Northern Mariana Islands Geography 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 AreaÑcomparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,482 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) EnvironmentÑcurrent issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development EnvironmentÑinternational agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA GeographyÑnote: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean People Population: 66,561 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 8,110; female 7,869) 15-64 years: 74% (male 23,847; female 25,659) 65 years and over: 2% (male 518; female 558) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 22.81 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 2.28 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 21.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.82 years male: 72.76 years female: 79.08 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found) Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.) Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Data code: CQ 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 National capital: Saipan Administrative divisions: none Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 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 of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998) cabinet: NA elections: governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands in three-way race; percent of voteÑPedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47% 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 (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: SenateÑlast held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of RepresentativesÑlast held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: SenateÑpercent of vote by partyÑNA; seats by partyÑNA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of RepresentativesÑpercent of vote by partyÑNA; seats by partyÑNA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats) note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by partyÑRepublican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA) Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, chairman (currently vacant) International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC 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 EconomyÑoverview: 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. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief 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. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $800 million to the US in 1997 under duty and quota exemptions. GDP: purchasing power parityÑ$524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending GDPÑreal growth rate: NA% GDPÑper capita: purchasing power parityÑ$10,500 (1994 est.) GDPÑcomposition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Inflation rateÑconsumer price index: 6.5% (1994 est.) Labor force: total: 7,476 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 22,560 foreign workers (1995) by occupation: NA Unemployment rate: 14% (residents) Budget: revenues: $190.4 million expenditures: $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1 million (FY94/95) Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityÑcapacity: NA kW ElectricityÑproduction: NA kWh ElectricityÑconsumption per capita: NA kWh AgricultureÑproducts: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle Exports: NA commodities: garments partners: NA Imports: NA commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products partners: US, Japan DebtÑexternal: $NA Economic aid: none Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 OctoberÑ30 September Communications Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stationsÑ2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3 Radios: 15,460 (1995 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 note: there is 1 cable TV station Televisions: 15,460 (1995 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Waterways: none Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian Merchant marine: none Airports: 5 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.) AirportsÑwith unpaved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Heliports: 1 (1997 est.) Military MilitaryÑnote: defense is the responsibility of the US Transnational Issues DisputesÑinternational: none