1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 477 km2 land area: 477 km2 comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Climate
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Coastline
1,482 km
Environment
active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during August through November)
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 5% on Saipan permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m (depth) exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Terrain
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)
People and Society
Birth rate
35.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Infant mortality rate
37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990) by occupation: NA
Languages
English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age NA and over can read and write (1980) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96%
Nationality
noun: NA adjective: NA
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
48,581 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
3.04% (1993 est.)
Religions
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Total fertility rate
2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none
Capital
Saipan
Constitution
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph
CQ
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 NA November 1989 (next to be held NA 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 NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6, Independent 2
Independence
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Judicial branch
Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Leaders
Chief of State: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
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
Member of
ESCAP (associate), SPC
Names
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
National holiday
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders
Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA, chairman
Senate
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Type
commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
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
coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables
Budget
revenues $147.0 million; expenditures $127.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Currency
US currency is used
Economic aid
none
Electricity
25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
Exports
$263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron work partners: NA
External debt
$0
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Imports
$392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction, equipment, materials partners: NA
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.5-7.5% (1991 est.)
National product
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $541 million (1992) note: GNP numbers reflect US spending
National product per capita
$11,500 (1992)
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% 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, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 6 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2
Highways
381.5 km total; 134.5 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local (1991)
Inland waterways
none
Ports
Saipan, Tinian
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV, 2 cable TV stations; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US