BackgroundUnder US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instd to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwlth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
GeographyStrategic loion in the North Pacific Ocn.Loion:Ocnia, islands in the North Pacific Ocn, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the PhilippinesGeographic coordinates:15 12 N, 145 45 r:total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and TinianSize comparison: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DCLand Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:1,482 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmClimate:tropical marine; moderated by northst trade winds, little ssonal temperature variation; dry sson December to June, rainy sson July to OctoberTerrain:southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanicElevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocn 0 m
highest point: unnamed loion on Agrihan 965 mNatural resources:arable land, fishLand use:arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005)Irrigated land:NANatural hazards:active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)Current Environment Issues:contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disse; cln-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
PeoplePopulation:86,616 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 18.4% (male 8,342/female 7,594)
15-64 yrs: 79.9% (male 27,996/female 41,245)
65 yrs and over: 1.7% (male 740/female 699) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 29.9 yrs
male: 32 yrs
female: 28.9 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:2.377% (2008 est.)Birth rate:19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:2.31 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 0.68 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 6.72 dths/1,000 live births
male: 6.68 dths/1,000 live births
female: 6.76 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.5 yrs
male: 73.89 yrs
female: 79.26 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - dths:NANationality:noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NAEthnic groups:Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)Religions:Christian (Roman holic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)Languages:Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Commonwlth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
abbreviation: CNMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands DistrictGovernment type:commonwlth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislatureCapital:name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time)Administrative divisions:none (commonwlth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, TinianIndependence:none (commonwlth in political union with the US)National holiday:Commonwlth Day, 8 January (1978)Constitution:Constitution of the Commonwlth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986Legal system:based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxationSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universal; indious inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential electionsExecutive branch:chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
hd of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the hds of the 10 principal departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members include Special Assistants to the governor and hds appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwlth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-yr terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%Legislative branch:bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 sts; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yr staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20 sts; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-yr terms)
elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; sts by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; sts by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3
note: the Northern Mariana Islands elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); sts by party - independent 1Judicial branch:Commonwlth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District CourtPolitical parties and lders:Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]Political pressure groups and lders:NAInternational organization participation:SPC, UPUDiplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
EconomyThe economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally erated government revenues have grown. The tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent yrs, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of tle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, brdfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with the employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.GDP (purchasing power parity):$900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$633.4 million (2000)GDP - rl growth rate:NA%GDP - per capita (PPP):$12,500 (2000 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%Labor force:44,470 total indious labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%Unemployment rate:3.9% (2001)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.8% (2000)Budget:revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:tourism, construction, garments, handicraftsIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:NA kWhElectricity - consumption:NA kWhElectricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Exports:$NAExports - commodities:garmentsImports:$214.4 million (2001)Imports - commodities:food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum productsDebt - external:$NACurrency ():US dollar (USD)Exchange rates:the US dollar is usedFiscal yr:1 October - 30 September
CommuniionsTele in use:21,000 (2000)Cellular in use:20,500 (2004)Telephone system:eral assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country - 1-670; satellite rth stations - 2 sat (Pacific Ocn)Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2005)Television broadcast stations:1 (on Saipan; in addition, 2 cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)Internet country :.mpInternet hosts:6 (2008)Internet users:10,000 (2003)
TransportationAirports:5 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)Heliports:1 (2007)Roadways:total: 536 km (2007)Ports and terminals:Saipan, Tinian
MilitaryDefense is the responsibility of the US
No comments:
Post a Comment