Northern Mariana Islands

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3

Radios

15,350 (1987 est.)

Telephone system

domestic : NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

13,618 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

none note: there are 2 cable TV stations

Televisions

10,650 (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Budget

revenues: $190.4 million expenditures : $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1 million (FY94/95)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid

none

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. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.

Electricity - capacity

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

NA commodities: garments partners : NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,500 (1994 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Imports

NA commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products partners : US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Inflation rate - consumer price index

6.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force

total: 7,476 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 22,560 foreign workers (1995) by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate

15% (residents)

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 by raw sewage contributes to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Environment - international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land : 21% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

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

Administrative divisions

none

Constitution

Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Country name

conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form : Northern Mariana Islands

Data code

CQ

Dependency status

commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Executive branch

chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994) cabinet: NA elections : governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percent of vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%

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

ESCAP (associate), SPC

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 terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections : Senate - last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats) note : the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

National capital

Saipan

National holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Political parties and leaders

Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Benigno SABLAN, chairman

Suffrage

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years : NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Life expectancy at birth

total population : NA male: NA female: NA

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

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

53,552 (July 1997 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over : NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female

Disputes - international

none NORWAY

Airports

5 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Heliports

1 (1996 est.)

Highways

total : 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Saipan, Tinian

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none