Northern Mariana Islands

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1984)

Radios

15,350 (1987 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

13,618 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 note: there are 2 cable TV stations

Televisions

10,650 (1993 est.) Defense

Agriculture

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Budget

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

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

none

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.

Electricity

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

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.) commodities: garments partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

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

GDP composition by sector

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

GDP per capita

$10,500 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products partners: US, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts

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%

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

Climate

tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Coastline

1,482 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 coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Geographic note

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5% on Saipan permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

arable land, fish

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

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Saipan

Constitution

Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Data code

CQ

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

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

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

Independence

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), SPC

Judicial branch

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Legal system

based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislature

Name of country

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

National holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Political parties and leaders

Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO, chairman

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

Suffrage

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

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

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)

Age structure

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

Birth rate

33.05 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Infant mortality rate

37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: NA adjective: NA

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

52,284 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.04% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

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

Total fertility rate

2.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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.)

Highways

total: 381.5 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Saipan, Tinian

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none