2015 Edition

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.

Area

land

464 sq km

note

consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

total

464 sq km

water

0 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

highest point

unnamed elevation 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

Geographic coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

1 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 2.2%

agricultural land

6.6%

forest

65.5%

other

27.9% (2011 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 flat terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Age structure

0-14 years

25.6% (male 6,917/female 6,483)

15-24 years

14.39% (male 4,216/female 3,317)

25-54 years

44.3% (male 9,802/female 13,385)

55-64 years

10.76% (male 3,031/female 2,602)

65 years and over

4.95% (male 1,240/female 1,351) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

18.32 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

3.71 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 97.5% of population

total: 97.5% of population

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 2.5% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

5 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

5.78 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1%, Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.65 years (2015 est.)

male

75.15 years

total population

77.82 years

Major urban areas - population

SAIPAN (capital) 49,000 (2014)

Median age

female

33 years (2015 est.)

male

29.6 years

total

32.1 years

Nationality

adjective

NA

noun

NA (US citizens)

Net migration rate

7.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

52,344 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.18% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 79.7% of population

rural: 79.7% of population

total: 79.7% of population

urban: 20.3% of population

rural: 20.3% of population

total: 20.3% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.27 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.73 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.17 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.92 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.39% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

89.2% of total population (2015)

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 4 municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Capital

geographic coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

name

Saipan

time difference

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United States

Constitution

partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement); amended several times, last in 2012 (2015)

Country name

abbreviation

CNMI

conventional long form

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

conventional short form

Northern Mariana Islands

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

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate

chief of state

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

election results

Eloy S. INOS reelected governor; percent of vote in runoff - Eloy S. INOS (Republican) 57%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Republican) 43%; Ralph TORRES reelected lieutenant governor

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 4 November 2014 with a runoff on 21 November 2014 (next to be held in 2018)

head of government

Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 20 February 2013); Lieutenant Governor Ralph TORRES (since 20 February 2013)

note

Benigno R. FITIAL was impeached by House of Representatives on 11-12 February 2013 and resigned on 20 February 2013; Eloy INOS (Republican) sworn in as governor the same day

Flag description

blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture

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

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands or CNMI (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the Northern Mariannas Islands Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court

judge selection and term of office

judges of the Supreme Court of the CNMI appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and can serve another term if approved through voter election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms

subordinate courts

Superior Court

Legal system

US system applies, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Northern Mariana Commonwealth Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 13, Republican Party 7

elections

Senate - last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

note

the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN

name

"Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea)

note

adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as "Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the United States, in addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

National holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

National symbol(s)

latte stone; national colors: blue, white

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; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Agriculture - products

vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products

Budget

expenditures

$249.8 million (2013 est.)

revenues

$246.4 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

The Northern Mariana Islands' economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. In fiscal year 2013, federal grants accounted for 35.4% of the Commonwealth’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. The Commonwealth’s economy continued to recover in 2013. Real GDP increased 4.4%, following a 2.1% gain in 2012. Economic growth in 2013 reflected increases in consumer spending and exports of services, mainly spending by foreign tourists. Tourism continued to grow in 2013, after posting double-digit growth in 2012. The tourist industry employs approximately a quarter of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to the main Island of Saipan, it’s political and commercial center.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$288 million (2013)

$268 million (2012)

Exports - commodities

garments

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

42.2%

government consumption

51.5%

household consumption

91.3%

imports of goods and services

42.2% (2013)

investment in fixed assets

3.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.7%

industry

2.9%

services

95.4% (2010)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,300 (2013 est.)

$12,900 (2012)

$12,400 (2011)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2013)

2.1% (2012)

-6.8% (2011)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.232 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$682 million (2013 est.)

$665 million (2012)

$649 million (2011)

note

GDP estimate includes US subsidy

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$606 million (2013)

$531 million (2012)

Imports - commodities

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2.5% (2013 est.)

1.1% (2012)

Labor force

27,970

note

includes foreign workers (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.9%

industry

10%

services

88.1% (2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

20% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.2% (2010 est.)

8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption

48,300 kWh (January 2009)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - production

60,600 kWh (January 2009)

Broadcast media

1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)

Internet country code

.mp

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)

Telephone system

international

country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Television broadcast stations

1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Airports

5 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

2

Heliports

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Roadways

total

536 km (2008)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

11,569 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

8,793

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

306 (2010 est.)

male

410

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none