View source for Northern Mariana Islands

{{Short description|U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{use American English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox political division
| name = Northern Mariana Islands 
| official_name = Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands{{efn|name=commonwealth}}<br />{{nobold|{{native name|ch|Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas}}}}<br />{{nobold|{{native name|cal|Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas}}}}
| settlement_type = [[Territories of the United States|Unincorporated and organized U.S. territory]]
| image_flag = Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
| flag_size = 130px
| flag_link = Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands
| image_seal = Seal of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
| seal_size = 90px
| seal_type = Seal
| seal_link = Seal of the Northern Mariana Islands
| anthem = {{native name|ch|"[[Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi]]"|italics=off}}<br />{{native name|cal|"Satil Matawal Pacifiko"|italics=off}}<br />(''"In the Middle of the Sea"'') (regional)<div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:Territorial anthem of the Northern Mariana Islands, performed by the United States Navy Band.oga]]}}</div><br>"[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" (official)<br>{{center|[[File:Star Spangled Banner instrumental.ogg]]}}
| anthem_link = List of U.S. state songs
| image_map = Northern Mariana Islands on the globe (Southeast Asia centered) (small islands magnified).svg
| map_alt = Location of the Northern Mariana Islands
| map_caption = Location of the Northern Mariana Islands <br /> (circled in red)
| mapsize = 250px
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = {{flagu|United States}}{{efn|Despite being under the sovereignty of the United States since 1978, the CNMI has not been fully [[Territories of the United States#Incorporated vs. unincorporated territories|incorporated]] into the country for constitutional purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Territories - Developments in the Law|work= [[Harvard Law Review]] |date= April 10, 2017 |url= https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-130/us-territories-introduction/ |language=en |access-date=June 11, 2024}}</ref> See the page for the [[Insular Cases#Background|Insular Cases]] for more information.}}
| established_title = Before association with the United States
| established_date = [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]]
| established_title2 = [[#Political status|Commonwealth status]]
| established_date2 = January 9, 1978
| established_title3 = End of U.N. Trusteeship
| established_date3 = November 4, 1986
| official_languages = {{hlist|[[English language|English]]|[[Chamorro language|Chamorro]]|[[Carolinian language|Carolinian]]}}
| languages2         = [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]
| demonym = [[Demographics of the Northern Mariana Islands|Northern Mariana Islander]] <small>(formal)</small><br />Northern Marianan <small>(other)</small><br />Marianan <small>(diminutive form)</small><br />Chamorro <small>(colloquial)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/aapi/primer.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010503143124/http://www.epa.gov/aapi/primer.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2001 |title=AAPI – Asian American and Pacific Islander – Primer |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |date=June 28, 2006 |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>
| capital = [[Saipan]]
| largest_city = [[Saipan]]
| coordinates = {{coord|15.19|145.74|region:MP_type:isle_scale:250000}}
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands|title=Northern Mariana Islands|website=Britannica |language=en|access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>
| ethnic_groups = {{Plainlist|
* 35.3% [[Filipinos|Filipino]]
* 23.9% [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]]
* 6.8% [[Chinese people|Chinese]]
* 4.6% [[Carolinian people|Refaluwasch]]
* 4.2% [[Korean people|Korean]]
* 6.4% [[Pacific Islander|other Pacific Islander]]
* 3.78% [[Asian People|other Asian]]
* 15.1% other}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2023
| religion_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/northern-mariana-islands#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |title=Northern Mariana Islands |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |access-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>
| religion_year = 2010
| religion = {{Plainlist|
* 81.3% [[Roman Catholic]]
* 10.6% [[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhism]]
* 5.3% folk religions
* 1.0% [[Irreligion in the United States|no religion]]
* 0.7% [[Islam in the United States|Islam]]
* 1.1% [[Religion in the United States|other]]
}}
| government_type = [[Devolution|Devolved]] presidential constitutional [[Dependent territory|dependency]]
| leader_title1      = [[President of the United States|President]]
| leader_name1        = [[Donald Trump]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2 = [[List of governors of the Northern Mariana Islands|Governor]]
| leader_name2 = [[David M. Apatang]] ([[Independent politician|I]])
| leader_title3 = [[Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands|Lieutenant Governor]]
| leader_name3 = [[Dennis C. Mendiola]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| legislature = [[Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature|Commonwealth Legislature]]
| upper_house = [[Northern Mariana Islands Senate|Senate]]
| lower_house = [[Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| national_representation = [[United States Congress]]
| national_representation_type1 = [[United States congressional delegations from the Northern Mariana Islands|House delegate]]
| national_representation1 = [[Kimberlyn King-Hinds]] ([[Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands)|R]])
| area_km2 = 464<ref name="CIA Factbook" /><ref name="CIA Factbook-b" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sablan.house.gov/our-district|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105081552/https://sablan.house.gov/our-district|archive-date=November 5, 2020|url-status=live|title=Our District|website=Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan Representing the Northern Mariana Islands|quote=The U.S. Census Bureau reports the total land area of all islands as 179 square miles.}}</ref>
| area_rank =
| area_sq_mi = 179 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| percent_water = negligible
| elevation_max_m = 965
| elevation_max_ft = 3,166
| elevation_max_point = [[Mount Agrihan]]
| population_census = 47,329<ref name=census2020>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/island-areas/commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands/population-and-housing-unit-counts/commonwealth-northern-mariana-islands-phc-table02.pdf 2020 Census Population of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Municipality and Village], U.S. Census Bureau.</ref>
| population_census_year = 2020
| population_estimate = 55,650<ref name="CIA Factbook" />
| population_estimate_year = 2022
| population_estimate_rank = 209th
| population_density_km2 = 113
| population_density_sq_mi = 292.7 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| population_density_rank = 97th
| GDP_PPP = $1.24&nbsp;billion<ref name="CIA Factbook" />
| GDP_PPP_year = 2016
| GDP_PPP_rank =
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $25,516<ref name="CIA Factbook"/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
| GDP_nominal =$1.18&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite web|title=Northern Mariana Islands |url=https://data.worldbank.org/country/MP|access-date=August 9, 2021|website=World Bank Open Data }}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_year =2019
| GDP_nominal_rank =
| GDP_nominal_per_capita =$21,239
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
| Gini =
| Gini_year =
| Gini_change = <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_ref = 
| HDI =0.875 <!-- number only -->
| HDI_year =2017
| HDI_change = <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| HDI_ref = 
| HDI_rank =
| currency = United States dollar (US$)
| currency_code = USD
| timezone = [[Chamorro Standard Time|ChST]]
| utc_offset = +10:00
| date_format = mm/dd/yyyy
| drives_on = right
| calling_code = [[North American Numbering Plan|+1]]
| postal_code_type = [[List of U.S. state abbreviations#Postal codes|USPS abbreviation]]
| postal_code = MP
| postal2_code_type = [[List of U.S. state abbreviations#Current use of traditional abbreviations|Trad. abbreviation]]
| postal2_code = CNMI
| iso_code = {{hlist|[[ISO 3166-2:MP|MP]]|[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-MP]]}}
| website = {{URL|gov.mp}}
| cctld = [[.mp]]
}}
The '''Northern Mariana Islands''', officially the '''Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''' ('''CNMI'''),{{efn|The definition of ''[[Commonwealth]]'' according to [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] policy (as codified in the department's ''[[Foreign Affairs Manual]]'') reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific political status or relationship."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://fam.state.gov/FAM/07FAM/07FAM1120.html#M1121_2_1
| title = 7 fam 1120 acquisition of u.s. nationality in u.s. territories and possessions
| access-date = December 13, 2015
| date = January 3, 2013
| work = U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 7- Consular Affairs
| publisher = U.S. Department of State
| format = PDF
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081013/https://fam.state.gov/FAM/07FAM/07FAM1120.html#M1121_2_1
| archive-date = December 22, 2015
}}</ref>|name=commonwealth}}<ref>({{langx|ch|Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas}}; {{langx|cal|Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas}})</ref> is an [[Territories of the United States|unincorporated territory]] and [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|commonwealth]] of the [[United States]] consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="Lin">Lin, Tom C.W., [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3454210 Americans, Almost and Forgotten], 107 California Law Review (2019)</ref> The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the [[Mariana Islands|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/history/former-trust-and-nsgts |title=List of former Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories |publisher=United Nations |date=April 11, 2023 |access-date=April 11, 2023}}</ref>

During the colonial period, the Northern Marianas were variously under the control of the [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]], [[German colonial empire|German]], and [[Empire of Japan|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 {{convert|183.5|sqmi|km2|2}}.<ref name=doi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/cnmi.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926172413/http://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/cnmi.cfm|website=US Department of the Interior|title=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands|archive-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> According to the [[2020 United States census]], 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at the time.<ref name=census2020/> The vast majority of the population resides on [[Saipan]], [[Tinian]], and [[Rota (island)|Rota]]. The other islands of the Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is [[Pagan (island)|Pagan]], which has been largely uninhabited since a 1981 volcanic eruption.<ref name="usgs.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/pagan |title=Pagan |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

The administrative center is [[Capitol Hill, Saipan|Capitol Hill]], a village in northwestern Saipan. The current governor of the CNMI is [[David M. Apatang]], who was elevated from lieutenant governor on July 23, 2025, following the death in office of [[Arnold Palacios]] who had served as governor since January 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Erediano |first=Emmanuel T. |date=July 24, 2025 |title=Gov. Palacios passes away; Apatang assumes office |url=https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/gov-palacios-passes-away-apatang-assumes-office/article_3e1186ac-f4fb-41f3-95e5-8983ac5b06ba.html |access-date=July 23, 2025 |work=Marianas Variety |language=en}}</ref> The legislative branch has a nine-member Senate and a 20-member House of Representatives.

==History==
The islands were settled around 1500 BCE when various peoples migrated there. Eventually, the islands were claimed by [[Spanish Empire|Spain]] in 1521.<ref name="CIA Factbook"/> In the 18th century, the people of the northern Marianas were forced by Spain to relocate, and when they returned, new peoples migrated there. In 1899 Spain sold the Northern Marianas to [[German colonial empire|Germany]] in the [[German–Spanish Treaty (1899)|Spanish-German Treaty of 1899]], while Guam went to the United States. At the end of World War I, with the defeat of Germany, the islands became a part of the Japanese Mandate under the League of Nations, starting in 1918. The islands were liberated from the Japanese in the [[Battle of Saipan]] in 1944, and after the war, became part of the UN Trust Territory called the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). Over the decades, integration with Guam was rejected, and eventually, the islands left the TTPI and became a part of the US in 1986. The Northern Marianas then became the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and its residents are US citizens. In 2009, they elected a non-voting delegate to the US Congress.<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

===Arrival of humans===
{{Main|Mariana Islands#Prehistory}}
[[File:ChugaiCaveTurtles.jpg|thumb|left|Pictograms of sea turtles in Chugai' cave on Rota]]
The Mariana Islands were the first islands settled by humans in [[Remote Oceania]]. Incidentally, their settlement was the first and longest of the ocean-crossing voyages of the [[Austronesian peoples]], separate from the later [[Polynesian people|Polynesian]] settlement of the rest of Remote Oceania. The islands were first settled around 1500 to 1400 BC by people from the [[Philippines]]. This was followed by a second migration from the [[Caroline Islands]] by the first millennium AD, and a third migration from [[Island Southeast Asia]] (likely the Philippines or eastern [[Indonesia]]) by 900 AD.<ref name="Hung">{{cite journal |last1=Hung |first1=Hsiao-chun |last2=Carson |first2=Mike T. |last3=Bellwood |first3=Peter |last4=Campos |first4=Fredeliza Z. |last5=Piper |first5=Philip J. |last6=Dizon |first6=Eusebio |last7=Bolunia |first7=Mary Jane Louise A. |last8=Oxenham |first8=Marc |last9=Chi |first9=Zhang |title=The first settlement of Remote Oceania: the Philippines to the Marianas |journal=Antiquity |date=2015 |volume=85 |issue=329 |pages=909–926 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00068393|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Zotomayor">{{cite journal |last1=Zotomayor |first1=Alexie Villegas |title=Archaeologists say migration to Marianas longest ocean-crossing in human history |journal=Marianas Variety News and Views |date=March 12, 2013 |page=2 |url=https://issuu.com/aleksea/docs/mv_3-12-13/2 |access-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021085833/https://issuu.com/aleksea/docs/mv_3-12-13/2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After their first contact with Spaniards, the islanders eventually became known as the [[Chamorro people|Chamorros]], a Spanish word similar to ''Chamori'', the name of the Indigenous caste system's higher division.

The ancient people of the Marianas raised [[colonnade]]s of megalithic-capped pillars called [[latte stone]]s upon which they built their homes. The Spanish reported that by their arrival, the largest of these was already in ruins and that the Chamorros believed the ancestors who had erected the pillars lived in an era when people possessed supernatural abilities.

In 2013 archaeologists posited that the first people to settle in the Marianas may have made what was at that point the longest uninterrupted ocean-crossing voyage in human history. [[archaeology|Archeological evidence]] indicates that [[Tinian]] may have been the first Pacific island to be settled.<ref name=voyage>{{cite news|last1=Zotomayor|first1=Alexie|title=Archaeologist says migration to Marianas longest ocean-crossing in human history|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/54274-archaeologist-says-migration-to-marianas-longest-ocean-crossing-in-human-history|access-date=December 29, 2014|newspaper=Marianas Variety|date=March 11, 2013}}</ref>

===Spanish possession===
[[File:Reception of the Manila Galleon by the Chamorro in the Ladrones Islands, ca. 1590.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|Reception of the [[Manila galleon]] by the [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] in the [[Mariana Islands|Ladrones Islands]], c. 1590. From [[Boxer Codex]].]]
{{Multiple image
| align = left
| direction = 
| total_width = 220
| image1 = Ladrones - Hunter from Marianas -Boxer Codex (1590).jpg
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] Hunter with Spear, as depicted in the [[Boxer Codex]] (1590) of the [[Philippines]]
| image2 = Hunter from Marianas 2 - Boxer Codex (1590).jpg
| caption2 = [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] Hunter with Bow, as depicted in the [[Boxer Codex]] (1590) of the [[Philippines]]
}}
{{Main|New Spain|Captaincy General of the Philippines|Spanish East Indies|Spanish-Chamorro Wars}}
The Portuguese navigator [[Ferdinand Magellan]], sailing under the Spanish flag, arrived in 1521. He and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the Mariana Islands. He landed on Guam, the southernmost island of the Marianas, and claimed the archipelago for Spain. The Spanish ships were met offshore by the native Chamorros, who delivered refreshments and then helped themselves to a small boat belonging to Magellan's fleet. This led to a cultural clash: in Chamorro tradition, little property was private, and taking something one needed, such as a boat for fishing, did not count as stealing. The Spanish did not understand this custom and fought the Chamorros until the boat was recovered. Three days after he had been welcomed on his arrival, Magellan fled the archipelago. Spain regarded the islands as annexed and later made them part of the [[Spanish East Indies]] in 1565. In 1734, the Spanish built a royal palace, the [[Plaza de España (Hagåtña)|Plaza de España]], in Guam for the governor of the islands. The palace was largely destroyed during World War II, but portions of it remain.

Guam operated as an important stopover between the Philippines and [[Mexico]] for the [[Manila galleon]], which carried trading between Spanish colonies.

In 1668, Father [[Diego Luis de San Vitores]] renamed the islands ''Las Marianas'' in honor of his patroness, the Spanish regent [[Mariana of Austria]] (1634–1696), widow of [[Philip IV of Spain|Felipe IV]] (reigned 1621–1665).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://governor.gov.mp/about-the-cnmi/|title=About the CNMI|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Governor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817114911/https://governor.gov.mp/about-the-cnmi/|archive-date=August 17, 2020|url-status=live|quote=In 1668, 147 years after Magellan's encounter, Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Jesuit priest, arrived in The Marianas with the mission of bringing Christianity and converting the Chamorros, thus beginning the colonization of the Marianas by Spain. The islands were named after Queen Maria Ana of Spain.}}</ref>

Most of the islands' native population (90–95%)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Commonwealth-of-the-Northern-Mariana-Islands.html/ |title=Culture of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands |publisher=EveryCulture.com |access-date=September 17, 2007}}</ref> died from European diseases carried by the Spaniards or married non-Chamorro settlers under Spanish rule. New settlers from the Philippines and the Caroline Islands were brought to repopulate the islands. The Chamorro population gradually recovered, and Chamorro, [[Filipino language|Filipino]], and [[Carolinian language|Refaluwasch]] languages and other ethnic groups remain in the Marianas.

During the 17th century, Spanish colonists forcibly moved the Chamorros to Guam, to encourage assimilation and conversion to [[Roman Catholicism]]. By the time they were allowed to return to the Northern Marianas, many Carolinians from present-day eastern [[Yap State]] and western [[Chuuk State]] had settled in the Marianas.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} Both languages, as well as English, are now official in the commonwealth.

In 1720 the Spanish moved the remaining islanders, whose population had been decimated by diseases, from the Marianas to Guam.<ref name="Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands">{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam – Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center |url=http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/cms/data-by-location/cnmi-guam/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> By 1741, there were about 5000 remaining Chamorros.<ref name="Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands"/>

====Carolinian immigration====
The Northern Marianas experienced an influx of immigration from the [[Caroline Islands|Carolines]] (Micronesia region) during the 19th century. Both this Carolinian sub-ethnicity and Carolinians in the Carolines archipelago [[endonym|refer to themselves]] as the [[Refaluwasch]]. The indigenous Chamorro word for the same group of people is ''gu'palao''. They are usually referred to simply as "Carolinians", though, unlike the other two monikers, this can also mean those who live in the Carolines and may have no affiliation with the Marianas.

The conquering Spanish did not focus attempts at cultural suppression against Carolinian immigrants, whose immigration they allowed during a period when the indigenous Chamorro majority was being subjugated with land alienation and forced relocations. Carolinians in the Marianas continue to be fluent in the [[Carolinian language]] and have maintained many of the cultural distinctions and traditions of their ethnicity's land of ancestral origin.<ref name=Cunningham1>
{{cite book
|last1= Cunningham|first1= Lawrence J.
|title= Ancient Chamorro Society
|date= 1992|publisher= Bess Press|pages= 193–195
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9r0a2ww8KLcC&q=spanish%20chamorro%20carolinian&pg=PP1
|isbn= 978-1-880188-05-7
}}
</ref>{{request quotation|date=August 2016}}

===German possession and Japanese mandate===
{{Main|Spanish–American War|Treaty of Paris (1898)|German New Guinea|South Seas Mandate}}
[[File:Korean Cafe in Saipan.JPG|thumb|Saipan under the administration of the [[Empire of Japan]]]]
Following its loss during the [[Spanish–American War]] of 1898, [[Spanish Empire|Spain]] ceded Guam to the United States and sold the remainder of the [[Mariana Islands|Marianas]] (i.e., the Northern Marianas), along with the Caroline Islands, to [[German Empire|Germany]] under the [[German–Spanish Treaty (1899)|German–Spanish Treaty of 1899]]. The United States could have taken the entire Marianas, but beyond Guam, saw no need for the group.<ref name="Partition of the Marianas-2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.guampedia.com/partition-of-the-marianas/#Guam8217s_role_in_the_Spanish-American_War |title=Partition of the Marianas |date=October 2009 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> Germany administered the islands as part of its colony of [[German New Guinea]] and did little in terms of development.

Germany built an office on Saipan to administer the island, and the head administrator was Georg Fritz.<ref name="Partition of the Marianas-2009"/> San Jose church was built during the German period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trip.com-Verification |url=https://verify.trip.com/static/tripVerify.html?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trip.com%2Ftravel-guide%2Fattraction%2Ftinian%2Fsan-jose-church-remains-18699072&bgref=WjZ0AG4enEbXBf0OynL1d0K7s%2F8QVujOjoYHzeilDaw%3D |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=verify.trip.com}}</ref> The Germans established a public school system and homesteading program, and some efforts were put into [[copra]] production; there was an overall effort to grow the economy with roads being built and vocational/trades training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The German Period |url=https://nmimuseum.org/the-german-period/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=NMI Museum |language=en-US |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029044211/https://nmimuseum.org/the-german-period/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pagan and Alamagan were leased to a company called Pagan Gesellschaft, which planned to produce copra there, although its goals were hampered by numerous [[typhoon]]s. Eight islands were leased to bird hunters, which used the feathers for hats.<ref name="Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands"/>

Early in [[World War I]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] declared war on Germany and invaded the Northern Marianas. In 1919 after the war concluded, the [[League of Nations]] (LoN) awarded all of Germany's islands in the Pacific Ocean located north of the [[Equator]], including the Northern Marianas, under [[League of Nations mandate|mandate]] to Japan. Under this arrangement, the Japanese thus administered the Northern Marianas as part of the [[South Seas Mandate]]. During the Japanese period, [[sugar cane]] became the primary industry of the islands. [[Garapan]] on [[Saipan]] was developed as a regional capital, and numerous Japanese (including ethnic Koreans and [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]n and [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese]]) migrated to the islands. In the December 1939 census, the total population of the South Seas Mandate was 129,104, of whom 77,257 were Japanese (including ethnic Taiwanese and Koreans). On Saipan, the pre-war population comprised 29,348 Japanese settlers and 3,926 Chamorro and Caroline Islanders; [[Tinian]] had 15,700 Japanese settlers (including 2,700 ethnic Koreans and 22 ethnic Chamorro). The Japanese built military constructions on the island in the 1930s and, in December 1941, used it as a staging area to invade Guam, which was part of the U.S. at that time.

During the Japanese mandate, the main economic focus was sugar production, and for example, about 98% of Tinian island was used to grow [[sugarcane]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |first=Lawerence |last=Duponcheel |department=Letters to the Editor |date=May 4, 2015 |title=Tinian's 'growing' role in Marianas history |url=https://www.postguam.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/tinian-s-growing-role-in-marianas-history/article_acf81646-ca05-52c8-bd2c-4f861d5bb14a.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=The Guam Daily Post |language=en}}</ref>

===World War II===
{{further|Pacific Islands home front during World War II}}
[[File:Marine infantrymen on Saipan.jpg|thumb|left|[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]] in [[Garapan]], Saipan]]
On December 8, 1941, hours after the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], Japanese forces from the Marianas launched an [[Battle of Guam (1941)|invasion of Guam]]. Chamorros from the Northern Marianas, which had been under Japanese rule for more than 20 years, were brought to Guam to assist the Japanese administration. This, combined with the harsh treatment of Guamanian Chamorros during the 31-month occupation, created a rift that would become the main reason Guamanians rejected [[1969 Guamanian unification with the Northern Mariana Islands referendum|the referendum]] on the reunification of Guam with the Northern Marianas that the Northern Marianas approved in the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

On June 15, 1944, the United States military invaded the Mariana Islands, starting the [[Battle of Saipan]], which ended on July 9. Of the 30,000 Japanese troops defending Saipan, fewer than 1,000 remained alive at the battle's end.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-saipan.htm |title=Battle Of Saipan |publisher=Historynet.com |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> Many civilians were also killed, by disease, starvation, enemy fire, or suicide; about 1,000 civilians killed themselves by jumping off cliffs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Trefalt|first=Beatrice|date=November 2009|title=After the Battle for Saipan: the Internment of Japanese Civilians at Camp Susupe, 1944–1946|doi=10.1080/10371390903298037|journal=Japanese Studies|volume=29|issue=3|pages=337–352|s2cid=144676151|via=Taylor & Francis Online}}</ref> U.S. forces then recaptured Guam on July 21, and [[Battle of Tinian|invaded Tinian]] on July 24. A year later, [[Tinian]] was the takeoff point for the ''[[Enola Gay]]'', the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on [[Hiroshima]]. [[Rota (island)|Rota]] was left untouched (and isolated) until the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender in August 1945]], owing to its military insignificance and U.S. forces' strategy of "island hopping" in which they did not invade islands that they did not need. 

The war did not end for everyone with the signing of the armistice. A large group of [[Japanese holdout|Japanese holdouts]] surrendered on Saipan on December 1, 1945. However, a group of about 30 held out until 1951 on [[Anatahan]]; their story was told in the film ''[[Anatahan (film)|The Saga of Anatahan]]''. On a related note, on Guam, Japanese soldier [[Shoichi Yokoi]], unaware that the war had ended, hid in a jungle cave in the [[Talofofo, Guam|Talofofo]] area until 1972.

Japanese nationals were eventually repatriated to the [[Japanese archipelago|Japanese home islands]]. After World War II, the people of Marianas were able to return to the Northern Marianas under the protection of the United Nations Trusteeship administered by the United States. During this time, a series of referendums took place.

===United Nations trusteeship ends, Commonwealth begins===
{{see also|Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands}}
[[File:saipan.jpg|thumb|left|The island of [[Saipan]]]]
After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Northern Marianas were administered by the United States pursuant to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 21|Security Council Resolution 21]] as part of the United Nations [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]], which assigned responsibility for defense and foreign affairs to the United States as trustee.<ref name="Lin"/> Four referendums offering integration with Guam or changes to the islands' status were held in [[1958 Saipan integration referendum|1958]], [[1961 Northern Mariana Islands status referendum|1961]], [[1963 Northern Mariana Islands integration referendum|1963]] and [[1969 Northern Mariana Islands status referendum|1969]]. On each occasion, a majority voted in favor of integration with Guam, but this did not happen: Guam rejected integration in a [[1969 Guamanian Northern Mariana Islands union referendum|1969 referendum]].<ref name="micronesia">Bendure, G. & Friary, N. (1988). ''[https://archive.org/details/micronesiatravel00bend/ Micronesia:A travel survival kit].'' South Yarra, VIC: Lonely Planet.</ref>{{rp|188}}

In the [[1975 Northern Mariana Islands status referendum]] nearly 80% voted to become a commonwealth of the United States, and in 1977 over 93% approved the constitution of the CNMI.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Beat Müller |date=June 17, 1975 |title=Nördliche Marianen, 17. Juni 1975: Commonwealth mit den USA – [in German] |url=https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?id=mp011975 |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=Sudd.ch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Beat Müller |date=March 6, 1977 |title=Nördliche Marianen, 6. März 1977: Verfassung – [in German] |url=https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?id=mp011977 |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=Sudd.ch |language=en}}</ref>[[File:NOAA Map of the US EEZ.svg|thumb|Map showing the Northern Mariana Islands and its [[exclusive economic zone]] (left) in the United States]]
The people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence, but instead to forge closer links with the United States. Negotiations for [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|commonwealth status]] began in 1972, and a covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the United States<ref>''The Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America'', {{USStatute|94|241|90|263|1976|03|24}}</ref> was approved in a [[1975 Northern Mariana Islands status referendum|1975 referendum]].<ref name="micronesia"/>{{rp|188}} A new government and constitution came into effect in part on January 9, 1978,<ref name="micronesia"/>{{rp|188}} after being approved in a [[1977 Northern Mariana Islands constitutional referendum|1977 referendum]].<ref name="CIA Factbook" /> The United Nations approved this arrangement pursuant to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 683|Security Council Resolution 683]]. The Northern Mariana Islands came under U.S. [[sovereignty]] on November 4, 1986, and the islanders became [[Citizenship of the United States|US citizens]].<ref name="micronesia"/><ref name="Nov4_1986">[https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-5564-united-states-relations-with-the-northern-mariana-islands-micronesia-and "Proclamation 5564—United States Relations With the Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands"]. The American Presidency Project. Retrieved September 1, 2019.</ref> Also on November 4, 1986, the [[Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Constitution|Northern Mariana Islands constitution]] became fully effective under the Covenant.<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

In May 1981, volcanic eruptions led to the evacuation of the island of [[Pagan (island)|Pagan]].<ref name="micronesia"/>{{rp|185–86}} Most residents of Pagan have not yet returned to Pagan due to ongoing volcanic activity.

In the 1960s and 1970s, agriculture and ranching became an important activity with thousands of beef cattle, dairy cows, hogs, and many crops such as pineapple. The food production became an important source of food supply for the Marianas region.<ref name=":0" />

The Chamorro-Carolinian Language Policy Commission was created in 1982 to carry out policies in support of the Chamorro and Carolinian languages and cultures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcca.gov.mp/cclpc-chamorro-carolinian-language-policy-commission/|title=Chamorro-Carolinian Language Policy Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105184046/http://www.dcca.gov.mp/cclpc-chamorro-carolinian-language-policy-commission/|archive-date=November 5, 2020|url-status=live|website=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Office of the Secretary}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F_2R3GC9RY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2F_2R3GC9RY |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Chamorro Carolinian Language Policy Commission – Melvin Faisao|date=April 26, 2020|access-date=November 5, 2020|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/first-ever-chamorro-carolinian-mother-language-day-kicks-off/|title=First ever Chamorro-Carolinian Mother Language Day kicks off|website=[[Saipan Tribune]]|date=February 25, 2020|access-date=November 5, 2020|author=Iva Maurin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105192014/https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/first-ever-chamorro-carolinian-mother-language-day-kicks-off/|archive-date=November 5, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 1986, 20 percent of the homes on Saipan were destroyed by [[Typhoon Kim (1986)|Typhoon Kim]], trees were stripped of foliage, thousands of coconut trees were knocked down, roads were blocked, and there was no electricity or public water supply for weeks.<ref name="micronesia"/>{{rp|186}}

In April 1990, the inhabitants of the western coast of [[Anatahan]] were evacuated after [[earthquake swarm]]s and active [[fumaroles]] indicated that an eruption might be imminent, but no eruption occurred at that time. A further earthquake swarm occurred in May 1992. The first historical eruption of Anatahan occurred in May 2003, when a large explosive eruption with a [[Volcanic Explosivity Index|VEI]] of 4 took place, forming a new crater inside the eastern [[caldera]] and causing an ash plume {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} high which impaired air traffic to Saipan and Guam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0804-20=&volpage=var |title=Anatahan: Index of Monthly Reports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907042319/https://volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0804-20=&volpage=var |archive-date=September 7, 2006|quote=''Local earthquakes and strong thermal activity; youngest surge deposits appear no more than a few hundred years old.'' Monatsbericht 04/1990 im ''Global Volcanism Program'' |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

===Twenty-first century===
[[File:Pagan Island, Northern Marianas.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pagan Island]] eruption in 2012]]
The Northern Mariana Islands does not have voting representation in the [[United States Congress]], but, since 2009, has been represented in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] by a [[delegate (United States Congress)|delegate]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/05/26/sablan-will-stand-for-nmi-delegate-position|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121171525/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/05/26/sablan-will-stand-for-nmi-delegate-position|archive-date=November 21, 2008|title=Pacific Magazine: Sablan Will Stand For NMI Delegate Position|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> congressional delegates may participate in debates and serve on congressional committees but may not cast decisive votes on the House floor.<ref>{{cite report |title=Delegates to the U.S. Congress: History and Current Status |last=Hudiburg |first=Jane A. |date=March 1, 2022 |publisher=Congressional Research Service |issue=R40555}}</ref> In the United States, a non-voting delegate is not a new concept, but rather goes back to before 1800. Territorial delegates represent their region's interest in Congress, and their powers have been established over time, beginning in 1795. A major power of the territorial delegates (which have also been called Resident Commissioners), besides serving on committees, is speaking on the floor.<ref name="www.everycrsreport.com">{{Cite web |title=Territorial Delegates to the U.S. Congress: Current Issues and Historical Background |url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32340.html |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=Everycrsreport.com |language=en}}</ref> Perhaps more importantly, the position is seen as a precursor to establishing voting rights, and discussion about granting delegate voting rights have occurred.<ref name="www.everycrsreport.com" />

In 2018, 18 people embarked on a mission to repopulate the northern islands of Alamagan and Agrihan. They left Saipan aboard MV ''Super Emerald''; the families involved originally had come from Alamagan. The mayor's office coordinated the months-long project plans, including a clean water supply, establishment of radio contact, and hopefully sending more families to the two islands.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Cabrera |first=Bea |date=July 2, 2018 |title=18 to resettle on Northern Islands |url=https://www.saipantribune.com/featured/18-to-resettle-on-northern-islands/article_c6740006-b1a0-5f0f-a907-def2eb9bcbdd.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Saipan Tribune |language=en |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029042711/https://www.saipantribune.com/featured/18-to-resettle-on-northern-islands/article_c6740006-b1a0-5f0f-a907-def2eb9bcbdd.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> One returning Marianan remarked, "I was born and raised on Saipan but my family is from Alamagan. We are going to live there for a long time."<ref name=":1" /> The 2020 United States Census reported a total of 7 people living on Alamagan and Agrihan.<ref>''2020 Census Population'' of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island</ref>

[[Typhoon Yutu]] caused widespread damage in October 2018, and was the strongest typhoon known to hit the islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2019 |title=SUPER TYPHOON YUTU: ONE YEAR LATER |website=Federal Emergency Management Agency |url=https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250602/super-typhoon-yutu-one-year-later |access-date=October 12, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) personnel deployed to both Tinian and Saipan ahead of the storm. U.S. President Donald Trump declared an emergency for the Northern Islands on October&nbsp;24, 2018.<ref name="WP_1025">{{cite news |author=Chris Mooney |author2=Juliet Eilperin |author3=Allyson Chiu |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 25, 2018|access-date=October 26, 2018|title=Category 5 typhoon Yutu devastates the Northern Marianas in worst storm to hit any part of U.S. since 1935|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/10/25/category-typhoon-devastates-northern-marianas-worst-storm-hit-us-since/}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of the Northern Mariana Islands}}
[[File:Saipan_from_ISS_2.png|thumb|[[Saipan]] seen from the [[International Space Station]]]]
<!--[[File:Anatahan aerial.jpg|thumb|left|[[Anatahan]]]]-->
[[File:Northern Mariana Islands map.gif|thumb|upright=1.3|Map of the Northern Mariana Islands]]
[[File:Long Beach - Tinian - panoramio (9).jpg|thumb|Long Beach, Tinian]]
The Northern Mariana Islands, together with [[Guam]] to the south, compose the [[Mariana Islands]] archipelago. The southern islands are [[limestone]], with level terraces and fringing [[coral]] reefs. The northern islands are volcanic, with active [[volcano]]es on several islands, including [[Anatahan]], [[Pagan Island|Pagan]], and [[Agrihan]]. The volcano on Agrihan, [[Mount Agrihan]], has the highest elevation at {{convert|3166|ft|m}}.<ref name="volcano.si.edu">{{cite web|url=http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=284160|title=Global Volcanism Program {{!}} Agrigan|website=volcano.si.edu|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref> An expedition organized by John D. Mitchler and Reid Larson made the first complete ascent to the summit of this peak on June 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frick-Wright |first1=Peter |title=The Obsessive Quest of High Pointers |work=[[Outside (magazine)|Outside]]|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2379686/high-pointers |access-date=January 30, 2019 |date=January 15, 2019}}</ref>

The islands going from north to south comprise 14 main islands, but some smaller islands are often grouped together. Also, Zealandia Bank can sometimes be an island, depending on the tide. In terms of area, it is smaller than Guam; however, as an island chain, it spans hundreds of kilometers/miles from the northernmost to the southernmost. Many islands have multiple names due to popular nicknames, usually of Spanish, Chamorro, or English origin. Many of the islands have had to be evacuated due to volcanic activity.

*[[Farallon de Pajaros]] (or Uracus), 
*[[Maug Islands]] (actually three islands, North, East, and West)
**[[Supply Reef|Supply reef]], about 10&nbsp;km from Maug, has an active submarine volcano and various corals; it rises within 8 meters of the surface.<ref name="Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands" />
*[[Asuncion Island]]
*[[Agrihan]]
*[[Pagan (island)|Pagan]] (Mostly uninhabited since a 1981 eruption)
*[[Alamagan]]
*[[Guguan]] 
*[[Zealandia Bank]], mostly submerged rocky outcrops break the surface at low tide. 
*[[Sarigan]] 
*[[Anatahan]], eruptions in 2003 and 2007–08
*[[Farallon de Medinilla]] 
*[[Saipan]]
**Mañagaha (small island West of Saipan)
**Bird Island (Partially connected island on East of Saipan)
**Forbidden Island (Partially connected island on South East of Saipan)
*[[Tinian]], a quiet rural island with many cattle ranches and historical sites
*[[Aguijan]] (Goat Island) (This uninhabited island south of Tinian is filled with birds and goats)
**Naftan Rock
*[[Rota (island)|Rota]], (also known as Friendly Island) Also inhabited.

Anatahan Volcano is a small volcanic island {{convert|80|mi|km}} north of Saipan. It is about {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} long and {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} wide. Anatahan began erupting from its east crater on May 10, 2003. It has since alternated between eruptive and calm periods.<ref name="volcano.si.edu" /> On April 6, 2005, an estimated {{convert|50000000|cuft|-3}} of ash and rock were ejected, causing a large, black cloud to drift south over Saipan and Tinian.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/2005/05_07_21.html |title=Anatahan Volcano's Ash Clouds Reach New Heights |author1=HVO, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |website=hvo.wr.usgs.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217210706/https://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/2005/05_07_21.html |archive-date=December 17, 2016 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

*Northernmost point – [[Farallon de Pajaros]]
*Easternmost point – [[Farallon de Medinilla]]
*Southernmost point – [[Puntan Malikok]], [[Rota (island)|Rota]]
*Westernmost point – [[Farallon de Pajaros]]

The islands lie in the [[Marianas tropical dry forests]] terrestrial ecoregion.<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The ocean area to the east of the islands and parts of the islands themselves are part of the [[Marianas Trench Marine National Monument]]. This area includes three northernmost islands, the "Arc of Fire" refuge, which includes 21 underwater volcanic sites, and the trench region, which goes to the maximum limit of the [[EEZ]]. The nature preserve aims to protect the unique marine life, which includes seabirds, sea turtles, unique coral reefs, and life around under-sea vents. The [[Marianas Trench]] includes the deepest ocean water on the planet, along with other underwater wonders, including a pool of liquid sulfur located at [[Daikoku]], an [[underwater volcano]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=March 11, 2022 |title=Marianas Trench Marine National Monument {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/habitat-conservation/marianas-trench-marine-national-monument |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=NOAA |language=en}}</ref> (see also [[Challenger Deep]])

Guam is to the south of the CNMI and Rota. To the east is Wake Island, then further east is the island of Midway, and eventually, the start of the Hawaiian island chain. American Samoa is located to the east and south and lies below the Equator. To the north and east, lies Alaska, which is a string of islands known as the [[Aleutians]]. To the west of the CNMI is the Philippines, and to the south and west is Palua, home to [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] people. To the south and east is Micronesia, which is home to the Carolinian people, many of which also settled on the CNMI centuries ago.

Saipan has some additional semi-attached islets, including Bird Island, a nature reserve for birds. It is connected to Saipan only at low tide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Bird Island in October (updated in 2023), Bird Island reviews, Bird Island address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Bird Island |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/bird-island-81515/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref> Forbidden Island is similar, but larger on the southeast side of Saipan.<ref name="TRIP.COM">{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Bird Island in October (updated in 2023), Bird Island reviews, Bird Island address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Bird Island - Trip.com |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/bird-island-81515/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>

===Climate===
The Northern Mariana Islands have a [[tropical rainforest climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Af) moderated by seasonal northeast [[trade winds]], with little seasonal temperature variation. The dry season runs from December to June; the rainy season runs from July to November and can include [[typhoon]]s. The ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' has said Saipan has the most [[wikt:equable|equable]] climate in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://net.saipan.com/personal/vanlanen/info/info_pg4.htm |title=Anatahan: Index of Monthly Reports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906220747/http://net.saipan.com/personal/vanlanen/info/info_pg4.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2006 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|location = [[Saipan International Airport]] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present)
|Jan record high F = 89
|Feb record high F = 90
|Mar record high F = 91
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 94
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 95
|Sep record high F = 94
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 90
|year record high F = 99
|Jan high F = 84.1
|Feb high F = 84.0
|Mar high F = 84.9
|Apr high F = 87.1
|May high F = 88.2
|Jun high F = 88.4
|Jul high F = 87.8
|Aug high F = 87.2
|Sep high F = 87.2
|Oct high F = 86.6
|Nov high F = 86.5
|Dec high F = 85.7
|year high F = 86.5
|Jan mean F = 79.5
|Feb mean F = 79.1
|Mar mean F = 80.0
|Apr mean F = 82.0
|May mean F = 83.1
|Jun mean F = 83.4
|Jul mean F = 82.9
|Aug mean F = 82.4
|Sep mean F = 82.2
|Oct mean F = 81.8
|Nov mean F = 81.9
|Dec mean F = 81.0
|year mean F = 81.6
|Jan low F = 74.8
|Feb low F = 74.1
|Mar low F = 75.2
|Apr low F = 76.9
|May low F = 78.0
|Jun low F = 78.5
|Jul low F = 78.1
|Aug low F = 77.5
|Sep low F = 77.2
|Oct low F = 77.1
|Nov low F = 77.3
|Dec low F = 76.4
|year low F = 76.8
|Jan record low F = 70
|Feb record low F = 69
|Mar record low F = 69
|Apr record low F = 70
|May record low F = 73
|Jun record low F = 72
|Jul record low F = 71
|Aug record low F = 69
|Sep record low F = 72
|Oct record low F = 69
|Nov record low F = 69
|Dec record low F = 69
|year record low F = 69
|rain colour= green
|Jan rain inch = 3.65
|Feb rain inch = 2.50
|Mar rain inch = 1.96
|Apr rain inch = 2.75
|May rain inch = 3.12
|Jun rain inch = 4.24
|Jul rain inch = 7.43
|Aug rain inch = 12.86
|Sep rain inch = 11.42
|Oct rain inch = 10.72
|Nov rain inch = 5.21
|Dec rain inch = 3.78
|year rain inch = 69.64
|unit rain days = 0.01 in
|Jan rain days = 17.4
|Feb rain days = 15.3
|Mar rain days = 14.2
|Apr rain days = 16.4
|May rain days = 17.9
|Jun rain days = 20.2
|Jul rain days = 24.3
|Aug rain days = 23.9
|Sep rain days = 23.3
|Oct rain days = 24.5
|Nov rain days = 20.7
|Dec rain days = 18.9
|year rain days = 237.0
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=gum
| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = November 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=CQC00914855&format=pdf
| title = Station: Saipan INTL AP, MP
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = November 6, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Politics and government==
{{main|Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands}}
{{further|Political party strength in the Northern Mariana Islands}}
[[File:David Apatang Standing with USAF Airmen Cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|[[David M. Apatang]], the [[List of governors of the Northern Mariana Islands|governor of the Northern Mariana Islands]]]]<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
The Northern Mariana Islands have a [[multi-party system|multiparty]] [[presidential system|presidential]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] system. They are a commonwealth of the United States. Federal funds to the commonwealth are administered by the [[Office of Insular Affairs]] of the [[U.S. Department of the Interior]].

Replicating the separation of powers elsewhere in the United States, the [[executive power|executive branch]] is headed by the [[List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors|governor of the Northern Mariana Islands]]; [[legislative power]] is vested in the bicameral [[Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature]] and the [[judiciary|judicial power]] is vested in the [[Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands|CNMI Supreme Court]] and the trial courts inferior to it.

Some critics, including the author of the political website ''[[Saipan Sucks]]'', say that politics in the Northern Mariana Islands is often "more a function of family relationships and personal loyalties" where the size of one's extended family is more important than a candidate's personal qualifications. They charge that this is [[nepotism]] carried out within the trappings of democracy.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Ellis |first=Jimmie L. |title=Total Resource Sharing among Collegiate and Public Libraries in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: A Narrative Case Study |date=May 1, 2004 |degree=EdD |publisher=[[University of San Diego]] |url=https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/729/ |doi=10.22371/05.2004.005 |doi-access=free |page=65}}</ref><ref name="Reyes">{{cite web |url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=1594&cat=3 |title=Primitive tribalism |author=Charles P. Reyes Jr. |date=March 30, 1999 |work=Saipan Tribune |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516094825/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=1594&cat=3 |archive-date=May 16, 2011 }}</ref>

In April 2012, anticipating a loss of funding by 2014, the commonwealth's [[Pension fund#Public vs. private pension funds|public pension fund]] declared [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303916904577376183528687836?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Review & Outlook: The Mariana Pension Foreshock |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> The retirement fund is a [[defined benefit]]-type pension plan and was only partially funded by the government, with only $268.4&nbsp;million in [[asset]]s and $911&nbsp;million in [[liability (financial accounting)|liabilities]]. The plan experienced low investment returns and a benefit structure that had been increased without raises in funding.<ref name=p&i20120419>
{{cite news|last=Mercado|first=Darla|title=In apparent first, a public pension plan files for bankruptcy|url=http://www.pionline.com/article/20120419/REG/120419842/in-apparent-first-a-public-pension-plan-files-for-bankruptcy|access-date=April 28, 2012|newspaper=Pensions and Investments|date=April 19, 2012}}</ref>

