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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)

Internet country code [time series]

.mp

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

9 (2010) country comparison to the world: 221

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

25,500 (2010) country comparison to the world: 184

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

20,500 (2004) country comparison to the world: 209

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry and eggs; fish and aquaculture products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million (FY91/02)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4.7% of GDP (FY01/02) country comparison to the world: 139

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

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. 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

48,300 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 215

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

60,600 kWh (January 2009) country comparison to the world: 215

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$98.2 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Exports - commodities [time series]

garments

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$633.4 million (2000)

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

$900 million (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy

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 (PPP)) [time series]

$12,500 (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$214.4 million (2001) country comparison to the world: 201

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 8

Labor force [time series]

38,450 country comparison to the world: 197 note: nearly 29,000 of these were foreign workers (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

30.5% of GDP (FY01/02) country comparison to the world: 91

Unemployment rate [time series]

8% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 3.9% (2001)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 elevation 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]

1 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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

Government

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]

name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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 [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 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 with a run-off election held on 23 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL reelected governor in a run-off election held 23 November 2009; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 51.4%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 48.6%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture

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]

SPC, UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Legal system [time series]

US system applies, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Legislative branch [time series]

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 7 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 7 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2011) 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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); seats by party - independent 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea) lyrics/music: Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN note: adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as "Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the United States, in addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

National holiday [time series]

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

National symbol(s) [time series]

latte stone

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

Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]

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

Suffrage [time series]

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

Introduction

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, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Military

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 8,793 females age 16-49: 11,569 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 410 female: 306 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26% (male 6,349/female 5,625) 15-64 years: 70.4% (male 15,014/female 17,397) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 790/female 875) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.69 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Death rate [time series]

3.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 177 male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.08 years country comparison to the world: 67 male: 74.45 years female: 79.87 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

SAIPAN (capital) NA (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 30 years male: 29.8 years female: 30.1 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Net migration rate [time series]

-57.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Population [time series]

46,050 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Population growth rate [time series]

-4.004% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 230

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 92% of population rural: 93% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 8% of population rural: 7% of population total: 8% of population (2000)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.061 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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.13 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 5.9% country comparison to the world: 121 male: 11.2% female: 4.4% (2003)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 91% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 183

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Saipan, Tinian, Rota

Roadways [time series]

total: 536 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 192