Northern Mariana Islands

Internet country code

.mp

Internet hosts

9 (2009) country comparison to the world: 220

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

24,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 184

Telephones - mobile cellular

20,500 (2004) country comparison to the world: 206

Television broadcast stations

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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

48,300 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 214

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - production

60,600 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 213

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$98.2 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 193

Exports - commodities

garments

GDP (official exchange rate)

$633.4 million (2000)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$900 million (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,500 (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$214.4 million (2001) country comparison to the world: 198

Imports - commodities

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 2

Labor force

38,450 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

8% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 3.9% (2001)

Area

total: 464 sq km country comparison to the world: 196 land: 464 sq km water: 0 sq km note: consists of 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

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 Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 1 May 2009) 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 party 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 7 November 2009 (run-off election to be held on 23 November 2009) election results: percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 36%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 36%, Juan GUERRERO 20%, Ramon Deleon GUERRERO 8%; a run-off election between FITIAL and HOFSCHNEIDER will held on 23 November 2009

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 elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); seats by party - independent 1

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

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.

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 19,209 females age 16-49: 33,074 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 570 female: 587 (2009 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 8,372/female 7,616) 15-64 years: 80.3% (male 28,602/female 42,557) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 786/female 729) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

18.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Death rate

2.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

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: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 175 male: 6.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 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: 76.7 years country comparison to the world: 64 male: 74.08 years female: 79.47 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

Median age

total: 30.1 years male: 32.1 years female: 29.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Net migration rate

6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Population

88,662 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Population growth rate

2.292% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

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: 0.67 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 0.74 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.15 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

Urbanization

urban population: 91% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 183

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Saipan, Tinian

Roadways

total: 536 km (2007) country comparison to the world: 190