:Northern Mariana Islands People
Population:
47,168 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
38 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
66 years male, 69 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.7 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
undetermined
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other Micronesians; Spanish, German,
Japanese admixtures
Religions:
Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and
taboos may still be found
Languages:
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)
Labor force:
12,788 local; 18,799 foreign workers (1990 est.)
Organized labor:
NA
:Northern Mariana Islands Government
Long-form name:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Type:
commonwealth in political union 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 in political union with the US)
Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Executive branch:
US President; governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Court and the Federal District 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 9 January 1990); Lieutenant
Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 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 in November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results -
Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Senate:
last held on November 1991 (next to be held November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republications 6, Democrats 3
House of Representatives:
last held in November 1991 (next to be held November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) Republicans 5, Democrats 10
US House of Representatives:
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it
has an elected official ``resident representative'' located in Washington,
DC; seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
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
:Northern Mariana Islands 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. Japanese tourists predominate. 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:
purchasing power equivalent - $165 million, per capita $3,498; real growth
rate NA% (1982); note - GNP numbers reflect US spending
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $112.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$NA (February 1990)
Exports:
$153.9 million (1989)
commodities:
manufactured goods, garments, vegetables, beef, pork
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, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Agriculture:
coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
US currency is used
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
:Northern Mariana Islands Communications
Highways:
381.5 km total (134.5 km first-grade primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local)
(1991)
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:
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations
:Northern Mariana Islands Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US