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Australia-Oceania :: Northern Mariana Islands
(commonwealth in political union with the US)
page last updated on May 12, 2010
Flag of Northern Mariana Islands
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Northern Mariana Islands
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Map of Northern Mariana Islands
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Photos of Northern Mariana Islands
 
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of Northern Mariana Islands
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Introduction ::Northern Mariana Islands
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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.
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Geography ::Northern Mariana Islands
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Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
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15 12 N, 145 45 E
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Oceania
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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
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2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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1,482 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Current Weather
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
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southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
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arable land, fish
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arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005)
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NA
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active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
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contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
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strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
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People ::Northern Mariana Islands
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48,317 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
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0-14 years: 26.1% (male 6,746/female 5,853)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 15,701/female 18,383)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 784/female 850) (2010 est.)
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total: 29.3 years
male: 29.9 years
female: 29.1 years (2010 est.)
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-5.567% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233
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21.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
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3.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
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-73.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
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urban population: 91% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 181
male: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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total population: 76.9 years
country comparison to the world: 64
male: 74.27 years
female: 79.68 years (2010 est.)
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2.18 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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NA
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NA
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NA
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noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA
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Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
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Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
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Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
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NA
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Government ::Northern Mariana Islands
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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
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commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
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commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
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name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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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
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none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
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Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
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Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
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based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
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18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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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
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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 (run-off election was held on 23 November 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL reelected with 51.4% over Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (48.6%) in the run-off election held on 23 November 2009
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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 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held on 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 on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); seats by party - independent 1
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Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
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Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
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NA
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SPC, UPU
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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
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Economy ::Northern Mariana Islands
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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.
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$900 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
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$633.4 million (2000)
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NA%
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$12,500 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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38,450 total indigenous labor force; 28,717 foreign workers (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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8% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
3.9% (2001)
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)
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-0.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 11
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vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry and eggs, fish and aquaculture products
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banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts
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NA%
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60,600 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
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48,300 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 215
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0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
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0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
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$98.2 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 191
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garments
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$214.4 million (2001)
country comparison to the world: 199
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food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
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$NA
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the US dollar is used
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Communications ::Northern Mariana Islands
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24,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 184
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20,500 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 207
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general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)
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1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)
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.mp
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9 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 220
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Transportation ::Northern Mariana Islands
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5 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
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total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
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total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
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1 (2009)
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total: 536 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 191
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Saipan, Tinian
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Military ::Northern Mariana Islands
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males age 16-49: 9,359
females age 16-49: 12,385 (2010 est.)
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male: 430
female: 346 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of the US
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Transnational Issues ::Northern Mariana Islands
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none
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The online Factbook is updated bi-weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
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