Discover Fascinating Northern Mariana Islands Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Northern Mariana Islands.

Northern Mariana Islands

Background

๐ŸŒด The Northern Mariana Islands are a beautiful group of islands in the Pacific Ocean! ๐ŸŒŠ Under the US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the people made an important decision in the 1970s. Instead of seeking independence, they chose to get closer to the United States. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ In 1986, a big change happened: the islanders were granted US citizenship! ๐ŸŽ‰ This led to the territory becoming known as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Year US Citizenship Granted

1986

Date of Decision for Closer US Links

1970s

Exports - commodities

The Northern Mariana Islands export a variety of interesting commodities! ๐ŸŒ Some key exports include:

  • Scrap iron
  • Refined petroleum
  • Scrap copper
  • Hydraulic engines
  • Integrated circuits
  • Peas
  • Scrap aluminum

These commodities showcase the diverse economy of the islands, tapping into both raw materials and technological products! ๐Ÿ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ป

Capital

The beautiful capital of Northern Mariana Islands is Saipan! ๐ŸŒด It's a wonderful place known for its stunning beaches and rich history. ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒž

Imports - commodities

The Northern Mariana Islands imports a variety of exciting commodities! ๐ŸŒโœจ Some of the notable imports include: refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, and jewelry. These goods play a big role in the economy and everyday life of the islands, making them vibrant and connected to global trade! ๐Ÿš—๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ“ฆ

Main imported commodities

refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, jewelry

Climate

The Northern Mariana Islands enjoy a lovely tropical marine climate! ๐ŸŒด This means they're blessed with warm temperatures all year round, thanks to the northeast trade winds that help moderate the climate. ๐ŸŒค๏ธ You won't find much change in the temperature with the seasons, which is great for beach lovers!

The year is divided into two main seasons:

  • Dry season: December to June ๐ŸŒž
  • Rainy season: July to October ๐ŸŒง๏ธ

So grab your sunglasses and enjoy the sunshine during the dry season, but don't forget your umbrella for the rainy season! โ˜”

Climate Type

Tropical marine

Seasonal Temperature Variation

Little

Dry Season Duration

December to June

Rainy Season Duration

July to October

Executive branch

The Executive branch of the Northern Mariana Islands has some important leaders! ๐ŸŒŸ The chief of state is President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr., who has been in office since 20 January 2021. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ On the local side, the head of government is Governor Arnold PALACIOS, who took charge on 9 January 2023. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ These leaders help guide the territory towards a bright future!

Current President of the USA

Joseph R. BIDEN Jr.

Date President took office

20 January 2021

Current Governor

Arnold PALACIOS

Date Governor took office

9 January 2023

Legislative branch

The Northern Mariana Islands has an exciting legislative branch! ๐ŸŽ‰ It's made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. ๐Ÿ“œ Let's break it down:

  • Senate: 9 seats ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • House of Representatives: 20 seats ๐Ÿ 

This bicameral structure means there are a total of 29 seats available for lawmakers to represent the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. Together, they play a vital role in making decisions and creating laws that affect everyday life! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Total Number of Legislative Seats

29

Number of Senate Seats

9

Number of House of Representatives Seats

20

Legislative Seats in Northern Mariana Islands

Natural resources

๐ŸŒด Natural Resources of Northern Mariana Islands ๐ŸŒŠ

The Northern Mariana Islands are blessed with some key natural resources that play a vital role in the lifestyle and economy of its residents. Two of the main resources highlighted are:

  1. Arable Land: This is the land that can be used for growing crops. It's like the kitchen garden of the islands! ๐ŸŒฑ
  2. Fish: With access to rich waters, fish are a primary resource, supporting both food supplies and the local fishing industry. ๐ŸŸ

These resources are crucial for sustaining the local economy and food security, making them a cherished part of island life.

