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NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
FLAG Unavailable at this time!
OFFICIAL NAME
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
CAPITAL
Saipan
Geography
Location:
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
477 sq km
land area:
477 sq km
comparative area:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
5% on Saipan
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
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
Geographic note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
People
Population:
52,284 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
NA
15-64 years:
NA
65 years and over:
NA
Population growth rate:
3.04% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
33.05 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
NA male(s)/female
under 15 years:
NA male(s)/female
15-64 years:
NA male(s)/female
65 years and over:
NA male(s)/female
all ages:
NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate:
37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.43 years
male:
65.53 years
female:
69.48 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note:
86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
Data code:
CQ
Type of government:
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
Capital:
Saipan
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President (of the United States) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994) were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature
Senate:
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
House of Representatives:
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
US House of Representatives:
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)
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO, chairman
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag:
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
Economic overview:
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.)
note:
GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP real growth rate:
NA%
GDP per capita:
$10,500 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force:
7,476 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers (1990)
by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$190.4 million
expenditures:
$190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1 million (FY94/95)
Industries:
tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
105,000 kW
production:
NA kWh
consumption per capita:
NA kWh
Agriculture:
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports:
$263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.)
commodities:
garments
partners:
NA
Imports:
$392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
partners:
US, Japan
External debt:
$NA
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Transportation
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
381.5 km (1991 est.)
paved:
NA km
unpaved:
NA km
Waterways:
none
Ports:
Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
2
with paved runways under 914 m:
1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
1 (1995 est.)
Heliports:
1 (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
13,618 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic:
NA
international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1984)
Radios:
15,350 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1
note:
there are 2 cable TV stations
Televisions:
10,650 (1993 est.)
Defense
Defense note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
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