In August 2012, cries for impeachment<ref>{{cite news|title=Impeach The Governor|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48917-impeach-the-governor.php|access-date=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Marianas Variety|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117083056/http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48917-impeach-the-governor.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> arose, as the sitting governor [[Benigno Fitial]] was being held responsible for withholding payments from the pension fund,<ref>{{cite news|title=Retirement Fund in Disarray|url=http://www.mvariety.com/archives/39965-retirement-fund-in-disarray.php|access-date=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Marianas Variety|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082747/http://www.mvariety.com/archives/39965-retirement-fund-in-disarray.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> not paying the local utility (Commonwealth Utilities or "CUC") for government offices,<ref>{{cite news|title=Gov't Owes CUC $8.9 million|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48980-govt-owes-cuc-89m.php|access-date=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Marianas Variety|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082822/http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48980-govt-owes-cuc-89m.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> cutting off funding to the only hospital in the Northern Marianas,<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital Needs To Move Away From Culture of Gov't Subsidy|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=115997|access-date=August 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082716/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=115997|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CHC Tailspin Continues|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48988-chcs-tailspin-continues.php|access-date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> interfering with the delivery of a [[subpoena]] to his attorney general,<ref>{{cite news|title=Wiseman issues $50K Bench Warrant for Buckingham|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=120971&cat=1|access-date=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Saipan Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082914/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=120971&cat=1|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> withholding required funds from the public schools,<ref>{{cite news|author-first=Moneth|author-last=Deposa|work=Saipan Tribune|title=Central Gov't owes PSS $11.8 million in unremitted maintenance of effort|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=121008|access-date=August 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082836/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=121008|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=121305|title=PSS to lawmakers: Some schools could have 'double sessions'|author-first1=Haidee V. |author-last1=Eugenio|date=August 21, 2012|newspaper=Saipan Tribune|access-date=August 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082744/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=121305|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> and for signing a sole source $190&nbsp;million contract for power generation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48955-maratita-takes-fitial-to-court-over-unconstitutional-power-agreement-seeks-tro.php|title=Maratita takes Fitial to court over 'unconstitutional' power agreement; seeks TRO|access-date=August 21, 2012|website=Marianas Variety|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082901/http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/48955-maratita-takes-fitial-to-court-over-unconstitutional-power-agreement-seeks-tro.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=121163&cat=1|title=Buckingham, Fitial sign off on $190M power purchase deal|date=August 15, 2012|author-first1=Haidee V. |author-last1=Eugenio|website=Saipan Tribune|access-date=August 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082800/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=121163&cat=1|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref>

Northern Mariana Islands' delegation to the [[2016 Republican National Convention]] boasted about being "the most Republican territory" in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/26/politics/state-roll-call-rnc-dnc/index.html|title=State roll calls: What RNC, DNC delegates want you to know|first=Chris|last=Moody|date=July 26, 2016|website=CNN}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Republican Party of Northern Mariana Islands|Republican Party]] had large majorities in both the [[Northern Mariana Islands Senate]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives]], though no party has a majority in either chamber as of 2023.

===Administrative divisions===
The islands total {{convert|179.01|sqmi|km2|2}}. The table gives an overview, with the individual islands listed from north to south:<ref name="CIA Factbook" /><ref name="CIA Factbook-b" />

{{GeoGroup}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"| No.
!rowspan="2"| Islands/features<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/geographyofpacif0000unse/|title=Geography of the Pacific|year=1951|page=[https://archive.org/details/geographyofpacif0000unse/page/208/ 208]|url-access=registration}}</ref>
!colspan="2"| Area<ref>{{cite web|url=https://origin-apps-pifsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/library/pubs/SP-12-01.pdf|title=Coral reef ecosystem monitoring report of the Mariana Archipelago: a 2003 – 2007|website=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115134931/https://origin-apps-pifsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/library/pubs/SP-12-01.pdf|archive-date=November 15, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ver1.cnmicommerce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2015-Yearbook-11222017.pdf#page=202|title=2015 CNMI Statistical Yearbook|website=Ver1.cnmicommerce.com|access-date=January 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaebler.info/sonstiges/marianen.htm|title=Über die Marianen|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821231749/http://www.gaebler.info/sonstiges/marianen.htm|archive-date=August 21, 2020|url-status=live|website=Gaebler Info und Genealogie}}</ref>
!rowspan="2"| Population<br />(2020<br />census)<ref name=census2020/>
!colspan="2"| Height
!rowspan="2"| Highest peak
!rowspan="2"| Location
|-
!sq&nbsp;mi||km<sup>2</sup>||feet||m
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|'''Northern Islands ([[Northern Islands Municipality]])'''
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 || [[Farallon de Pajaros]] (Urracas) || {{convert|0.985|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|1047|ft|m|0|disp=table}} ||  || {{Coord|20|33|N|144|54|E|name=Farallon de Pajaros}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"|  || [[Supply Reef]] || {{convert|0.00|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}}|| style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|-26|ft|m|0|disp=table}}<ref>{{cite gvp|vn=284142|name=Supply Reef|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> || || {{coord|20|08|N|145|6|E}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 || [[Maug Islands]] including<br />-North Island<br />-East Island<br />-West Island || {{convert|0.822|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|745|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || North Island || {{Coord|20|02|N|145|19|E|name=Maug Islands}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 3 || [[Asuncion Island|Asuncion]] ||{{convert|2.822|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|2923|ft|m|0|disp=table}} ||  || {{Coord|19|43|N|145|41|E|name=Asuncion}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 || [[Agrihan]] (Agrigan)<ref name=1990volc group=n>evacuated 1990 due to volcanic eruptions</ref>|| {{convert|16.80|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 4 || {{convert|3166|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Mount Agrihan || {{Coord|18|46|N|145|40|E|name=Agrihan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 5 || [[Pagan Island|Pagan]]<ref group=n>evacuated 1981 due to volcanic eruptions</ref> || {{convert|18.24|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 2 || {{convert|1900|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Mount Pagan || {{Coord|18|08|36|N|145|47|39|E|name=Pagan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 6 || [[Alamagan]] || {{convert|4.29|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 1 || {{convert|2441|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Alamagan || {{Coord|17|35|N|145|50|E|name=Alamagan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 7 || [[Guguan]]  || {{convert|1.494|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|988|ft|m|0|disp=table}} ||  || {{Coord|17|20|N|145|51|E|name=Guguan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"|  || [[Zealandia Bank]]  || style="text-align:right;"|0.0 ||align="right"|0.0||align="right"| — ||align="right"| 0 ||align="right"| 0||  || {{Coord|16|45|N|145|42|E|}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 8 || [[Sarigan]]<ref group=n>formerly inhabited (population of 21 in 1935, but only 2 in 1968)</ref> || {{convert|1.92|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|1801|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || — || {{Coord|16|43|N|145|47|E|name=Sarigan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 9 || [[Anatahan]]<ref name=1990volc group=n /> || {{convert|12.05|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|2582|ft|m|0|disp=table}} ||  || {{Coord|16|22|N|145|40|E|name=Anatahan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 10 || [[Farallon de Medinilla]] ||{{convert|0.328|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|266|ft|m|0|disp=table}} ||  || {{Coord|16|01|N|146|04|E|name=Farallon de Medinilla}}
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"|'''Southern Islands (3 municipalities)'''
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 11 || [[Saipan]] || {{convert|44.55|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 43,385 || {{convert|1555|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Mount Tapochau || {{Coord|15|11|06|N|145|44|28|E|name=Saipan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 12 || [[Tinian]] || {{convert|39.00|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 2,044 || {{convert|558|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Kastiyu (Lasso Hill) || {{Coord|14|57|12|N|145|38|54|E|name=Tinian}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 13 || [[Aguijan]] (Agiguan)<ref group=n>part of Tinian Municipality</ref> || {{convert|2.74|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| — || {{convert|515|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Alutom || {{Coord|14|42|N|145|18|E|name=Aguijan}}
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 14 || [[Rota (island)|Rota]] || {{convert|32.97|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}} || style="text-align:right;"| 1,893 || {{convert|1611|ft|m|0|disp=table}} || Mount Manira ||  {{Coord|14|08|37|N|145|11|08|E|name=Rota}}
|- style="background:#ccc;"
|  ||'''Northern Mariana Islands'''|| {{convert|179.01|sqmi|km2|2|disp=table}}|| style="text-align:right;"| 47,329 || {{convert|3166|ft|m|0|disp=table}}|| [[Mount Agrihan]] || 14°08' to 20°33'N,<br />144°54° to 146°04'E
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"|
'''Notes'''
{{refbegin}}
<references group=n/>
{{refend}}
|}
[[File:Northern Mariana Islands regions map.png|thumb|Map showing the four municipalities of the Northern Mariana Islands, with Guam shown for context and indicating which islands have airports]]

Administratively, the CNMI is divided into four municipalities:

The Northern Islands (north of Saipan) form the [[Northern Islands Municipality]]. The three main islands of the Southern Islands form the municipalities of [[Saipan]], [[Tinian Municipality|Tinian]], and [[Rota (island)|Rota]], with uninhabited Aguijan forming part of Tinian municipality.

The northern islands have been evacuated because of a volcanic threat. Human habitation was limited to Agrihan, Pagan, and Alamagan, but the population varied due to various economic factors, including children's education. The 2020 census showed only seven residents in the Northern Islands Municipality, and the Northern Islands' mayor's office is located in "exile" on Saipan.

Saipan, Tinian, and Rota have the only ports and harbors and are the only permanently populated islands.

For statistical purposes, the [[United States Census Bureau]] counts the four municipalities of the Northern Mariana Islands as [[county equivalent]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/reference/GARM/Ch4GARM.pdf |title=States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities (Chapter 4)|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>

===Political status and autonomy===
{{further|Law of the Northern Mariana Islands}}
In 1947, the Northern Mariana Islands became part of the post–World War II United Nations [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] (TTPI). The United States became the TTPI's administering authority under the terms of a trusteeship agreement. In 1976, Congress approved the mutually negotiated Covenant to establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://cnmilaw.org/cov.php#gsc.tab=0| title = Covenant to establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America}}</ref> The Covenant was codified on March 24, 1976, as [[Public Law]] 94-241.<ref name=covenant>{{cite web|url=https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/94/241.pdf|title=Public Law 94-241|date=March 24, 1976|publisher=uscode.house.gov}}</ref> The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) government adopted its own constitution in 1977, and the new government took office in January 1978. Implementation of the Covenant, which took effect on January 1, 1978, was completed on November 3, 1986, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation no. 5564; which placed into effect the Covenant With the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Compacts of Free Association With the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.<ref>See
*{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/proclamations/05564.html|title=Proclamation 5564—Placing into full force and effect the Covenant With the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Compacts of Free Association With the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands|work=Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders|publisher=[[Federal Register]]|date=November 3, 1986}}
*{{cite web|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/08FAM/08FAM030202.html|title=8 FAM 302.2: Acquisition by birth in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands|date=May 15, 2020|work=Foreign Affairs Manual and Handbook|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> This allowed the CNMI to be represented to the United States Government in Washington, DC by a ''Resident Representative'', elected at-large by CNMI voters and whose office was paid for by the CNMI government. The [[Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008]] ("CNRA"), approved by the [[U.S. Congress]] on May 8, 2008, established a [[United States congressional delegations from the Northern Mariana Islands|CNMI delegate]]'s seat; Democrat [[Gregorio Sablan]] was elected in [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections|November 2008]] as the first CNMI delegate and took office in the [[111th Congress]]. Like the other five delegates in the House, the CNMI delegate participates in debates and committee votes but has no vote on the floor of the House of Representatives and has no role in the U.S. Senate, but is equal to a Senator when serving on a conference committee.

