Discover Fascinating Northern Mariana Islands Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Northern Mariana Islands.
Northern Mariana Islands
Background
๐ด The Northern Mariana Islands are a beautiful group of islands in the Pacific Ocean! ๐ 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. ๐บ๐ธ In 1986, a big change happened: the islanders were granted US citizenship! ๐ 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! ๐ 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! ๐๏ธ๐ป
Capital
The beautiful capital of Northern Mariana Islands is Saipan! ๐ด It's a wonderful place known for its stunning beaches and rich history. ๐๐
Imports - commodities
The Northern Mariana Islands imports a variety of exciting commodities! ๐โจ 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! ๐๐๐ฆ
Main imported commodities
refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, jewelry
Climate
The Northern Mariana Islands enjoy a lovely tropical marine climate! ๐ด This means they're blessed with warm temperatures all year round, thanks to the northeast trade winds that help moderate the climate. ๐ค๏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 ๐
- Rainy season: July to October ๐ง๏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! ๐ The chief of state is President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr., who has been in office since 20 January 2021. ๐บ๐ธ On the local side, the head of government is Governor Arnold PALACIOS, who took charge on 9 January 2023. ๐๏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! ๐ It's made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. ๐ Let's break it down:
- Senate: 9 seats ๐๏ธ
- House of Representatives: 20 seats ๐
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! ๐ณ๏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
๐ด Natural Resources of Northern Mariana Islands ๐
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:
- Arable Land: This is the land that can be used for growing crops. It's like the kitchen garden of the islands! ๐ฑ
- Fish: With access to rich waters, fish are a primary resource, supporting both food supplies and the local fishing industry. ๐
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
๐ฐ The Northern Mariana Islands is a picturesque US Pacific island commonwealth with a unique economy. ๐ด It's been growing in popularity as a tourist destination, especially among travelers from China and Korea! ๐ However, in 2018, the islands faced a significant challenge when a powerful typhoon hit hard, impacting the local economy. ๐จ While tourism is flourishing, the islands are also dependent on energy imports to sustain their growth. โก Interestingly, they enjoy some exemptions from US labor and immigration laws, which supports longstanding industries like garment production. ๐
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
๐ The Northern Mariana Islands is a unique place! It operates as a commonwealth in political union with the United States ๐บ๐ธ, which means it shares certain privileges and responsibilities but has its own government. This island paradise has a republican form of government ๐๏ธ, which means that representatives are elected by the people! ๐ณ๏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! ๐ Let's take a look at some cool statistics about the diverse ethnic groups there:
-
Asian: 50% ๐ฅข
- Filipino: 35.3%
- Chinese: 6.8%
- Korean: 4.2%
- Other Asian: 3.7%
-
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 34.9% ๐บ
- 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% ๐ค
This mix of cultures makes Northern Mariana Islands a unique place to live, work, and visit! ๐
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. โ๏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! ๐บ
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! ๐ Here's the breakdown of the most popular languages:
- Philippine languages: 32.8% ๐ฃ๏ธ
- Chamorro: 24.1% ๐ฒ๐ต (this is an official language!)
- English: 17% ๐ (also an official language!)
- Other Pacific island languages: 10.1% ๐
- Carolinian: part of 'other Pacific island languages'
- Chinese: 6.8% ๐
- Other Asian languages: 7.3% ๐จ๐ณ
- Other: 1.9% ๐ญ
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! ๐
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! ๐ In 2022, the islands imported goods primarily from the following countries:
- Singapore: 42% ๐ฆ
- Japan: 20% ๐ฏ๐ต
- South Korea: 16% ๐ฐ๐ท
- Hong Kong: 7% ๐ญ๐ฐ
- Taiwan: 3% ๐น๐ผ
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? ๐ค
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
๐ 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. ๐ฆ Following South Korea, Thailand contributed 9%, while Germany, Cyprus, and India each accounted for 6%. Let's dive into this vibrant trade relationship! ๐ฐ๐ท๐น๐ญ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐พ๐ฎ๐ณ
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
๐ 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. ๐ด Whether you're dreaming of visiting or just curious about this place, remember that each number represents real lives and stories. ๐
Total Population
51,118
Area
๐ The Northern Mariana Islands is a fascinating place with a total area of 464 square kilometers! Can you imagine that? ๐ This area is entirely land, as there's 0 square kilometers of water. So if you love exploring land, this is your spot! ๐
Total Area
464 sq km
Land Area
464 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ 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! ๐
Growth of Real GDP in Northern Mariana Islands (2014-2016)
Real GDP per capita
๐ 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! ๐
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
๐ The Northern Mariana Islands engage in various trade activities, and understanding their imports gives us a peek into their economy! ๐ 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
๐ 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
๐ฐ 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! ๐
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 ๐. 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%