The 2002 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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СКАЧАТЬ Mariana Islands

      Introduction

      Northern Mariana Islands

      Background: Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

      Geography Northern Mariana Islands

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

      Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E

      Map references: Oceania

      Area: total: 477 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan,

       Rota, and Tinian water: 0 sq km land: 477 sq km

      Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries: 0 km

      Coastline: 1,482 km

      Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

      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

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

      Natural resources: arable land, fish

      Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 7% other: 78% (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land: NA sq km

      Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

      Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

      Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

      People Northern Mariana Islands

      Population: 77,311 (July 2002 est.)

      Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.4% (male 9,208; female 8,902) 15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,041; female 30,781) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 690; female 689) (2002 est.)

      Population growth rate: 3.49% (2002 est.)

      Birth rate: 20.29 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Death rate: 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Net migration rate: 17.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: 79.23 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

      Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA

      Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian,

       Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

      Government Northern Mariana Islands

      Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern

       Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former:

       Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

      Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

      Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

      Capital: Saipan

      Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

      Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

      National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

      Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978

      Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

      Executive branch: chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Juan N. BABOUTA (since NA January 2002) and Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002) cabinet: for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results: Juan N. BABOUTA (Republican Party) 49%

      Legislative branch: + bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 4, Democratic Party 3, Reform Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 16, Democratic Party 1, Covenant Party 1 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO) elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2003); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2003)

      Judicial СКАЧАТЬ