Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
*Northern Mariana Islands, Header
Affiliation: (commonwealth in political union with the US)
*Northern Mariana Islands, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about
three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
477 km2
land area:
477 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m (depth)
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
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; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso'
Takpochao on Saipan)
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
5% on Saipan
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during
August through November)
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
*Northern Mariana Islands, People
Population:
48,581 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
35.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.43 years
male:
65.53 years
female:
69.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
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:
age NA and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Labor force:
7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers
(1990)
by occupation:
NA
*Northern Mariana Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph:
CQ
Type:
commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally
elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs
Capital:
Saipan
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 3 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
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA,
chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
Governor:
last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Senate:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3
House of Representatives:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6,
Independent 2
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)
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 Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Leaders: Chief of State:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
*Northern Mariana Islands, Government