ea:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
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; highest elevation is 471 meters
(Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
5% on Saipan
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to
disease
natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (especially
August to November)
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

@Northern Mariana Islands, People

Population:
49,799 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.04% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
35.05 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.43 years
male:
65.53 years
female:
69.48 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.69 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese,
Chinese, 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
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Labor force:
7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign
workers (1990)
by occupation:
NA

@Northern Mariana Islands, Government

Names: