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.
Geography
Northern Mariana
Islands
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: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
total: 29.9 years
male: 32 years female: 28.9 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.377% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
19.04 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
2.31 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 0.68 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06
male(s)/female total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.72 deaths/1,000
live births male: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.5
years male: 73.89 years female: 79.26 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.18 children born/woman (2008
est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander
36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic
majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages:
Philippine languages 24.4%,
Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island
languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 97% male:
97% female: 96% (1980 est.)
Government
Northern Mariana
Islands
Country name:
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
Dependency status:
commonwealth in political union
with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Government type:
commonwealth; self-governing
with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital:
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time
difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political
union with the US)
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January
(1978)
Constitution:
Constitution of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978;
Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
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 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 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; 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 in November 2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a
four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz
HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 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 (20 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held
in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007
(next to be held in November 2009) 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 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
'resident representative' in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican
Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court;
Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Covenant Party [Benigno R.
FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan
S. REYES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), SPC, UPU
Flag description:
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
Northern Mariana
Islands
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. 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 (purchasing power parity):
$900 million note:
GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)
