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Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands[b] (CNMI; Chamorro: Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; Carolinian: Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.[10] The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self governing territory until 1990.[11]

Northern Mariana Islands

January 9, 1978

November 4, 1986

Northern Mariana Islander (formal)
Northern Marianan (other)
Marianan (diminutive form)
Chamorro (colloquial)[3]

Devolved presidential constitutional dependency

464[4][5][6] km2 (179 sq mi)

negligible

965 m (3,166 ft)

55,650[4] (209th)

47,329[7]

113/km2 (292.7/sq mi) (97th)

2016 estimate

$1.24 billion[4]

$25,516[4]

2019 estimate

$1.18 billion[8]

$21,239

United States dollar (US$) (USD)

mm/dd/yyyy

right

During the colonial period, the Northern Marianas were variously under the control of the Spanish, German, and Japanese empires. After World War II, the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration, before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship.


The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km2).[12] According to the 2020 United States Census, 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at that time.[7] The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other islands of the Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan, which was left largely uninhabited since a 1981 volcanic eruption.[13]


The administrative center is Capitol Hill, a village in northwestern Saipan. The current governor of the CNMI is Arnold Palacios, who entered office in January 2023. The legislative branch has a 9-member Senate and a 14-member House of Representatives.

(or Uracus),

Farallon de Pajaros

Maug Islands

Supply reef

Asuncion Island

Agrihan

(Mostly uninhabited since a 1981 eruption)

Pagan

Alamagan

Guguan

mostly submerged rocky outcops break the surface at low tide.

Zealandia Bank

Sarigan

eruptions in 2003 and 2007–8

Anatahan

Farallon de Medinilla

Saipan

quiet rural island with many cattle ranches and historical sites

Tinian

Aguijan

(also known as Friendly Island) Also inhabited.

Rota

Managaha Island (100 acre tropical beach island visited by ferry)

American Memorial Park

Micro Beach, a 1 km beach on the west side, so possible to see sunset.

[91]

San Juan beach, with unique stone formation that is known for looking a bit like a crocodile.[93]

[92]

Rad/Ladder/Coral Beach on the southern part of Saipan, and is about 100 yards long and is mostly coral fragments. It is popular for local barbeques and beach running.

[94]

Obyan Beach, a long beach in the south known for colorful underwater life.

[95]

Taga Beach (on Tinian island), the largest beach on Tinian and known for Sunset views.

[96]

Quarry (a very old stone quarry of the Chamorro people)

Latte Stones

(highest point with views of Saipan), this site is known for its views and its possible to see other islands on clear day and is topped by statue of Jesus Christ.[97]

Mount Tapochau

(features ancient cave drawings)

Kalabera Cave

Last Command Post (The final Japanese command post in the Battle of Saipan)

Bird Island Sanctuary beach (beach by Bird Island sanctuary), faces east. There is also a Bird Island observatory to the south for observing the birds)

[98]

Forbidden Island, this small island connected to Saipan is connected at low tide and can be hiked onto, but at high tide the water separates it. There is a lookout near this small island.

[49]

(a lighthouse built in 1934 when the Northern Marianas were in the Japanese Mandate, currently a cafe with island views)[99]

Japanese Lighthouse

[100]

NMI Museum of History and Culture

The Grotto, on Saipan is a large underwater limestone cavern.

[101]

became more popular in the 2010s century with mothers coming from Asia to give birth, thus giving the baby a chance to be a U.S. Citizen.[83]

Birth tourism

Filipino 35.3%

Chamorro 23.9%

Multiracial 12.7% (2 or more backgrounds)

Chinese 6.8%

Other Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%

Carolinian 4.6%

Korean 4.2%

Other Asian 3.7%

Other 2.5%

An Act to amend Public Law 93-435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands

Outline of the Northern Mariana Islands

Index of Northern Mariana Islands-related articles

List of National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands

, 2000.

The World Factbook

Land areas and population data from .

United States Census Bureau

Northern Mariana Islands and constituent municipalities, United States Census Bureau

– Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (archived April 28, 2009)

Official website

The CNMI Covenant

(archived October 5, 2008)

The CNMI Constitution

(archived May 23, 2007)

CNMI Office of Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio

(archived December 24, 2008)

H.R. 873 – The Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act

(archived December 23, 2008)

H.R. 5550 – The United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act