Key Natural Resources of Northern Mariana Islands

Arable land, Fish

Economic overview

๐Ÿ’ฐ The Northern Mariana Islands is a picturesque US Pacific island commonwealth with a unique economy. ๐ŸŒด It's been growing in popularity as a tourist destination, especially among travelers from China and Korea! ๐Ÿ“ˆ However, in 2018, the islands faced a significant challenge when a powerful typhoon hit hard, impacting the local economy. ๐Ÿ’จ While tourism is flourishing, the islands are also dependent on energy imports to sustain their growth. โšก Interestingly, they enjoy some exemptions from US labor and immigration laws, which supports longstanding industries like garment production. ๐Ÿ‘—

Impact of 2018 Typhoon

Significant impact on local economy

Tourist Growth

Growing destination for Chinese and Korean tourists

Dependency

Dependent on energy imports

Garment Production

Longstanding industry

Labor Law Exemptions

Exempt from some US labor and immigration laws

Government type

๐ŸŒ The Northern Mariana Islands is a unique place! It operates as a commonwealth in political union with the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ, which means it shares certain privileges and responsibilities but has its own government. This island paradise has a republican form of government ๐Ÿ›๏ธ, which means that representatives are elected by the people! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Plus, it's well-structured with separate branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This keeps things running smoothly and fairly for all its residents.

Government structure

Republican form with separate branches

Political relationship

Commonwealth in political union with the US

Ethnic groups

In the beautiful Northern Mariana Islands, the people come from a rich tapestry of ethnic backgrounds! ๐ŸŒŽ Let's take a look at some cool statistics about the diverse ethnic groups there:

  • Asian: 50% ๐Ÿฅข

    • Filipino: 35.3%
    • Chinese: 6.8%
    • Korean: 4.2%
    • Other Asian: 3.7%
  • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 34.9% ๐ŸŒบ

    • Chamorro: 23.9%
    • Carolinian: 4.6%
    • Other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 6.4%
  • Other: 2.5%

  • Two or more ethnicities or races: 12.7% ๐Ÿค

This mix of cultures makes Northern Mariana Islands a unique place to live, work, and visit! ๐ŸŒˆ

Percentage of Filipinos in Northern Mariana Islands

35.3%

Percentage of Chamorros in Northern Mariana Islands

23.9%

Ethnic Composition of Northern Mariana Islands

Religions

In the beautiful Northern Mariana Islands, the main religion is Christianity, with a majority being Roman Catholic. โœ๏ธ However, the culture is also rich with traditional beliefs and taboos that continue to influence the community. This blend of faiths adds a unique flavor to their practices and traditions! ๐ŸŒบ

Dominant Religion

Christianity (Roman Catholic majority)

Presence of Traditional Beliefs

Yes

Languages

In the Northern Mariana Islands, a variety of languages are spoken, making it a colorful melting pot of cultures! ๐ŸŒ Here's the breakdown of the most popular languages:

  • Philippine languages: 32.8% ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
  • Chamorro: 24.1% ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ต (this is an official language!)
  • English: 17% ๐Ÿ“š (also an official language!)
  • Other Pacific island languages: 10.1% ๐ŸŒŠ
  • Carolinian: part of 'other Pacific island languages'
  • Chinese: 6.8% ๐Ÿ‰
  • Other Asian languages: 7.3% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Other: 1.9% ๐ŸŽญ

This data shows a vibrant array of linguistic diversity, reflecting the rich heritage of the islands! With most people speaking Philippine languages, it's clear they're a big part of the culture! ๐ŸŽ‰

Total percentage of languages represented

100%

Languages classified as official

Chamorro and English

Language Distribution in Northern Mariana Islands

Imports - partners

Let's explore the Northern Mariana Islands' international trading partners! ๐ŸŒ In 2022, the islands imported goods primarily from the following countries:

  • Singapore: 42% ๐Ÿ“ฆ
  • Japan: 20% ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
  • South Korea: 16% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Hong Kong: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ
  • Taiwan: 3% ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ

As you can see, Singapore is the clear leader in imports, making up a whopping 42%! That's more than double the imports from Japan, the second-biggest partner. Isn't that interesting? ๐Ÿค”

These numbers give us a great snapshot of where the Northern Mariana Islands is sourcing its imported goods!

