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  Northern Mariana Islands  
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  Geography
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of Northern Mariana Islands

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Northern Mariana Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
   Geography    Northern Mariana Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 477 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
water: 0 sq km
land: 477 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
arable land, fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 15.22%
permanent crops: 6.52%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
   People    Northern Mariana Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing
77,311 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 9,208; female 8,902)
15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,041; female 30,781)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 690; female 689) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.49% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
20.29 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
17.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
5.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: 75.95 years
female: 79.23 years (2002 est.)
male: 72.85 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
   Government    Northern Mariana Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Saipan
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 Juan N. BABAUTA (since NA January 2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 49%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 4, Democratic Party 3, Reform Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 16, Democratic Party 1, Covenant Party 1
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2003); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2003)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Northern Mariana Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $900 million
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
1.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY 2001/02 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
garments
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Japan
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
extensive funding from US
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
USD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 October - 30 September
   Communications    Northern Mariana Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
21,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
1,200 (1995)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2001)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
NA
   Transportation    Northern Mariana Islands
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 362 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1991)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
6 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
   Military    Northern Mariana Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Northern Mariana Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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