Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment-current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands: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.)