Total Percentage of Top Partners

100%

Import Partners of Northern Mariana Islands in 2022

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ The Northern Mariana Islands have diverse trade partners! In 2022, the biggest slice of exports went to South Korea, making up 48% of total exports. ๐Ÿ“ฆ Following South Korea, Thailand contributed 9%, while Germany, Cyprus, and India each accounted for 6%. Let's dive into this vibrant trade relationship! ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ

Largest Export Partner

South Korea (48%)

Second Largest Export Partner

Thailand (9%)

Equal Third Largest Export Partners

Germany, Cyprus, and India (6% each)

Exports Partners for Northern Mariana Islands (2022)

Population

๐ŸŒ The Northern Mariana Islands have a total population of 51,118 people! This small group of islands is full of diverse cultures and beautiful landscapes. ๐ŸŒด Whether you're dreaming of visiting or just curious about this place, remember that each number represents real lives and stories. ๐Ÿ“–

Total Population

51,118

Area

๐ŸŒ The Northern Mariana Islands is a fascinating place with a total area of 464 square kilometers! Can you imagine that? ๐Ÿ“ This area is entirely land, as there's 0 square kilometers of water. So if you love exploring land, this is your spot! ๐Ÿƒ

Total Area

464 sq km

Land Area

464 sq km

Water Area

0 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at the Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) of the Northern Mariana Islands over the years! This gives us a peek into how much stuff the economy is able to produce, adjusted so that it makes sense when comparing different countries.

Here's the fun part:

  • 2014: $845 million
  • 2015: $933 million
  • 2016: $1.242 billion

You can see that the GDP has been growing year by year! Let's graph this growth to see it clearly! ๐ŸŒŸ

Growth of Real GDP in Northern Mariana Islands (2014-2016)

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ“ˆ The Real GDP per capita for the Northern Mariana Islands has shown some interesting trends over recent years! In 2014, the GDP per capita was $16,600. It increased in 2015 to $18,400, and then saw a notable rise in 2016 to $24,500! This is a great indicator of economic growth and prosperity in the region. Let's take a closer look at this data! ๐Ÿ“Š

2014 GDP per Capita

16,600

2015 GDP per Capita

18,400

2016 GDP per Capita

24,500

Real GDP per Capita in Northern Mariana Islands (2014-2016)

Imports

๐ŸŒŠ The Northern Mariana Islands engage in various trade activities, and understanding their imports gives us a peek into their economy! ๐Ÿ“Š Here's a look at the estimated import values over the years:

  • In 2020, the imports were estimated at $536 million
  • In 2019, they reached $735 million
  • And in 2018, the imports were $754 million

๐Ÿ“ˆ It seems like there was a dip in imports in 2020 compared to previous years. Let's visualize this trend to better understand the changes over time!

Estimated Imports in 2020

$536 million

Estimated Imports in 2019

$735 million

Estimated Imports in 2018

$754 million

Northern Mariana Islands Import Trends

Exports

๐Ÿ’ฐ The Northern Mariana Islands have seen some interesting changes in their exports over the years! Let's take a look at the export values for the past few years:

  • In 2018, the exports were $660 million.
  • In 2019, they decreased to $500 million.
  • By 2020, they further declined to $128 million.

This trend shows a significant drop in export values, making it a crucial point to understand the economy of the Northern Mariana Islands! ๐Ÿ“‰

Export Value in 2018

660 million dollars

Export Value in 2019

500 million dollars

Export Value in 2020

128 million dollars

Exports Over Time (Northern Mariana Islands)

Population growth rate

The Northern Mariana Islands are experiencing a population growth rate of -0.34% for the year 2024 ๐Ÿ“‰. This negative growth indicates that the population is decreasing slightly, which can be due to various factors including migration patterns and birth rates.

Population Growth Rate (2024)

-0.34%