On December 22, 1990, the [[United Nations Trusteeship Council]] terminated the TTPI as it applied to the CNMI and five other of the TTPI's original seven districts (the [[Marshall Islands]] and the [[Federated States of Micronesia]] (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)), this was acknowledged in [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 683]] passed on the same day.

[[File:TTPI High Court judges.jpg|thumb|TTPI High Court judges (some time between 1968 and 1978)]]
Under the Covenant, only certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the Commonwealth, and legislation passed by the U.S. Congress can only apply to the Commonwealth if it applies to all 50 states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cnmilaw.org/cov.php#gsc.tab=0|title=Covenant|website=Commonwealth Law Revision Commission}}</ref> The CNMI is outside the customs area of the United States and ''bona fide'' residents of the Commonwealth are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, as is the case in the four self-governing territories. According to the Covenant, the federal minimum wage and federal immigration laws "will not apply to the Northern Mariana Islands except in the manner and to the extent made applicable to them by the Congress by law after termination of the Trusteeship Agreement."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/cnmipage.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614104551/http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/cnmipage.htm|title=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands|website=US Department of the Interior|archive-date=June 14, 2006}}</ref> Local control of minimum wage was superseded by the United States Congress in 2007; it was slowly raised until in 2015 it reached parity with the 50 states.

Initially, under the Covenant, a separate immigration system existed in the CNMI, and U.S. immigration law did not apply. Still, the Covenant gave the United States power of reservation over immigration law in the Commonwealth. After reports surfaced of abusive practices for immigrant workers, on November 28, 2009, the United States exercised its power of reservation; specifically, CNRA § 702(a) amended the Covenant to state that "the provisions of the 'immigration laws' (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))) shall apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands." Further, under CNRA § 702(a), the "immigration laws," as well as the amendments to the Covenant, "shall...supersede and replace all laws, provisions, or programs of the Commonwealth relating to the admission of aliens and the removal of aliens from the Commonwealth."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/benchbook/tools/CNMI/CNMI%20Memo%20(3-29-10).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926172413/http://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/benchbook/tools/CNMI/CNMI%20Memo%20(3-29-10).pdf|title=Memorandum|date=March 29, 2010|publisher=US Department of Justice: Executive Office for Immigration Review|archive-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> Transition to U.S. immigration laws began November 28, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/488/20pacrimlpoly211.pdf |title=A Lesser-Known Immigration Crisis: Federal Immigration Law in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands |author=Robert J. Misulich |publisher=Digital.law.washington.edu |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref><ref name=ST>{{Cite news|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=96195&cat=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926172413/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=96195&cat=1|title=CNMI loses immigration control in 2009|date=January 1, 2010|author=Haidee V. Eugenio|newspaper=Saipan Tribune|archive-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref>

===Judicial system===
Cases under federal law are heard by the [[District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands]], which was established by [[act of Congress]] in 1977, and began operations in January 1978. The court sits on the island of [[Saipan]] but may sit in other places within the commonwealth. The district court has the same jurisdiction as all other United States district courts, including diversity jurisdiction and bankruptcy jurisdiction. Appeals are taken to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|Ninth Circuit]]. As a [[United States territorial court]] established under Congress's territorial power granted by Article IV of the United States Constitution, judges do not have lifetime appointments, unlike the Article III courts in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Cases under territorial law are heard by the [[Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]], with appeals heard by the [[Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]].

In June 2024, [[Julian Assange]] pleaded guilty in a court in Saipan, the capital of the US territory, before flying home to Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn00720gx5jo | title=Why Northern Mariana Islands hosted Julian Assange hearing }}</ref>

===Citizenship===
{{further|Northern Mariana citizenship and nationality}}
Article III of the Covenant conferred [[United States citizenship]] on legally qualified CNMI residents, which generally included all citizens of the CNMI, and established U.S. [[Birthright citizenship in the United States|birthright citizenship]] for persons born in the CNMI.<ref name=covenant />
The CNMI has a number of special visa programs and conditions, one of the latest was the CNMI Long-Term Resident Status program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2022 |title=CNMI Long-Term Resident Status {{!}} USCIS |url=https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/cnmi-long-term-resident-status |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Uscis.gov |language=en}}</ref> However, the visa exemptions for Guam-CNMI are more restrictive than the general U.S. [[Visa Waiver Program]].<ref>For a comparison see {{Cite web |title=Visa Waiver Program and Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program {{!}} Homeland Security |url=https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-and-guam-cnmi-visa-waiver-program |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Dhs.gov}}</ref> Still, they need to become residents of a U.S. state or Washington, D.C. to be able to vote in presidential elections. Per the terms of the covenant, since 1986, the Northern Marianas have the right of ''[[jus soli]]''; children born there, as anywhere in the U.S., are citizens at birth.<ref name="Coleman"/> This has also made the CNMI a refuge for pregnant women who escape authoritarian regimes in East Asia: when their child is born in the Northern Marianas it can be a U.S. citizen.<ref name="Coleman">{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Zach |title='Birth tourism' in Saipan causing headaches for USA |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/09/chinese-tourist-births-cnmi/2784797/ |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Usatoday.com|language=en-US}}</ref> 
There are a number of serious restrictions on immigration and citizenship rules in the CNMI. For example, it is not possible to apply for asylum before 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2023 |title=U.S. Immigration Law in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) {{!}} USCIS |url=https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/other-resources/us-immigration-law-in-the-commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Uscis.gov |language=en}}</ref> The U.S. has tried to work with Asian countries and local Marianas to create a realistic balance that allows access but not abuse of the CNMI system and realistic pathways to citizenship according to the rules of the United States and a respect for human situations.<ref name="Coleman" />

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the Northern Mariana Islands}}
[[File:Saipan sunset 2.jpg|thumb|Saipan sunset]]
[[File:Swimming Hole - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Rota's natural seawater swimming hole]]
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands benefits from its trading relationship with the federal government of the United States and cheap trained labor from Asia. The CNMI's economy has historically relied on tourism, mostly from Japan, and the garment manufacturing sector. The economy has declined since quotas were lifted in 2005, eventually leading all the garment factories in Saipan to close by February 2009. Tourism also declined after 2005 when [[Japan Airlines]] stopped serving the Marianas.<ref name="Business Law Handbook">{{cite book |title=Northern Mariana Islands Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxatDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |date=January 1, 2012 |publisher=IBP USA |isbn=978-1-4387-7068-0 |pages=41–48}}</ref>

Agricultural production, primarily of [[tapioca]], cattle, [[coconut]]s, [[breadfruit]], tomatoes, and melons, is relatively unimportant in the economy, representing only 1.7% of CNMI GDP as of 2016.<ref name="CIA Factbook" /> It remains important for the community, and the Marianas, with their thousands of cattle and rich soils, are important for feeding the region, with Tinian being known as the breadbasket of the Marianas.<ref name=":0" /> The cattle herds in the CNMI supply beef not only locally but also to Guam, [[Palau]], and [[Micronesia]].<ref name=":0" /> Some of the cattle breeds on Tinian in the 21st century include [[Senepol]], [[Brangus]] (Brahman X Angus), [[Red Angus]], and [[American Brahman]], and various modern ranching techniques are utilized.<ref name=":0" />

Non-native islanders are not allowed to own land but can lease it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://overseasreview.blogspot.com/2012/06/northern-marianas-retains.html |title=Overseas Territories Review: Northern Marianas Retains constitutional land ownership provisions |publisher=Overseasreview.blogspot.com |date=June 10, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:ManagahaIsland.jpg|thumb|Looking at Saipan from Managaha]]
[[File:Micro Beach (530316786).jpg|thumb|Micro Beach view]]
[[File:Northern Marianas Islands Museum.JPG|thumb|Northern Marianas Islands Museum]]
[[File:Ship1435 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|thumb|Pagan Island's natural stone arch]]
Tourism is popular; several hundred thousand people visit the CNMI in a typical year, and one of the highest years was 1997 when over 760,000 people visited the islands.<ref name="Team">{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Travel |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Northern Mariana Islands Travel Guide |url=https://www.outlooktravelmag.com/travel-guides/63-northern-mariana-islands |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Outlook Travel Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Tourism was strong in 2019, comprising visitors mainly from China and South Korea. Tourism dropped during the pandemic, and has been slow to recover since it ended. Direct flights from Japan have decreased, and the political issues between the US and China have stopped all flights from China (except from Hong Kong) to Saipan. CNMI hopes to attract tourists again from Japan, requiring direct flights to increase between Saipan and Japanese cities.<ref name=KyodoNews2024>{{cite news |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/10/b953c2ee10aa-focus-northern-marianas-seeks-to-revive-tourism-amid-stopped-china-flights.html?phrase=Yoko%20Kamikawa&words= |title=FOCUS: Northern Marianas seeks to revive tourism amid stopped China flights |quote=At the peak of the tourism industry in fiscal 1997, over 450,000 out of more than 760,000 visitors were from Japan owing to many direct flights then from Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese cities. |work=[[Kyodo News]] |date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 30, 2024 }}</ref> The market in 2023 and 2024 for tourism is about half the 2019, pre-pandemic level, relying on tourists from South Korea. “The number of tourists recovered to over 194,600 in fiscal 2023 from some 5,370 in fiscal 2021 and about 69,530 in fiscal 2022 thanks to the return of South Koreans, according to the MVA data.” Some travel experts suggest that CNMI change its image from the low cost destination to a slightly fancier destination.<ref name=KyodoNews2024 />

Activities known to be popular are jungle hikes, golfing, diving, and historical sites such as prehistoric stones.<ref name="Team"/> One of the golf courses was designed by professional champion golfer [[Greg Norman]].<ref name="Team"/> A tourism hot spot is Managaha Island, which must be accessed by ferry and has various [[Barbecue|bbq]] vendors, [[List of water sports|water sport]] activities, and has wide sandy beaches surrounding a tropical forest.<ref name="iexplore.com">{{Cite web |title=Northern Mariana Islands — Attractions |url=https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/australia-and-south-pacific/northern-mariana-islands/attractions |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Iexplore.com}}</ref> 

