Northern Mariana Islands

Background: Under 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 instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Location: Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. Area: Total: 477 sq km, note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC. Coastline: 1,482 km.
Climate and Terrain: 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. Natural resources: Arable land, fish.
People: Population: 80,006. Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, 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.
Government: Dependency status: Commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. Government type: Commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature. Capital: Saipan.
Economy overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key 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 years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000. Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200. Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1. Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks). Railways: 0 km Highways: Total: 362 km. Airports - with paved runways: 3, with unpaved runways: 3. Heliports: 1.