

Birth rate: 14.9 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 126

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 198

Net migration rate: -15.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 221

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 91.7% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.29% annual rate of change

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 14.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 9.6 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 111

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.6 years (2018 est.)
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 78.1 years
Rank: 105

Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 63

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.5% of population
Rural: 2.5% of population
Total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 20.3% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 20.3% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 20.3% of population (2015 est.)

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

Education expenditures
Note: NA

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

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 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
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 (2017)

Legal system: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of 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 Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
Head of government: Governor Ralph TORRES (since 29 December 2015); Lieutenant Governor Victor HOCOG (since 29 December 2015)
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 (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 13 November 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
Election results: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (Independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected Lieutenant Governor

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:: strong class='mce-content-body '>note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives 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

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: Democratic Party [Daniel QUITUGUA]Republican Party [James ADA]

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 (In the Middle of the Sea)
Lyricsmusic: 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)

Economy overview: The economy of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) has been on the rebound in the last few years, mainly on the strength of its tourism industry. In 2016, the CNMI’s real GDP increased 28.6% over the previous year, following two years of relatively rapid growth in 2014 and 2015. Chinese and Korean tourists have supplanted Japanese tourists in the last few years. 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, its political and commercial center. Investment is concentrated on hotels and casinos in Saipan, the CNMI’s largest island and home to about 90% of its population.Federal grants have also contributed to economic growth and stability. In 2016, federal grants amounted to $101.4 billion which made up 26% of the CNMI government’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.Legislation is pending in the US Congress to extend the transition period to allow foreign workers to work in the CNMI on temporary visas.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 203

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 2

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 84

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.)
Date: (2016 est.)
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
Note: NA

Labor force:
Rank: 205
By occupation agriculture: 1.9%
By occupation industry: 10%
By occupation services: 88.1% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 152

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Budget
Revenues: 389.6 million (2016 est.)
Expenditures: 344 million (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 3.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 11

Taxes and other revenues: 31.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Rank: 72

Public debt: 7.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Rank: 201

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 21

Exports:
Rank: 163
Commodities: garments

Imports:
Rank: 187
Commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Debt external: NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2016)
Production: 60,600 kWh (2009)
Production rank: 217
Consumption: 48,300 kWh (2009)
Consumption rank: 217
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 180
Imports: 0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
Imports rank: 182

Telephone system
General assessment: digital fiber-optic cables and satellites connect the islands to worldwide networks; future launch of 5G (2018)
Domestic: wide variety of services available including dial-up and broadband Internet, mobile cellular, international private lines, payphones, phone cards, voicemail, and automatic call distribution systems (2018)
International: country code - 1-670; landing points for the Atisa and Mariana-Guam submarine cables linking Mariana islands to Guam; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

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: 16,000
Users percent of population: 30.6% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 207

Airports: 5 (2013)
Rank: 182
With paved runways total: 3 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 536 km (2008)
Rank: 188

Merchant marine
Total: 1
By type: other 1 (2018)
Rank: 175

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Disputes international: none