Tourists from the U.S. do not need a visa, while those from other countries that qualify for ESTA or the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program can usually stay for up to 45 or 90 days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESTA application and traveling to Saipan |url=https://esta-center.com/en/saipan/index.html |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=ESTA Online Center |language=ja |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029042708/https://esta-center.com/en/saipan/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Noted tourist destinations in the CNMI include:<ref name="iexplore.com"/>
*Managaha Island (100-acre tropical beach island visited by ferry)
*[[American Memorial Park]]
*Micro Beach, a 1&nbsp;km beach on the west side, so it is possible to see the sunset.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Micro Beach in October (updated in 2023), Micro Beach reviews, Micro Beach address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Micro Beach |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/micro-beach-10559655/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>
*San Juan beach, with a unique stone formation that is known for looking a bit like a crocodile.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Things to Do in Northern Mariana Islands in October (Updated 2023) {{!}} Trip.com Attractions |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/northern-mariana-islands-788/tourist-attractions/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for San Juan Beach in October (updated in 2023), San Juan Beach reviews, San Juan Beach address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near San Juan Beach |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/san-juan-beach-91406/?locale=en-XX&curr=USD |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>
*Rad/Ladder/Coral Beach on the southern part of Saipan is about 100 yards long and is mostly coral fragments. It is popular for local barbeques and beach running.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Ladder Beach in October (updated in 2023), Ladder Beach reviews, Ladder Beach address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Ladder Beach |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/ladder-beach-18576539/?locale=en-XX&curr=USD |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>
*Obyan Beach is a long south beach known for its colorful underwater life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Obyan Beach in October (updated in 2023), Obyan Beach reviews, Obyan Beach address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Obyan Beach |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/saipan/obyan-beach-18692015/?locale=en-XX&curr=USD |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>
*Taga Beach (on Tinian Island) is the largest beach known for its sunset views.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest travel itineraries for Taga Beach in October (updated in 2023), Taga Beach reviews, Taga Beach address and opening hours, popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Taga Beach |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/tinian/taga-beach-87885/?locale=en-XX&curr=USD |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-XX}}</ref>
*[[Latte Stones]] Quarry (an ancient stone quarry of the Chamorro people)
*[[Mount Tapochau]] (highest point with views of Saipan), this site is known for its views, and it is possible to see other islands on a clear day and is topped by a statue of Jesus Christ.<ref name="Mount Tapochau">{{Cite web |title=Mount Tapochau |url=https://www.afar.com/places/mount-tapochao-capitol-hill |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=AFAR Media |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Kalabera Cave]] (features ancient cave drawings)
*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)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bird Island Beach |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bird-island-beach-1 |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref>
*Forbidden Island, this small island connected to Saipan, is connected at low tide and can be hiked onto, but the water separates it at high tide. There is a lookout near this small island.<ref name="TRIP.COM" />
*[[Japanese Lighthouse (Garapan, Saipan)|Japanese Lighthouse]] (a lighthouse built in 1934 when the Northern Marianas were in the Japanese Mandate, currently a cafe with island views)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Japanese Lighthouse |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-japanese-lighthouse |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref>
*[[NMI Museum of History and Culture]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=MVA |date=October 6, 2021 |title=NMI celebrates World Tourism Day |url=https://www.mvariety.com/business/business_news/nmi-celebrates-world-tourism-day/article_4e7faec6-259a-11ec-941e-43043fffabfe.html |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=Marianas Variety News & Views |language=en}}</ref>
*The Grotto, on Saipan, is a large underwater limestone cavern.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Grotto |url=https://www.afar.com/places/the-grotto-saipan |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=AFAR Media |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Birth tourism]], 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.<ref name="Coleman" />

===Labor controversies===
{{further|Saipan#Labor controversies}}
The Northern Mariana Islands had successfully used its position as a free trade area with the U.S., while at the same time not being subject to the same [[labor laws]]. For example, the Commonwealth's $3.05 per hour minimum wage, which lasted from 1997 to 2007, was lower than in the U.S., and some other worker protections are weaker, leading to lower production costs. That allowed garments to be labeled "Made in USA" without complying with all U.S. labor laws. However, the U.S. minimum wage law signed by [[Presidency of George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]] on May 25, 2007, resulted in stepped increases in the Northern Marianas' minimum wage, which allowed it to reach the U.S. level in 2015.<ref name="Vallejera">{{cite news |author=Jayvee L. Vallejera |title=NMI minimum wage hike OK'd |newspaper=Saipan Tribune |date=May 27, 2007 |url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=68875 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003142/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=68875 |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> The first step (to $3.55) became effective July 25, 2007, and a yearly increase of $0.50 will take effect every May thereafter until the CNMI minimum wage equals the nationwide minimum wage. However, a law signed by [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Obama]] in December 2009 delayed the yearly increase from May to September. In 2018, the minimum wage finally reached $7.25, matching the U.S. federal minimum wage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Perez|first1=Jon|title=$7.25 per hour |url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/7-25-per-hour/|newspaper=Saipan Tribune|access-date=July 22, 2020|date=October 1, 2018}}</ref>

The island's exemption from U.S. labor laws had led to many alleged exploitations, including recent claims of [[sweatshop]]s, [[child labor]], [[child prostitution]], and forced abortions.<ref name="TomPaine">{{cite web|url=http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/09/sex_greed_and_forced_abortions.php|title=Sex, Greed And Forced Abortions|access-date=February 20, 2008|publisher=TomPaine.com|date=May 9, 2006|author=Rebecca Clarren|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226013133/http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/09/sex_greed_and_forced_abortions.php|archive-date=December 26, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Clarren">{{cite magazine| author=Rebecca Clarren| author-link=Rebecca Clarren| title=Paradise Lost: Greed, Sex Slavery, Forced Abortions and Right-Wing Moralists| magazine=Ms.| date=Spring 2006| url=http://www.msmagazine.com/spring2006/paradise.asp| access-date=November 11, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060702152508/http://www.msmagazine.com/spring2006/paradise.asp| archive-date=July 2, 2006}}</ref>

An immigration system mostly outside of federal U.S. control (which ended on November 28, 2009) resulted in many Chinese migrant workers (about 15,000 during the peak years) being employed in the islands' garment trade. However, the lifting of [[World Trade Organization]] restrictions on Chinese imports to the U.S. in 2005 had put the commonwealth-based trade under severe pressure, leading to a number of factory closures. Along with the U.S.-imposed scheduled wage increases, the last factories were closed in early 2009 and the garment industry became extinct.<ref>{{cite news| author=Haidee V. Eugenio| title=NMI economy generates $1.3B sales| newspaper=Saipan Tribune| date=May 1, 2014| url=http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/nmi-economy-generates-1-3b-sales/| access-date=June 3, 2014| archive-date=September 4, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904005134/http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/nmi-economy-generates-1-3b-sales/}}</ref>

===Infrastructure===
[[File:Entrance to Saipan International Airport.JPG|thumb|left|Saipan International Airport entrance]]
The islands have more than {{convert|220|mi|km}} of highways, three airports with paved runways (one about {{convert|9800|ft|m}} long; two around {{convert|6600|ft|m}}), three airports with unpaved runways, and one heliport. The main commercial airport is [[Saipan International Airport]].

Commuter airline [[Star Marianas Air]] provides short-haul flights between Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Congressman wants EAS eligibility for CNMI |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/126975-us-congressman-wants-eas-eligibility-for-cnmi |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=ch-aviation |language=en}}</ref> International carriers connect Saipan with Korea, China, and Japan; flights to the U.S. mainland typically connect through Guam or Hawaiʻi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting to Saipan |url=https://www.saipandoctors.com/getting-there |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Saipan Doctors |language=en}}</ref>

In addition to by air, inter-island travel within the commonwealth is possible via ferry or chartered vessel services. For example, to visit Pagan is a {{convert|200|mi|km|adj=on}} boat trip.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=Pacific Daily News |first=Steve |last=Limtiaco |date=August 11, 2019 |title=Here's why Pagan homestead applicants are having trouble getting permits to live on island |url=https://www.guampdn.com/news/local/heres-why-pagan-homestead-applicants-are-having-trouble-getting-permits-to-live-on-island/article_7988e5e8-6443-5c3b-8d93-215262c9d725.html |access-date=October 12, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Mail service for the islands is provided by the [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal Service]] (USPS). Each major island has its own ZIP code in the 96950–96952 range, and the USPS two-letter abbreviation for the CNMI is MP<ref name="CNMI-LRC">{{cite web |url=http://cnmilaw.org/aboutcnmi.htm |title=About the CNMI |publisher=CNMI Commonwealth Law Revision Commission |access-date=January 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509002032/http://www.cnmilaw.org/aboutcnmi.htm |archive-date=May 9, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="USPS-abbrs">{{cite web |url=https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28apb.htm |title=Publication 28, Postal Addressing Standards Appendix B: Two–Letter State and Possession Abbreviations |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref> ("Marianas Pacific", [[New Mexico|NM]] and [[Michigan|MI]] being taken). "CM" has been used previously and is still used in some contexts, but can be confused with [[Cameroon]]. For phone service, the islands are included in the [[North American Numbering Plan]], using [[area code 670]].<ref name="CNMI-LRC" />

Television service is provided by [[KPPI-LD]], Channel 7, which simulcasts Guam's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate, [[KTGM]], as well as [[WSZE]], Channel 10, which simulcasts Guam's [[NBC]] affiliate, [[KUAM-TV]]. [[List of radio stations in the Northern Mariana Islands|About 10 radio stations]] broadcast within the CNMI.

In 2012, ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' reported that CNMI internet prices were five times those of Guam and that the price per megabit increases if a customer chooses a higher level internet package due to the limited bandwidth.<ref>{{cite web|author=Calabrese, Michael|author2=Daniel Calarco|author3=Colin Richardson|url=https://slate.com/technology/2012/05/internet-access-and-cost-in-american-samoa-northern-marianas-islands-guam.html|title=The Most Expensive Internet in America|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> In 2023, some Federal funding for improving broadband was allocated to the territory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buch |first=Kabir |date=October 11, 2023 |title=High speed internet package comes to the Northern Mariana Islands |url=https://pasquines.us/2023/10/11/high-speed-internet-package-comes-to-the-northern-mariana-islands/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Pasquines |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of the Northern Mariana Islands}}
{{see also|List of U.S. states and territories by population}}
{{US Census population
|1960=8286
|1970=9436
|1980=16780
|1990=43345
|2000=69221
|2010=53883
|2020=47329}}

According to the 2020 census, the population of the CNMI was 47,329, down from 69,221 in 2000.<ref name=census2020/> The decrease was reportedly due to a combination of factors, including the demise of the garment industry (the vast majority of whose employees were females from China), economic crises, and a decline in tourism, one of the CNMI's primary sources of revenue.<ref name=ST />

As of the 2020 Census, except for the [[United States Minor Outlying Islands|U.S. Minor Outlying Islands]], the Northern Mariana Islands are the second least populous sub-federal jurisdiction in the United States, next to [[American Samoa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/news/pdf/cb11cn178_ia_cnmi_totalpop_2010map.pdf |title=Census map |date=2010 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> However, the islands population has fluctuated over time hitting 80 thousand in 2000, then declining to around 50 thousand in the 2010s. In 1986, when the people of the CNMI became U.S. citizens, it had a population of about 36 thousand. In 1950, the population was about 7 thousand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/MNP/northern-mariana-islands/population |title=Northern Mariana Islands Population 1950–2023 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> For comparison, in 1776, the smallest American state by population was Delaware with a population of about 60 thousand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://247wallst.com/economy/2019/07/04/in-july-1776-2-5-million-people-lived-in-the-thirteen-colonies-and/ |title=In July 1776, 2.5 Million People Lived in the 13 Colonies And ... |date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

As of 2020, about 60% of the population are U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, and the other 40% are foreign workers.<ref name="Office">{{Cite web |last=Office |first=U. S. Government Accountability |title=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Recent Workforce Trends and Wage Distribution {{!}} U.S. GAO |url=https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105271 |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=Gao.gov |language=en}}</ref> The United States has a program that monitors the ratio of workers to citizens and the number of lawful residents of different types.<ref name="Office" />

