Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1984) radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 1; note - there are 2 cable TV stations televisions: NA

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US NORWAY

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables; food is a major import

Budget [time series]

revenues: $190.4 million expenditures: $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1 million (FY94/95)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

none

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 105,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

$263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.) commodities: garments partners: NA

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Imports [time series]

$392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products partners: US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.5% (1994 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$10,500 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total area: 477 sq km land area: 477 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Coastline [time series]

1,482 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to disease natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5% on Saipan permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location [time series]

Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

arable land, fish

Note [time series]

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Terrain [time series]

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 m (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)

Administrative divisions [time series]

none

Capital [time series]

Saipan

Constitution [time series]

Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Digraph [time series]

CQ

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since January 1994); Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since January 1994); election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); results - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) was elected governor with 56% of the vote

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats

Independence [time series]

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Judicial branch [time series]

Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court

Legal system [time series]

based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Legislature

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), SPC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

National holiday [time series]

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, Leader; Democratic Party, Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO, Chairman

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

elections last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans retained a majority of the seats

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Government type (Type) [time series]

commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

Legislative branch (US House of Representatives) [time series]

the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

33.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Infant mortality rate [time series]

37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990) by occupation: NA

Languages [time series]

English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: NA adjective: NA

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

51,033 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.04% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 8 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 381.5 km paved: NA unpaved: NA undifferentiated: primary 134.5 km; secondary 55 km; local 192 km (1991)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

none

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Saipan, Tinian

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km