2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Geography
Area
total: 477 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian water: 0 sq km land: 477 sq km
Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Environment - current issues
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Geographic coordinates
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 15% permanent crops: 7% other: 78% (1998 est.)
Location
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Terrain
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 9,208; female 8,902) 15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,041; female 30,781) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 690; female 689) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
20.29 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
5.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Life expectancy at birth
79.23 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)
Nationality
noun: NA adjective: NA
Net migration rate
17.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
77,311 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
3.49% (2002 est.)
Religions
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
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 four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Capital
Saipan
Constitution
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978
Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Dependency status
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Executive branch
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Juan N. BABOUTA (since NA January 2002) and Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002) cabinet: for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results:
Government type
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Independence
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Legal system
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
National holiday
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections