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Home ----
Oceania
( N
) ----
Northern Mariana Islands
(commonwealth in political union with the US) |
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National Map
Of |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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National Flag
Of |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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Flag Description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the
gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation
stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a
wreath
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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National Anthem
Of |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Oceania,
islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 12 N,
145 45 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total:
477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota,
and Tinian |
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times
the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,482 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical
marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to
June, rainy season July to October |
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Terrain:
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southern
islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
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Natural resources:
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arable
land, fish |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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active
volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially
August to November) |
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Environment - current issues:
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contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to
disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered
species conflicts with development |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location in the North Pacific Ocean |
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People |
Northern Mariana Islands |
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Population:
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80,362
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 19.9% (male 8,332/female 7,646)
15-64 years: 78.5% (male 26,121/female 36,982)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 646/female 635)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
29.33 years
male: 31.54 years
female: 28.33 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.61%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.51
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.3
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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8.92
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.71 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 0.78 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.88 years
male: 73.31 years
female: 78.61 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.27
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
NA
adjective: NA |
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Ethnic groups:
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Asian
56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other
0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census) |
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Religions:
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Christian
(Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs
and taboos may still be found) |
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Languages:
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Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro
22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages
9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.) |
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Country name:
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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) |
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Dependency status:
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commonwealth in political union with the US; federal
funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
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Government type:
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commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected
governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature |
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Capital:
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Saipan
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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none
(commonwealth in political union with the US) |
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National holiday:
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Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) |
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Constitution:
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Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement
effective 4 November 1986 |
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Legal system:
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based on
US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws,
and taxation |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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Executive branch:
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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. BABAUTA
(since 14 January 2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T.
BENAVENTE (since 14 January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president
elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor
and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3
November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected
governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Juan N.
BABAUTA (Republican Party) 42.8% |
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Legislative branch:
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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)
elections: Senate - last held 1 November 2003
(next to be held 5 November 2005); House of
Representatives - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be
held 5 November 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NA; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 1, independent 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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal
District Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican
Party [NA]; Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Interpol
(subbureau) |
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Flag description:
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blue,
with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation
stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a
wreath |
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Economy - overview:
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The
economy benefits substantially from financial assistance
from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally
generated government revenues have grown. The key
tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and
accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese
tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have
exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial
difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown.
The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and
small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes,
and melons. Garment production is by far the most
important industry with employment of 17,500 mostly
Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under
duty and quota exemptions. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$900
million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000
est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA |
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Labor force:
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6,006
total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers (June 1995) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.2%
(1997 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (FY01/02 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coconuts,
fruits, vegetables; cattle |
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Industries:
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tourism,
construction, garments, handicrafts |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
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Exports:
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NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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garments
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Exports - partners:
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US (2000)
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Imports:
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NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
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Imports - partners:
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US, Japan
(2000) |
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Debt - external:
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NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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extensive
funding from US |
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Currency (code):
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US dollar
(USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US
dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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1 October
- 30 September |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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21,000
(2000) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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3,000
(2000) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM
3, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Radios:
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NA |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (on
Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition,
two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming
from satellite networks) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.mp |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2001)
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Internet users:
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NA |
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Highways:
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total:
362 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1991) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Saipan,
Tinian |
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Airports:
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5 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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