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.
Location
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references
Oceania
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
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
1,482 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use
arable land
13.04%
permanent crops
4.35%
other
82.61% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Geography - note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Population
84,546 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
18.9% (male 8,354/female 7,612)
15-64 years
79.5% (male 27,334/female 39,860)
65 years and over
1.6% (male 717/female 669) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
29.7 years
male
31.8 years
female
28.7 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.461% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
19.27 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
2.29 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.097 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.686 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.072 male(s)/female
total population
0.756 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
6.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
76.29 years
male
73.7 years
female
79.05 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.21 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
NA (US citizens)
adjective
NA
Ethnic groups
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Religions
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
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)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
97%
male
97%
female
96% (1980 est.)
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
Government type
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital
name
Saipan
geographic coordinates
15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
Legal system
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch
chief of state
President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government
Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006)
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; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009)
election results
Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%
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 (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 2, independent 2
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
Judicial branch
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
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
International organization participation
Interpol (subbureau), SPC, UPU
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
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$900 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)
