1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to July, rainy season July to October
Coastline
1,482 km
Comparative area
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Environment
Mt. Pagan is an active volcano (last erupted in October 1988); subject to typhoons during the rainy season
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 1%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures 19%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%
Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Note
strategic location 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Terrain
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Tagpochu on Saipan)
Total area
477 km2; land area: 477 km2; includes Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
People and Society
Birth rate
43 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Ethnic divisions
Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other Micronesians; Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures
Infant mortality rate
17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
12,788 local; 18,799 foreign workers (1990 est.)
Language
English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in the home and taught in school
Life expectancy at birth
65 years male, 70 years female (1991)
Literacy
96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Nationality
undetermined
Net migration rate
- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
NA
Population
23,494 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)
Religion
Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found
Total fertility rate
5.8 children born/woman (1991)
Government
Administrative divisions
none
Capital
Saipan
Constitution
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986
Diplomatic representation
none
Elections
Governor--last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results--Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor; Senate--last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(9 total) number of seats by party NA; House of Representatives--last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA; US House of Representatives--last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA
Executive branch
governor, lieutenant governor
Flag
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
Independence
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989); Head of Government--Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since NA 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since NA 1990)
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Long-form name
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Member of
ESCAP (associate), SPC
National holiday
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders
Republican Party, Alonzo IGISOMAR; Democratic Party, Felicidad OGUMORO
Suffrage
universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Type
commonwealth associated with the US and administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Economy
Agriculture
coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
Budget
revenues $NA; expenditures $70.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987)
Currency
US currency is used
Economic aid
none
Electricity
25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$153.9 million (1989); commodities--manufactured goods, garments; partners--NA
External debt
none
Fiscal year
1 October-30 September
GNP
$165 million, per capita $9,170; real growth rate NA% (1982)
Imports
$313.7 million, a 43% increase over previous year (1989); commodities--NA; partners--NA
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Overview
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Another major source of income is the tourist industry, which employs about 10% of the work force. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale in nature--mostly handicrafts and fish processing.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
6 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
300 km total (53 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local)
Ports
Saipan, Rota, Tinian
Telecommunications
stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US _%_