Country:  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;
 
Extended 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: 1% arable land; NA% permanent crops; 19% meadows and
pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
 
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: 22,719 (July 1990), growth rate 3.4% (1990)
 
Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1990)
 
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
 
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
 
Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
 
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1990)
 
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1990)
 
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: NA%
 
Labor force: 17,533, including 10,000 foreign workers (1988 est.)
 
Organized labor: NA
 
- 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 Pedro P. TENORIO (since 1978);
Lieutenant Governor Pedro A. TENORIO (since NA)
 
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Antonio S. Guerrero;
Republican Party, Alonso Igisomar
 
Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
 
Elections:
Governor--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--Pedro P. TENORIO (Democratic Party) was elected;
 
Senate--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) number of seats by party NA;
 
House of Representatives--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(14 total) number of seats by party NA;
 
US House of Representatives--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA
 
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: $NA; commodities--vegetables, beef, pork;
partners--NA
 
Imports: $NA; commodities--NA;
partners--NA
 
External debt: $NA
 
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
 
Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced,
1,640 kWh per capita (1989)
 
Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
 
Agriculture: coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
 
Aid: none
 
Currency: US currency is used
 
Exchange rates: US currency is used
 
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
 
- 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
 
Telecommunications: stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
earth stations
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US