2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.3% (male 9,483; female 9,168) 15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,839; female 32,041) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 748; female 727) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Airports

6 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3

under 914 m

2 (2002) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Area

land

477 sq km

note

includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

total

477 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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 Northern Mariana Islands

Birth rate

19.97 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY 01/02 est.)

revenues

$193 million

Capital

Saipan

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

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)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

2.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

extensive funding from US

Economy - overview

The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh

Electricity - imports

0 kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Ethnic groups

Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

chief of state

President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)

election results

Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 49%

elections

US president and vice president elected on the same ticket 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)

head of government

Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since NA January 2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

garments

Exports - partners

US (2000)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Northern Mariana Islands

Flag description

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, surrounded by a wreath Economy Northern Mariana Islands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $900 million

note

$900 million $900 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Geographic coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean People Northern Mariana Islands

Government type

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Northern Mariana Islands

Highways

paved

NA km

total

362 km

unpaved

NA km (1991)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners

US, Japan (2000)

Independence

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Infant mortality rate

female

4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (1997 est.)

International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Internet country code

.mp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2001)

Internet users

NA Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Labor force

6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers

Labor force - by occupation

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

15.22%

other

78.26% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

6.52%

Languages

English, Chamorro, Carolinian

note

86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Legal system

based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 4, Democratic Party 3, Reform Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 1, independent 1

elections

Senate - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2003); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held NA November 2005)

note

the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.44 years (2003 est.)

male

73.06 years

total population

76.16 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96% (1980 est.) Government Northern Mariana Islands

male

97%

total population

97%

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

Median age

female

30.1 years (2002)

male

31 years

total

30.4 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands

National holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Nationality

adjective

NA

noun

NA

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land, fish

Net migration rate

16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

80,006 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.37% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Saipan, Tinian

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

NA

Railways

0 km

Religions

Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

21,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,200 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions

NA

Terrain

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

none