1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (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
Contiguous zone
12 nm
Continental shelf
200 m (depth)
Disputes
none
Environment
active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons during the rainy season
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
477 km2; comprises 16 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 1%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures 19%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%
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)
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
477 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other Micronesians; Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures
Infant mortality rate
38 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
12,788 local; 18,799 foreign workers (1990 est.)
Languages
English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in the home and taught in school
Life expectancy at birth
66 years male, 69 years female (1992)
Literacy
96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Nationality
undetermined
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
NA
Population
47,168 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Religions
Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found
Total fertility rate
2.7 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
none
Capital
Saipan
Chief of State
President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989)
Constitution
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986
Diplomatic representation
none
Executive branch
US President; 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
Governor
last held in November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results - Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Head of Government
Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990)
House of Representatives
last held in November 1991 (next to be held November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Republicans 5, Democrats 10
Independence
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Judicial branch
Commonwealth Court and the Federal District Court
Legal system
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
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
Senate
last held on November 1991 (next to be held November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republications 6, Democrats 3
Suffrage
universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Type
commonwealth in political union with the US and administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
US House of Representatives
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official ``resident representative'' located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Economy
Agriculture
coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
Budget
revenues $NA; expenditures $112.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (February 1990)
Currency
US currency is used
Economic aid
none
Electricity
25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$153.9 million (1989) commodities: manufactured goods, garments, vegetables, beef, pork partners: NA
External debt
none
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
GNP
purchasing power equivalent - $165 million, per capita $3,498; real growth rate NA% (1982); note - GNP numbers reflect US spending
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. Japanese tourists predominate. 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
381.5 km total (134.5 km first-grade primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local) (1991)
Ports
Saipan, Rota, Tinian
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US