Northern Mariana Islands

A Commonwealth In Political Union With And Under The Sovereignty Of The USPop51KGDP (PPP)$1.2BCP0.0→Beta

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Overview

Background: Austronesian people settled the Northern Mariana Islands around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including Micronesians in the first century A.D. and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521, and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle there. By the time they returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands.

In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US after the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and later administered them as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI).

On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, which Guam rejected in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-governance separate from the rest of the TTPI, and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship, with the territory coming under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.

Geography

Area

Land: 464 sq km
Note: note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 464 sq km

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain: the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands

Land Use

Other: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.8% (2023 est.)

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Coastline: 1,482 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Agrihan Volcano 965 m

Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2012)
Map references: Oceania

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Geography note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Area comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan

People & Society

Languages: Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1% (includes Carolinian (official), Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.)
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 15.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 31.8 years
Total: 32.6 years (2025 est.)
Female: 33.2 years

Population

Male: 27,044
Total: 51,118 (2024 est.)
Female: 24,074

Nationality

Noun: NA (US citizens)
Adjective: NA

Urbanization

Urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 22.1% (male 6,066/female 5,231)
15 64 years: 67.7% (male 18,206/female 16,377)
65 years and over: 10.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,772/female 2,466)

Ethnic groups: Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 47.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 32.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 6.6 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -13.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: -0.33% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.17 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 75 years
Female: 79.5 years
Total population: 77.1 years (2024 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Major urban areas population: 51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 38.2% (2020 est.)

Government

Flag: description: blue with a five-pointed white star on a gray latte stone (a traditional foundation stone) in the center, surrounded by a mwáár or head lei (wreath)

meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star for the Commonwealth, and the latte stone and mwáár for Marianas culture; the mwáár is made from four kinds of flowers: flores mayo (Plumeria), ylang-ylang or langilang (Cananga odorata), angagha or peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), and teibwo or Pacific basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Capital

Name: Saipan
Etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it probably comes from a local word meaning "deserted" or "uninhabited," but stories vary on how it came to be used
Time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: see United States

Constitution

History: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)
Amendment process: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote

Country Name

Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Etymology: Spain named the islands in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria
Abbreviation: CNMI
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Legal system: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation
Government type: a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Judicial Branch

Note: note: US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the CNMI Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court
Highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge)
Subordinate courts: Superior Court
Judge selection and term of office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Sworn in by CNMI Chief Justice Alexandro Castro on Thursday, 24 July 2025
Chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Election results: 2022: Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; percent of vote in second round - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor

2018: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (independent) 37.8%; Arnold PALACIOS elected lieutenant governor
Head of government: Governor David M. APATANG (since 24 July 2025)
Most recent election date: 8 November 2022, with a runoff held on 25 November 2022
Election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed
Expected date of next election: 2026

National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
National color(s): blue, white
Political parties: Democratic Party
Republican Party

Legislative Branch

Note: note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the "Committee of the Whole House," but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

National Anthem(s)

Title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
History: official anthem, as a US commonwealth
Lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

National symbol(s): latte stone
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 municipalities are considered second-order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

International organisations: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $389.6 million (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $344 million (2015 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $128 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2020: $128 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021: $55 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $244 million (2022 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $556 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2020: $556 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2021: $666 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $777 million (2022 est.)

Industries: tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Economic overview: US Pacific island commonwealth economy; growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination; hit hard by 2018 typhoon; dependent on energy imports; exempt from some US labor and immigration laws; longstanding garment production
Exports partners: Sweden 21%, Singapore 20%, Hong Kong 12%, UK 8%, India 7% (2023)
Imports partners: Singapore 63%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Taiwan 4%, Philippines 3% (2023)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2020: -29.1% (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021: 5% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 16.6% (2022 est.)

Agricultural products: vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products
Exports commodities: scrap iron, refined petroleum, scrap copper, hydraulic engines, integrated circuits (2021)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, trunks and cases, flavored water (2023)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.096 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.242 billion (2016 est.)

Note: note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy; data are in 2013 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014: $845 million (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015: $933 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016: $1.242 billion (2016 est.)

Energy

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 25.1% (2021 est.)

Broadcast media: 1 TV station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio stations (2009)
Internet country code: .mp

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 20,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2022 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 20,474 (2004 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2004)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 0
Key ports: Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Very small: 2
Total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)

Environment

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Land Use

Other: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.8% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,800 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2016 est.)

Environmental issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species

Military & Security

Military note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Northern Mariana Islands — vintage 2026-Q1: Northern Mariana Islands factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/northern-mariana-islands

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Sources: CIA World Factbook