Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
total: 464 sq km
country comparison to the world: 197
land: 464 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Agrihan 965 m
arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 2.17%
other: 95.65% (2011)
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro (official) 22.4%, English (official) 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
51,170 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0-14 years: 26% (male 6,970/female 6,333)
15-24 years: 14.9% (male 4,133/female 3,471)
25-54 years: 45.5% (male 9,906/female 13,396)
55-64 years: 9.3% (male 2,592/female 2,187)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,033/female 1,149) (2013 est.)
total: 31.1 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.5 years (2013 est.)
0.09% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
19.6 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
3.52 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
-15.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
urban population: 91% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
SAIPAN (capital) NA (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.75 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 5.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 5.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 77.45 years
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 74.8 years
female: 80.26 years (2013 est.)
2.05 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
total: 5.9%
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 11.2%
female: 4.4% (2003)
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
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
partially effective 1 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement); amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)
US system applies, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 20 February 2013); Lieutenant Governor Jude U. HOFSCHNEIDER (since 20 February 2013)
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
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 2014)
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%
note: Benigno R. FITIAL was impeached by House of Representatives on 11-12 February 2013 and resigns on 20 February 2013; Eloy INOS was sworn in as governor the same day
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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014)
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 4, Covenant Party 3, independents 13
note: the Northern Mariana Islands elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); seats by party - independent 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands or CNMI (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws
judge selection and term of office: judges of the Supreme Court of the CNMI appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and can serve another term if approved through voter election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms
subordinate courts: Superior Court
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]
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
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)
The Northern Mariana Islands' economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The tourist industry employs approximately a quarter of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. As a share of total arrivals, the number of Japanese tourists has dropped recently to less than half, while Korean visitors account for roughly one-third. Annual tourist arrivals have remained below 400,000 since 2007. Other services such as trade are also important to the local economy. The small agriculture sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.
$733 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy
$13,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 3.3%
services: 95% (2010)
vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry and eggs; fish and aquaculture products
tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services
38,450
country comparison to the world: 199
note: nearly 29,000 of these were foreign workers (2005 est.)
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 10%
services: 88.1% (2010 est.)
11.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $260 million
expenditures: $318.2 million (FY10/11)
35.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
-7.9% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
-2.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$98.2 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 190
$214.4 million (2001)
country comparison to the world: 203
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
60,600 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 217
48,300 kWh (January 2009)
country comparison to the world: 218
0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 kWh (January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)
17 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 222
5 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 179
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m:
total: 536 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
major seaport(s): Saipan, Tinian, Rota
males age 16-49: 8,793
females age 16-49: 11,569 (2010 est.)
male: 410
female: 306 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
