2020 Edition

Background

Austronesian people settled the Northern Mariana Islands around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including Micronesians in the first century A.D. and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521, and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle there. By the time they returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands. In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US after the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and later administered them as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, which Guam rejected in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-governance separate from the rest of the TTPI, and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship, with the territory coming under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.

Area

land

464 sq km

total

464 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

highest point

Agrihan Volcano 965 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

1 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

1.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.8% (2023 est.)

forest

53% (2023 est.)

other

45.9% (2023 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

Population distribution

approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan

Terrain

the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands

Age structure

0-14 years

22.1% (male 6,066/female 5,231)

15-64 years

67.7% (male 18,206/female 16,377)

65 years and over

10.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,772/female 2,466)

Birth rate

15.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

38.2% (2020 est.)

Death rate

5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

15.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

6.6 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

47.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.7 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.17 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

14.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.5 years

male

75 years

total population

77.1 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

33.2 years

male

31.8 years

total

32.6 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

NA

noun

NA (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-13.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population

female

24,074

male

27,044

total

51,118 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.33% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.16 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.12 male(s)/female

at birth

1.17 male(s)/female

total population

1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

92.1% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 municipalities are considered second-order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Capital

etymology

the origin of the name is unclear; it probably comes from a local word meaning "deserted" or "uninhabited," but stories vary on how it came to be used

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

amendment process

proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote

history

partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)

Country name

abbreviation

CNMI

conventional long form

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

conventional short form

Northern Mariana Islands

etymology

Spain named the islands in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria

former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Dependency status

commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Executive branch

cabinet

Sworn in by CNMI Chief Justice Alexandro Castro on Thursday, 24 July 2025

chief of state

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

election results

2022: Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; percent of vote in second round - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor 2018: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected lieutenant governor

election/appointment process

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

expected date of next election

2026

head of government

Governor David M. APATANG (since 24 July 2025)

most recent election date

8 November 2022, with a runoff held on 25 November 2022

Flag

description: blue with a five-pointed white star on a gray latte stone (a traditional foundation stone) in the center, surrounded by a mwáár or head lei (wreath) meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star for the Commonwealth, and the latte stone and mwáár for Marianas culture; the mwáár is made from four kinds of flowers: flores mayo (Plumeria), ylang-ylang or langilang (Cananga odorata), angagha or peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), and teibwo or Pacific basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Government type

a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

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 Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge)

judge selection and term of office

CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular 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

the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation

National anthem(s)

history

official anthem, as a US commonwealth

lyrics/music

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

title

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

National color(s)

blue, white

National holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

National symbol(s)

latte stone

Political parties

Democratic Party Republican Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$344 million (2015 est.)

revenues

$389.6 million (2016 est.)

Economic overview

US Pacific island commonwealth economy; growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination; hit hard by 2018 typhoon; dependent on energy imports; exempt from some US labor and immigration laws; longstanding garment production

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2020

$128 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$55 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$244 million (2022 est.)

Exports - commodities

scrap iron, refined petroleum, scrap copper, hydraulic engines, integrated circuits (2021)

Exports - partners

Sweden 21%, Singapore 20%, Hong Kong 12%, UK 8%, India 7% (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.096 billion (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2020

$556 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$666 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$777 million (2022 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, trunks and cases, flavored water (2023)

Imports - partners

Singapore 63%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Taiwan 4%, Philippines 3% (2023)

Industries

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$845 million (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$933 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$1.242 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-29.1% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

16.6% (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.mp

Internet users

percent of population

25.1% (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

42 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

20,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2004)

total subscriptions

20,474 (2004 est.)

Airports

4 (2025)

Heliports

7 (2025)

Ports

key ports

Rota, Saipan, Tinian

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Environmental issues

contamination of groundwater on Saipan; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

32,800 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

36% (2016 est.)