3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991),
1.2799 (1990)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Norfolk Island:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: earth, coral 27 km

Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

@Norfolk Island:Communications

Telephone system: 987 telephones (1983)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio link service with Sydney

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
radios: 1,000 (1987 est.)

Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA

@Norfolk Island:Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

________________________________________________________________________

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

(commonwealth in political union with the US)

@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 477 sq km
land area: 477 sq km
comparative area: 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:
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 m (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; typhoons
(especially August to November)
international agreements: NA

Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

@Northern Mariana Islands:People

Population: 51,033 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.04% (1995 est.