NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
(commonwealth associated with the US)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 477 km2; land area: 477 km2; includes Saipan, Rota, and
Tinian
Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to July, 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 meters (Mt. Tagpochu on Saipan)
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures
19%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%
Environment: Mt. Pagan is an active volcano (last erupted in
October 1988); subject to typhoons during the rainy season
Note: strategic location 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the
North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and
the Philippines
PEOPLE
Population: 23,494 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)
Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1991)
Nationality: undetermined
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other
Micronesians; Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures
Religion: Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although
traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found
Language: English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in
the home and taught in school
Literacy: 96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1980)
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Type: commonwealth associated with the US and administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986
Legal system: NA
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Executive branch: governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);
Head of Government--Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO
(since NA 1990);
Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since NA 1990)
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Alonzo IGISOMAR;
Democratic Party, Felicidad OGUMORO
Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
Governor--last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held
November 1993);
results--Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected
governor;
Senate--last held on NA November 1989 (next to be held November
1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) number of seats by party NA;
House of Representatives--last held on NA November 1989 (next to
be held November 1991);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;
US House of Representatives--last held NA November 1989 (next to
be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA
Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC
Diplomatic representation: none
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. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles
the islands to $228 million for capital development, government
operations, and special programs. Another major source of income is the
tourist industry, which employs about 10% of the work force. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small
scale in nature--mostly handicrafts and fish processing.
GNP: $165 million, per capita $9,170; real growth rate NA% (1982)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $70.6 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1987)
Exports: $153.9 million (1989);
commodities--manufactured goods, garments;
partners--NA
Imports: $313.7 million, a 43% increase over previous year (1989);
commodities--NA;
partners--NA
External debt: none
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced,
1,540 kWh per capita (1990)
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 300 km total (53 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km
local)
Ports: Saipan, Rota, Tinian
Airports: 6 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m
