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: 222

Telephone system

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $260 million expenditures: $318.2 million (FY10/11)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.9% of GDP (FY10/11 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

The Northern Mariana Islands' economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The tourist industry employs approximately a quarter of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. As a share of total arrivals, the number of Japanese tourists has dropped recently to less than half, while Korean visitors account for roughly one-third. Annual tourist arrivals have remained below 400,000 since 2007. Other services such as trade are also important to the local economy. The small agriculture sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$98.2 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 191

Exports - commodities

garments

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$733 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$733 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.7% industry: 3.3% services: 95% (2010)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

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%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1.9% industry: 10% services: 88.1% (2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

35.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Unemployment rate

11.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption

48,300 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 219

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - production

60,600 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 218

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 (2011)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.17% permanent crops: 2.17% other: 95.65% (2011)

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

partially effective 1 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement); amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)

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 Eloy S. INOS (since 20 February 2013); Lieutenant Governor Jude U. HOFSCHNEIDER (since 20 February 2013) 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 2014) 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% note: Benigno R. FITIAL was impeached by House of Representatives on 11-12 February 2013 and resigned on 20 February 2013; Eloy INOS was 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

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 note - 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

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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014) 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 4, Covenant Party 3, independents 13 note: the Northern Mariana Islands elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); seats by party - independent 1

National anthem

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

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: 25.9% (male 6,944/female 6,393) 15-24 years: 14.5% (male 4,133/female 3,348) 25-54 years: 44.9% (male 9,793/female 13,340) 55-64 years: 10% (male 2,798/female 2,372) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,122/female 1,240) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

18.94 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Death rate

3.61 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 213

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.5% of population rural: 97.5% of population total: 97.5% of population unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population rural: 2.5% of population total: 2.5% of population (2012 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

total: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 176 male: 5.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

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

total population: 77.64 years country comparison to the world: 63 male: 74.98 years female: 80.46 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

SAIPAN (capital) 56,000 (2011)

Median age

total: 31.6 years male: 29.4 years female: 32.2 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Net migration rate

-4.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Population

51,483 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Population growth rate

1.13% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 79.7% of population rural: 79.7% of population total: 79.7% of population unimproved: urban: 20.3% of population rural: 20.3% of population total: 20.3% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.23 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.73 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 5.9% country comparison to the world: 133 male: 11.2% female: 4.4% (2003)

Urbanization

urban population: 91.5% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

5 (2013) country comparison to the world: 179

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Roadways

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