Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

15,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,200 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

NA

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Budget [time series]

revenues: $221 million expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7 million (1996)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$21.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - 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. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief 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. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1 billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - exports [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - imports [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

$1 billion (1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

garments

Exports - partners [time series]

US

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $524 million (1996 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $9,300 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$NA

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.5% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

managerial 20.5%, technical, sales 16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%, operators, fabricators 26.9%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (residents)

Area [time series]

total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area - comparative [time series]

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 60%

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 hazards [time series]

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Natural resources [time series]

arable land, fish

Terrain [time series]

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Saipan

Constitution [time series]

Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

CQ

Dependency status [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998) 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 in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican Party) 47%

Flag (Flag description) [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, surrounded by a wreath

Government type [time series]

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Independence [time series]

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

International organization participation [time series]

ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

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 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 NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 13, Democratic Party 5 note: the Commonwealth 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 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

National holiday [time series]

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

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

Democratic Party [chairman (currently vacant)]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

Suffrage [time series]

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

Background [time series]

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.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24% (male 8,652; female 8,377) 15-64 years: 75% (male 25,441; female 28,233) 65 years and over: 1% (male 591; female 618) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.41 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

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: 75.54 years male: 72.45 years female: 78.82 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: NA adjective: NA

Net migration rate [time series]

19.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

71,912 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.75% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.76 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

6 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

none (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Saipan, Tinian

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none