Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, usually shortened to the Northern Mariana Islands, is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean that are a political division controlled by the United States. Its capital is Saipan.
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas (Chamorro) Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas (Carolinian) | |
| Anthem: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (Chamorro) "Satil Matawal Pacifiko" (Carolinian) ("In the Middle of the Sea") (regional) "The Star-Spangled Banner" (official) | |
| Location of the Northern Mariana Islands (circled in red) Location of the Northern Mariana Islands (circled in red) | |
| Sovereign state | 22x20px United States |
| Before association with the United States | Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
| Commonwealth status | January 9, 1978 |
| End of U.N. Trusteeship | November 4, 1986 |
| Capital and largest city | Saipan 15°11′N 145°44′E / 15.19°N 145.74°E |
| Official languages | |
| Philippine languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2023)[1] |
|
| Religion (2010)[2] |
|
| Demonym(s) | Northern Mariana Islander (formal) Northern Marianan (other) Marianan (diminutive form) Chamorro (colloquial)[3] |
| Government | Devolved presidential constitutional dependency |
• Governor | David M. Apatang (I) |
| Dennis C. Mendiola (R) | |
| Legislature | Commonwealth Legislature |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| United States Congress | |
| Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R) | |
| Area | |
• Total | 464[4][5][6] km2 (179 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 965 m (3,166 ft) |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 55,650[4] (209th) |
• 2020 census | 47,329[7] |
• Density | 113/km2 (292.7/sq mi) (97th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2016 estimate |
• Total | $1.24 billion[4] |
• Per capita | $25,516[4] |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $1.18 billion[8] |
• Per capita | $21,239 |
| HDI (2017) | 0.875 very high |
| Currency | United States dollar (US$) (USD) |
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (ChST) |
| Date format | mm/dd/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +1-670 |
| USPS abbreviation | MP |
| Trad. abbreviation | CNMI |
| ISO 3166 code | |
| Internet TLD | .mp |
| Website | gov |
_(small_islands_magnified).svg){kind=link}
Spain owned the islands until 1899 and sold them to the German Empire. Germany lost them to Japan in World War I and the United States took them in World War II.
Geography
The Northern Mariana Islands, together with Guam to the south, compose the Mariana Islands. The southern islands are limestone, with level terraces and fringing coral reefs. The northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanos on Anatahan, Pagan and Agrihan. The volcano on Agrihan has the highest elevation at 3,166 feet (965 m). Anatahan Volcano is a small volcanic island 80 miles (130 km) north of Saipan. It is about 6 miles (10 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide. Anatahan began erupting suddenly from its east crater on May 10, 2003, at about 6 p.m. (0800 UTC). It has since alternated between eruptive and calm periods. On April 6, 2005, approximately 1,800,000 cubic feet (50,970 m3) of ash and rock were ejected, causing a large, black cloud to drift south over Saipan and Tinian.
People
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 8,286 | ||
| 1970 | 9,436 | 13.9% | |
| 1980 | 16,780 | 77.8% | |
| 1990 | 43,345 | 158.3% | |
| 2000 | 69,221 | 59.7% | |
| 2010 | 53,883 | −22.2% | |
In 2020, 47,329 people lived on the Northern Mariana Islands. This was down from 69,221 in 2000.[7]
The official languages on the Northern Mariana Islands are English, Chamorro, and Carolinian. Only a few people speak the Tanapag language. Many people also speak Philippine languages, Chinese, and other Pacific island languages. Many people still have Spanish family names, but the people do not often speak Spanish, as they did in the past.[9]
Most people in the Northern Mariana Islands are Roman Catholic. There are also communities of Buddhist and Protestant people. Many people have traditional beliefs, also referred to as folk religion. According to the Pew Research Center, 2010:[10]
- Roman Catholic 64.1%
- Protestants 16%
- Buddhists 10.6%
- Folk religions 5.3%
- Other Christians 1.2%
- Other religions 1.1%
- Unaffiliated 1.0%
- Eastern Orthodox <1%
- Hindu <1%
- Muslim <1%
- Jews <1%
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 865 members in the Northern Mariana Islands.[11]
Northern Mariana Islands Media
- Territorial anthem of the Northern Mariana Islands, performed by the United States Navy Band.oga
Territorial anthem of the Northern Mariana Islands, performed by the United States Navy Band
- Star Spangled Banner instrumental.ogg
Star Spangled Banner instrumental
- ChugaiCaveTurtles.jpg
Pictograms of sea turtles in Mariana's cave
- Reception of the Manila Galleon by the Chamorro in the Ladrones Islands, ca. 1590.jpg
Reception of the Manila galleon by the Chamorro in the Ladrones Islands, c. 1590. From Boxer Codex.
- Korean Cafe in Saipan.JPG
Saipan under the administration of the Empire of Japan
- Marine infantrymen on Saipan.jpg
U.S. Marines in Garapan, Saipan
- Saipan.jpg
Aerial view of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
- NOAA Map of the US EEZ.svg
Map showing the Northern Mariana Islands and its exclusive economic zone (left) in the United States
- Pagan Island, Northern Marianas.jpg
Pagan Island eruption in 2012
- Saipan from ISS 2.png
Saipan seen from the International Space Station
- Women stick dancing in Tanapag Village, Saipan (2000).webm
Women performing a folk stick dance in Saipan, 2000
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 2020 Census Population of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Municipality and Village, U.S. Census Bureau.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
Other websites
16x16px Media related to Northern Mariana Islands at Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Atlas of Northern Mariana Islands
- 16x16px Northern Mariana Islands travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Northern Mariana Islands Archived 2025-04-25 at the Wayback Machine official government website
- The CNMI Covenant Archived 2013-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
- The CNMI Constitution Archived 2008-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- CNMI Office of Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio Archived 2007-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
- H.R. 873 - the Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act Archived 2008-12-24 at the Wayback Machine
- H.R. 5550 - The United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- U.S. Census Bureau: Island Areas Census 2000
- CIA World Factbook information about Northern Mariana Islands
- Northern Mariana Islands at the Open Directory Project
