Northern Mariana Islands

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is situated in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a commonwealth in political union with the United States. Saipan is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Northern Mariana Islands with Guam form the Mariana Islands. It has the world’s lowest male to female sex ratio, an average of 76 men to every 100 women. The defense is the responsibility of the Northern Mariana Islands.

HISTORY:- Ferdinand Magellan first landed in the island in 1521 and claimed the island for Spain. In 1668, the island was renamed as Las Marianas. Following the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spanish Empire ceded the Guam Island to United States and sold other islands of the region to Germany. During the World War I, Japanese troops invaded the Northern Marianas. In 1919, Japanese mandate was imposed over the islands by the League of Nations. During the World War II, the US soldiers invaded the Mariana Islands. After the war, the islands gained the status of a UN Trusteeship. Following Japan’s defeat in the World War II, the islands were governed as a part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In 1978, a new constitution and a new government were adopted. In 1986, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) was incorporated into the United States.

GEOGRAPHY:- Northern Mariana Islands are located at 15 12 N, 145 45 E in Oceania. The islands occupy total 477 sq km area. The coastline is 1,482 km long along with the North Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is an unnamed location on Agrihan (965 m). The northern islands are volcanic in origin while the southern islands are made of limestone with level terraces.

CLIMATE:- The predominant climate of the islands is tropical marine, moderated by the northeast trade winds, with slight seasonal temperature variation. The dry season stays from December to June, and the rainy season stays from July to October.

GOVERNMENT:- The Northern Mariana Islands are autonomous territory within US. It is a commonwealth in political union with the US. The territory has its own governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature. It is an unincorporated territory of the US. The constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was adopted in 1978. The legal system is designed after the US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation sections. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President of US (chief of state), the Vice President, Governor (head of government), the Lieutenant Governor, and the cabinet. The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket by popular votes on 4-year terms.

Legislative branch comprises bicameral Legislature, consists of the Senate (9 seats) and the House of Representatives (20 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Commonwealth Supreme Court, the Superior Court, and the Federal District Court.

Covenant Party, Democratic Party, and Republican Party are the three major political parties of Northern Mariana Islands. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18. Although the residents of the islands can not participate in the US presidential and vice presidential elections but they can vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections.

Head of State                   George W. Bush

Vice President                   Richard B. Cheney

Governor                           Benigno R. Fitial

Lt. Governor                      Timothy P. Villagomez

Resident Representative  Pedro Agulto Tenorio

ECONOMY:- The economy of the islands is mainly dependent upon US financial aid and tourism.

GDP (official exchange rate):  $633.4 million (2000)

GDP - real growth rate: NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP): $12,500 (2000 est.)

Labor force: 44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)

Unemployment rate: 3.9% (2001)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Budget:  

Revenues: $193 million

Expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)

Agriculture products: Coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries: Tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Exports: $NA

Exports - commodities: Garments

Exports - partners: US (2006)

Imports: $214.4 million (2001)

Imports - commodities: Food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners: US, Japan (2006)

Currency: US dollar (USD)

LANGUAGE:- English, Chamorro, Carolinian are the official languages of Northern Mariana Islands.

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000

CITIES:- Saipan is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Northern Mariana Islands is 86,616 (July 2008 est.) with an average growth rate of 2.377%.

Literacy rate: 97%.

RACE:-

Asian 56.3%

Pacific islander 36.3%

Caucasian 1.8%

Other 0.8%

Mixed 4.8% (2000).

RELIGION:- Christianity, predominantly Roman Catholic is followed by the majority while traditional beliefs and taboos also exist.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 2.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

TRANSPORTATION:-

Airports: 5 (2007); Airports - with paved runways: total: 3; Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2.

Heliports: 1 (2007)

Roadways: total: 536 km (2004)

Ports and terminals: Saipan, Tinian