Northern Mariana Islands

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

Internet hosts

17 (2012) country comparison to the world: 223

Telephone system

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

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 (FY91/92)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.7% of GDP (FY91/92) country comparison to the world: 149

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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

garments

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$633.4 million (2000)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$900 million (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 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: 100

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$214.4 million (2001) country comparison to the world: 204

Imports - commodities

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Labor force

38,450 country comparison to the world: 199 note: nearly 29,000 of these were foreign workers (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

30.5% of GDP (FY91/92) country comparison to the world: 97

Unemployment rate

8% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 3.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption

48,300 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 218

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - production

60,600 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 217

Area

total: 464 sq km country comparison to the world: 197 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 elevation 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

1 sq km

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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 on 7 November 2009 with a run-off election held on 23 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL reelected governor in a run-off election held 23 November 2009; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 51.4%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 48.6%

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

SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

Commonwealth Supreme Court (consists of three justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Commonwealth Senate; appeals of Commonwealth Supreme Court decisions referred to the US Supreme Court); Superior Court (consists of five judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Commonwealth Senate); US Federal District Court (judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the US Senate)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 7 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 7 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2011) 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 on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); seats by party - independent 1

National anthem

name: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea) lyrics/music: Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN 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

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

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: 8,793 females age 16-49: 11,569 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 410 female: 306 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 26% (male 7,057/ female 6,321) 15-64 years: 70% (male 16,719/ female 19,283) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 958/ female 1,057) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

20.2 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Death rate

3.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

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: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 176 male: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro (official) 22.4%, English (official) 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.27 years country comparison to the world: 68 male: 74.62 years female: 80.07 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

SAIPAN (capital) NA (2009)

Median age

total: 30.6 years male: 29.6 years female: 31 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Net migration rate

-41.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Population

51,395 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Population growth rate

-0.96% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 92% of population rural: 93% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 8% of population rural: 7% of population total: 8% of population

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.09 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 5.9% country comparison to the world: 121 male: 11.2% female: 4.4% (2003)

Urbanization

urban population: 91% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

5 (2012) country comparison to the world: 181

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Roadways

total: 536 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 193