Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

 (commonwealth in political union with the US) 

@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography

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

 Map references: Oceania

 Area:
 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

 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; highest elevation
 is 471 m (Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)

 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

 Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

@Northern Mariana Islands:People

 Population: 51,033 (July 1995 est.)

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

 Population growth rate: 3.04% (1995 est.)

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

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

 Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

 Infant mortality rate: 37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

 Life expectancy at birth:
 total population: 67.43 years
 male: 65.53 years
 female: 69.48 years (1995 est.)

 Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1995 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)
 total population: 97%
 male: 97%
 female: 96%

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

@Northern Mariana Islands:Government

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

 Digraph: CQ

 Type: 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 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

 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

 Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), 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

Economy

 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.

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

 National product real growth rate: NA%

 National product per capita: $10,500 (1994 est.)

 Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)

 Unemployment rate: NA%

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

 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

 Industrial production: growth rate NA%

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

 Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts

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

 Economic aid: none

 Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

 Exchange rates: US currency is used

 Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

@Northern Mariana Islands:Transportation

 Railroads: 0 km

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

 Inland waterways: none

 Ports: Saipan, Tinian

 Merchant marine: none

 Airports:
 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

@Northern Mariana Islands:Communications

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

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

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

@Northern Mariana Islands:Defense Forces

 Note: defense is the responsibility of the US


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