2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (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, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Geography
Area
total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
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
Geography - note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005)
Location
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 18.4% (male 8,342/female 7,594) 15-64 years: 79.9% (male 27,996/female 41,245) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 740/female 699) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
2.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.5 years male: 73.89 years female: 79.26 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)
Median age
total: 29.9 years male: 32 years female: 28.9 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA
Net migration rate
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
86,616 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
2.377% (2008 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: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.68 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.18 children born/woman (2008 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
name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
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 Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006) cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads appointed by and reporting directly to the governor elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%
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
Government type
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Independence
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
International organization participation
SPC, UPU
Judicial branch
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
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 (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
National holiday
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Economy
Agriculture - products
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Budget
revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)
Currency (code)
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
USD
Debt - external
$NA
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 the 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 (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
garments
Exports - partners
US (2006)
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$12,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP (official exchange rate)
$633.4 million (2000)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$214.4 million (2001)
Imports - commodities
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners
US, Japan (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.8% (2000)
Labor force
44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
3.9% (2001)
Communications
Internet country code
.mp
Internet hosts
6 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2001)
Internet users
10,000 (2003)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
21,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular
20,500 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports
1 (2007)
Ports and terminals
Saipan, Tinian
Roadways
total: 536 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 572 female: 594 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008