|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background: 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.
|
|
|
|
Common Name: Northern Mariana Islands
|
Local Official Name: Northern Mariana Islands
|
|
Abbreviated Name: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
|
Official Name: Northern Mariana Islands
|
|
Official Script Name: Northern Mariana Islands
|
Local Common Name: Northern Mariana Islands
|
|
Former Name: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of
|
Territory of: NA
|
|
|
Head of State: President George W. BUSH of the US
|
Government Type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
|
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
|
Constitution: Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
|
National Holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January
|
International Organization Participation: Interpol (subbureau), SPC, UPU
|
Administrative Divisions: 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
|
Dependent Areas: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
|
Legal System: based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
|
Suffrage: 18 years
|
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006)
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 Consitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL (Covenant Party) 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Independent) 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA (Republican) 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO (Democrat) 17.99%
Legislative Branch:
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 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 2, independent 2
note: the Northern Mariana Islands 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 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
Judicial Branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
|
Party Leaders: Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
|
International Disputes: NA
|
Illicit Drugs: NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location of Northern Mariana Islands: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
|
|
Continent: Australia
|
Land Area Total: 477 sq km
|
|
Region: South Pacific Oceania |
Land Area Land: 477 sq km
|
|
Capitol City: Saipan
|
Land Area Water: 0 sq km
|
|
Current: +10
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude: 015 12 N
|
Border Boundary Land: 0 km
|
|
Longitude: 145 45 E
|
Border Boundary Coastline: 1,482 km
|
|
|
|
Arable Land: 13.04 %
|
Pastures: 0.00 %
|
|
Crops: 4.35 %
|
Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Highest Elevation: 965 m
|
Location: unnamed location on Agrihan
|
|
Lowest Elevation: 0 m
|
Location: Pacific Ocean
|
|
|
|
Largest City in Northern Mariana Islands:
|
Largest City Population: 0
|
|
|
Threatened Species: 0
|
Environmental Issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
|
Environmental Agreements: NA
|
Irrigated Land: 0
|
Bordering Countries: NA
|
Natural Resources: arable land, fish
|
Geographical Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
|
Comparative Area of Northern Mariana Islands: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
Northern Mariana Islands's Geography: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Northern Mariana Islands.
|
General Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
|
Natural Hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. 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.
|
|
|
|
GDP: $900,000,000 USD
|
Currency: US dollar
|
|
GDP per Capita: $12,500 USD
|
Currency Code: USD
|
|
GDP Growth Rate: 0.00 %
|
One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% USD
|
|
|
Currency Exchange Rate History: the US dollar is used
|
|
|
|
GDP of Agriculture: 0.00 %
|
GDP of Industry: 0.00 %
|
|
GDP of Services: 0.00 % |
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rate: -0.80 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
|
|
Unemployment Rate: 3.90 %
|
Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
|
|
|
|
Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Revenue in USD: $193,000,000 USD
|
|
Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Expenditures in USD: $223,000,000 USD
|
|
|
|
Electricity Production: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
|
|
Electricity Consumption: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Production by Source:
|
|
|
Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
|
|
Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
|
|
Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
|
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
|
|
|
|
External Debt: $0 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Agricultural Products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
|
Primary Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
|
Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
|
|
|
Import Amount in USD: $214,400,000 USD - food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
|
Import Partners: US, Japan
|
Export Amount in USD: $0 USD - garments
|
Export Partners: US
|
|
|
GINI Index: 0.00%
|
Labor Force Number of People: 44,470
|
Labor Force by Occupations: NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations: 8 |
Number of People with Radios: 0 |
|
Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 0 |
|
Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 21,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 20,500 |
|
|
|
Internet Service Providers: 20 |
Internet Users: 10,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Country Code: .mp |
Newspapers: 0 |
|
Two Letter Country Code: CQ |
Weights and Measures: |
|
Phone Country Code: 1-670 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
|
|
Telephone Systems: general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highways: 0 km |
Railways: 0 km
|
|
Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
|
|
Airports: 3 |
Heliports: 1
|
|
|
|
Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Merchant Marines: NA
|
Ports and Harbors: Saipan, Tinian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population: 82,459 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 19.43 births per 1,000 people |
|
Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 2.29 deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Population Growth: 2.54% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.24 babies born per woman |
|
|
|
Population Male 0-14: 8,350 |
Population Female 0-14: 7,623 |
|
Population Male 15-64: 26,715 |
Population Female 15-64: 38,442 |
|
Population Male 65+: 679 |
Population Female 65+: 650 |
|
|
|
Population 0-14: 19.40% |
Literacy Rate: 97.00% |
|
Population 15-64: 79.00% |
Literacy rate of Males: 97.00% |
|
Population 65+: 1.60% |
Literacy rate of Females: 96.00% |
|
|
|
Population that is Male: 53.00
% |
Population that is Female: 47.00% |
|
Life expectancy at birth in years: 76.09 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 6.98 Babies die per 1,000 births |
|
Life expectancy at birth for Males: 73.50 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 78.83 years |
|
|
|
Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
|
Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
|
|
|
Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
|
|
Disease Risk:
|
Diseases:
|
Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 8.26
|
Nationality: NA
|
Ethnic Groups: Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8%
|
|
|
Primary Language: English
|
Other Languages: Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6%
|
|
|
Primary Religion: Christian
|
Other Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Branches: defense is the responsibility of the US
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
|
Manpower Available: 0 People
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 0 People
|
Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
|
Expenditures: $0 USD per year
|
Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
Northern Mariana Islands Spa and Resort Directory
|
Northern Mariana Islands Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
|
Northern Mariana Islands Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
|
Northern Mariana Islands City Information Game Earn Real Money
|
