Commonwealth in political union with the United States
Self-governing under its own constitution, in political union with the United States under the Covenant signed in 1975 and approved by Congress on 24 March 1976. Persons born in the Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. citizens under the Covenant and federal law.
National Identity
- Official name
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Official name (in Chamorro)
- Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas
- Official name (in Carolinian)
- Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas
- Name etymology
Spain named the islands in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria
Sources:- Constitution ↗ - Commonwealth Law Revision Commission of the Northern Mariana Islands
- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- National seal
- National flag
- National anthem
- The Star Spangled BannerThe national anthem of the United States.1:18
- Title
- The Star Spangled Banner
- Lyrics
- English
1Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
2On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: ‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
3And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out of their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
4Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Source:
- Official name:Constitution ↗ - Commonwealth Law Revision Commission of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Official name:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
- Total area
- 464 km²
- Land area
- 464 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 1,482 km
- 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 - Highest point
- 965 mAgrihan Volcano
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical marine moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October - Avg. temperature
- 27 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 26.2 to 27.6 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,816 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 26.6 26.1 25.5 69 February 26.3 25.8 25.2 50 March 26.5 26 25.4 48 April 27.2 26.7 26 62 May 27.9 27.3 26.6 79 June 28.4 27.8 26.8 117 July 28.4 27.6 26.5 240 August 28.3 27.5 26.5 346 September 28.3 27.4 26.4 308 October 28.2 27.4 26.5 280 November 28 27.4 26.7 138 December 27.5 27 26.3 80 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable0.2%Perm. crops0.2%Pasture0.8%Forest53.0%Other45.9%
- Arable land
- 80 hectares (0.2%)
- Permanent crops
- 90 hectares (0.2%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 370 hectares (0.8%)
- Forest
- 24,360 hectares (53.0%)
- Other land
- 21,100 hectares (45.9%)
Source:
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −1.44% per year−627 people/yearWorld Rank233rdof 237
- Birth rate
- 10.9 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 5.5 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −18.4 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 38.8 yearsWorld Rank78thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years20.4%15-64 years67.7%65 years +11.9%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 11.9%
- Share aged under 18
- 25.8%
- Total dependency ratio
- 48
- Youth dependency ratio
- 30
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 18
- Sex ratio
- 1.13 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.4% 0.6% 70-79 2.6% 2.5% 60-69 7.3% 6.3% 50-59 9.0% 8.3% 40-49 6.8% 6.0% 30-39 5.2% 4.4% 20-29 6.1% 5.2% 10-19 8.8% 8.0% 0-9 6.8% 5.8% - 2026
- 0.04 above the replacement level for the Northern Mariana Islands ()2.24 births per womanreplacement 2.20123World Rank88thof 237
- 1.03 daughters per woman0.03 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +5.4 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 5.4 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −18.4 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 92.3% live in 39,601 urban residents
- Largest places2020
- Garapan, Kagman, Finasisu, San AntonioRankPlacePopulation (2020 census)1Garapan5,2252Kagman4,0273Finasisu3,5594San Antonio3,2385Koblerville3,0146Chalan Kanoa2,9677Dandan2,9228San Jose2,8019Gualo Rai2,73910San Vincente1,862Source:
- U.S. Census Bureau and CNMI Central Statistics Division (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan.
- Ethnic groups2010
- Asian50.0%Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander34.9%Other2.5%Mixed12.7%
- Asian
- 50.0%
- Filipino
- 35.3%
- Chinese
- 6.8%
- Korean
- 4.2%
- Other Asian
- 3.7%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 34.9%
- Chamorro
- 23.9%
- Carolinian
- 4.6%
- Other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 6.4%
Source:- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Religions
- Christian (Roman Catholic majority)
Traditional beliefs and taboos are still found.
Source:- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Languages
- English, Chamorro (Chamoru), Carolinian (Refaluwasch)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:U.S. Census Bureau and CNMI Central Statistics Division (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicShared with the United States: the President of the United States is head of state.A self-governing commonwealth under the sovereignty of the United States, whose people govern their internal affairs under a Constitution of their own adoption (Covenant, ss. 101, 103).Sources:
- Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America (Pub. L. 94-241), note to 48 U.S.C. 1801, United States Code, 2023 edition ↗, Covenant, ss. 101, 103
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with source notes ↗, Covenant, ss. 101, 103
- System of government
- PresidentialExecutive power is vested in a governor, elected at large with the lieutenant governor for four years; the legislature can remove executive officers only by impeachment, and the governor has no power to dissolve it (Art. III, ss. 1, 4; Art. II, s. 8).Sources:
- Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America (Pub. L. 94-241), note to 48 U.S.C. 1801, United States Code, 2023 edition ↗, Art. III, ss. 1, 4; Art. II, s. 8
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with source notes ↗, Art. III, ss. 1, 4; Art. II, s. 8
- Official websites
- Capital
- Saipan43,385 people(2020)
- National holidays
- 17 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- MonJan 19Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- MonFeb 16Washington's Birthday
- TueMar 24Commonwealth Covenant Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonMay 25Memorial Day
- FriJun 19Juneteenth National Independence Day
- FriJul 3Independence Day (observed)
- SatJul 4Independence Day
- MonSep 7Labor Day
- MonOct 12Commonwealth Cultural Day
- TueNov 3Election Day
- WedNov 4Citizenship Day
- WedNov 11Veterans Day
- ThuNov 26Thanksgiving Day
- TueDec 8Constitution Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- ChSTChamorro Standard TimeUTC+10
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +1-670
- Internet TLD
- .mp
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- MP, MNP
- Infrastructure
- Heliports
- 7
Source:- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Form of state, System of government:Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America (Pub. L. 94-241), note to 48 U.S.C. 1801, United States Code, 2023 edition ↗ - U.S. Government Publishing Office
- Form of state, System of government:Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with source notes ↗ - CNMI Law Revision Commission
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Economy
- High income
- Trade2023
- Sweden21%
- Singapore20%
- Hong Kong12%
- United Kingdom8%
- India7%
Source:- The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
- Industries
- tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services
- Income level:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA
Cost of Living
Society
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site96,100 arrivalsdown 80% against 201980% below 2019World Rank126thof 139
- Per resident
- 2.1 arrivals per resident
- Same-day visitors
- 500 arrivals
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
Crime & Safety
- Prison population2022
- 368.9 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 170
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 79.2 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 4.5 per 1,000 live births
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
Environment
- 2024
- 0.6 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted236thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 9 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- contamination of groundwater on Saipan
- clean-up of landfill
- protection of endangered species
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Northern Mariana Islands - CIA