Many Marianans have migrated to the continental US, and moving to the West Coast is slightly more popular. One of the largest communities is in Washington State, with a community of almost 5,000 people from the islands.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 23, 2022 |title=Analysis {{!}} People are fleeing Puerto Rico, Guam, and every other U.S. territory. What gives? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/09/23/american-territories-population-loss/ |access-date=October 25, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Languages ===
The official languages on the Northern Mariana Islands include [[English language|English]], [[Chamorro language|Chamorro]], and [[Carolinian language|Carolinian]]. Few people still speak the nearly extinct [[Tanapag language]]. Many [[Languages of the Philippines|Philippine languages]], Chinese, and other [[Languages of Oceania|Pacific island languages]] are also spoken. [[Spanish language|Spanish]] is still retained in surnames but is no longer commonly used, though it is still familiar to some elders as a third or fourth language.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Solenberger |first=Robert R. |date=1962 |title=The Social Meaning of Language Choice in the Marianas |journal=Anthropological Linguistics |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=59–64 |jstor=30022346}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
<!-- what is the source of this and date?
Austronesian peoples
* 35.3% [[Filipinos|Filipino]]
* 23.9% [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]]
* 4.6% [[Carolinian people|Refaluwasch]]
* 6.4% [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islanders]]
Asian Peoples
* 6.8% [[Chinese people|Chinese]]
* 4.2% [[Korean people|Korean]]
* 3.7% [[Asian People|Other Asians]]
All Other
* 12.7% Multi-racial/multi-ethnic
* 2.4% Unspecified Other -->
[[File:121207-M-BC491-009 (8265095636).jpg|thumb|Northern Marianas students on Tinian in 2012]]
Based on the 2010 census in the CIA World Factbook:<ref>{{Citation |title=Northern Mariana Islands |date=September 27, 2024 |work=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/northern-mariana-islands/#people-and-society |access-date=October 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007094221/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/northern-mariana-islands/#people-and-society |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}</ref>

The Northern Marianas is mostly a diverse mix of Asian and Pacific peoples.
*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%

===Religion===
[[File:Saipan Mount Carmel Cathedral.JPG|thumb|Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Chalan Kanoa]]
Owing to the Spanish [[missionaries]] in the Marianas, a large majority of Chamorros and Carolinians practice [[Roman Catholicism]]. The Japanese occupation created a sizable [[Buddhist]] community which remained even after their departure. Due to the influence of the United States, diverse denominations of [[Protestantism]] also entered the islands. Many people on the Northern Mariana Islands are Roman Catholic or have traditional beliefs.

According to the [[Pew Research Center]], 2010:<ref>{{cite web |title=Religions in Northern Mariana Islands – PEW-GRF |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/northern-mariana-islands#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |url-status=dead |website=GlobalReligiousFutures.org |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421091227/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/northern-mariana-islands#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 }}</ref>

{{Update section|date=April 2025}}
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa|Roman Catholic]] 64.1%
* [[Protestants]] 16%
* [[Buddhists]] 10.6%
* Folk religions 5.3%
* Other Christians 1.2%
* Other religions 1.1%
* Unaffiliated 1.0%
* [[Eastern Orthodox]] <1%
* [[Hindu]] <1%
* [[Muslim]] <1%
* Jews <1%
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] reported 865 members in a [[ward (LDS Church)|ward]] (congregation) in the Northern Mariana Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/northern-mariana-islands |title=Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Northern Mariana Islands |work=Newsroom |publisher=LDS Church |access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>

===Education===
The [[Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System]] operates public schools in the commonwealth and there are numerous private schools. [[Northern Marianas College]] is accredited by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]] and offers a range of programs similar to other small U.S. [[community college]]s.

==Culture==
[[File:Women stick dancing in Tanapag Village, Saipan (2000).webm|thumb|Women performing a folk stick dance in Saipan, 2000]]
[[File:Chamorro performers.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Chamorro people]]
Much of the Chamorro culture in the Mariana Islands was influenced by Spanish rule; it also displays influence from the Germans and Japanese. Respect is an integral part of Chamorro culture, and one typical display is the tradition of "manngingi'". This tradition has been around for centuries and involves an elder and a young Chamorro child. The child takes the hand of the elder, places it on their nose, and says ''ñot'' to the men and ''ñora'' to the women, with the elders responding ''diosti ayudi'' (from Spanish ''Señor'', ''Señora'', ''Dios Te Ayude''), meaning "God help you".

The [[Carolinian people|Carolinian]] culture is very similar to that of the Chamorros, with respect paramount. Carolinian culture can be traced to [[Yap]] and [[Chuuk Lagoon|Chuuk]], where the population originated. One of the differences between Guam and the Northern Marianas is the significant migration of the Carolinian (modern-day Micronesia) people and culture, in addition to the Chamorros.

===Cuisine===
[[File:Beef tinaktak.jpg|thumb|left|Tianaktak, finely ground meat cooked in coconut milk with vegetables]]
[[File:Estufao.jpg|thumb|left|''Estufao'', a stewed meat dish similar to ''Kaddon pika'']]
{{main|Cuisine of the Mariana Islands}}
Much of Chamorro cuisine is influenced by various cultures. Popular foods of foreign origin include various types of sweet or savory [[empanada]], initially introduced by Spain, and [[pancit]], a noodle dish from the Philippines.

Archeological evidence reveals that rice has been cultivated in the Marianas since prehistoric times. Red rice made with [[Bixa orellana#Culinary uses|achoti]] is a distinct staple food that strongly distinguishes Chamorro cuisine from that of other Pacific islands. It is commonly served for special events, such as parties (gupot or "fiestas"), novenas, and high school or college graduations. Fruits such as [[breadfruit|lemmai]] (breadfruit), [[mango|mangga]] (mangoes), [[coconut|niyok]] (coconuts), and [[Averrhoa bilimbi|bilimbines]] (bilimbi, a fruit related to [[starfruit]]) are included in various local recipes. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and American cuisine are also commonly available.

Local specialties include [[kelaguen]], a dish in which meat is cooked in whole or in part by the action of [[citric acid]] rather than heat; ''[[tinaktak]]'', a meat dish made with coconut milk; and kå'du fanihi (flying fox/fruit bat soup). Fruit bats have become scarce in modern times on several islands, primarily due to the overharvesting of the species and loss of habitat; hunting them is now illegal even though poaching still occurs.

The Marianas and the Hawaiian islands are the world's foremost consumers, per capita, of [[Spam (food)|Spam]], with Guam at the top of the list and Hawaii second (details regarding the rest of the Marianas are often absent from statistics). Spam was introduced to the islands by the American military as war rations during World War II.

Spam is considered a "default" meal or snack and is often incorporated into recipes such as Spam sushi, Spam pizza, Spam and eggs, and Spam-fried rice.<ref name="Arin Greenwood">{{Cite web |author=Arin Greenwood |title=Gadfly Online. Isle of Canned Meat |url=http://www.gadflyonline.com/home/06-10-02/ftr-spam.html |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=Gadflyonline.com |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202134402/http://www.gadflyonline.com/home/06-10-02/ftr-spam.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The food is popular on other islands also including Guam and Hawaiian islands, and one popular flavor is hot and spicy spam.<ref name="Arin Greenwood" />

===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Northern Mariana Islands}}
A small independent [[cinema of Northern Mariana Islands]], producing mostly documentary films, developed in the 21st century thanks to the efforts of the Commonwealth and of the [[Northern Marianas College]]. Foreign producers had already shot films on the islands in the 20th century.<ref name="Bill">{{cite act|type=Bill|date=2011|legislature=Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature|title=Commonwealth Film & Media Amendment Act of 2011|url=http://www.cnmileg.gov.mp/documents/house/hse_bills/17/HB17-157.pdf}}</ref>

In 2002, a new § 2151 of the Commonwealth Code established within the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), a Commonwealth Film, Video, and Media Office, also known as the Northern Mariana Islands Film Office, with the purpose of attracting foreign companies to produce movies in the Commonwealth and to develop a local cinema industry.<ref>{{cite act|type=Commonwealth Code|date=2002|article=2151|legislature=Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature|title=Commonwealth Film, Video and Media Office Established|url=https://www.cnmilaw.org/pdf/cmc_section/T4/2151.pdf}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[File:Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.JPG|thumb|Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field]]

Team [[sports]] prevalent in the United States were introduced to the Northern Mariana Islands by American soldiers during World War II. [[Baseball]] is the islands' most popular sport. CNMI teams have made appearances in the [[Little League World Series]] (in the Little, Junior, Senior, and Big league divisions) as well as winning gold medals in the [[Micronesian Games]] and [[South Pacific Games]].

[[Basketball]] and [[mixed martial arts]] are also popular in the islands, which hosted the official 2009 [[Oceania Basketball Tournament]]. Trench Wars is the CNMI's Mixed Martial Arts brand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crankeffect.com/144/trench-tech-saipan-cuki-alvarez-thoughts-cnmi-mixed-martial-arts-mma/|title=Trench Tech Saipan's President, Cuki Alvarez Thoughts on CNMI Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)|last=says|first=Soena Charley|date=March 12, 2010|website=Frank The Crank Camacho's Big Adventure|language=en-US|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-date=February 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223074348/http://crankeffect.com/144/trench-tech-saipan-cuki-alvarez-thoughts-cnmi-mixed-martial-arts-mma/}}</ref> Fighters from the CNMI have competed in the Pacific Xtreme Combat as well as the [[UFC]].

Other sports in the CNMI include [[Ultimate Frisbee]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/sports/99833-saipan-ultimate-frisbee-to-hold-saipan-land-and-sand-hat-tournament/|title=Saipan Ultimate Frisbee to hold Saipan Land and Sand Tournament|last=Saipan|first=Ultimate|date=November 6, 2017|website=Marianas Variety|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref> [[volleyball]], [[tennis]], soccer, [[outrigger]] sailing, [[softball]], [[beach volleyball]], [[rugby football|rugby]], [[golf]], [[boxing]], [[kickboxing]], [[tae kwon do]], [[track and field]], swimming, [[triathlon]], and [[American football|football]].

The islands have several golf courses, mostly on Saipan and often near resorts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/course-directory/8512-northern-mariana-islands/|title=Northern Mariana Islands|website=Golf Advisor}}</ref> There are four golf courses on Saipan as of the 2020s: Marianas Country Club, Laolao Bay Country Club, Coral Ocean Point Resort Clu, and Kingfisher Golf Links. To the south, Rota Island has another Rota Resort & Country Club. All the courses have 18 holes, but the level of difficulty varies.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Resort |first1=Mariana |last2=Spa |last3=Saipan |date=November 1, 2011 |title=Saipan's scenic championship courses |url=https://www.air-golf.com/destinations/international/saipans-scenic-championship-courses |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Air Golf Japan |language=en}}</ref>

== Flora and fauna ==
{{see also|List of endemic plants in the Mariana Islands}}
[[File:Mariana Fruit Dove RWD5.jpg|thumb|Mariana Fruit Dove]]
The official bird of the Northern Marianas Islands is the endemic [[Mariana fruit dove]] and the official flower is the [[Plumeria]], which originated in the Americas.<ref name="Geography-2021">{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Northern Mariana Islands |url=https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/u-s-states-and-territories/article/northern-mariana-islands |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=Geography |language=en}}</ref> The islands are home to many tropical plants and animals, as well as marine life such as [[whale]]s and [[dugong]]s.<ref name="Geography-2021" /> The islands are heavily forested, with about 80% ground cover consisting of tropical forests. Trees include palm, banana, pine, fern, and plumeria.<ref name="Geography-2021" /> There are many species of coral around the islands, many of which are ringed by coral reefs, and some islands have upwards of 60 species of coral.<ref name="Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands"/>

There are nine known species of birds endemic to the Northern Marianas, such as the [[Saipan Reed Warbler]] and [[Golden white-eye]], as well as a variety of invertebrates, insects, and plants. Some of examples include Langford's tree snail (''[[Partula langfordi]]'') or the tree fern ''(Cyathea aramaganensis'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animals and Plants Unique to the Northern Mariana Islands |url=https://lntreasures.com/nmi.html |access-date=November 9, 2023 |website=lntreasures.com}}</ref>

==See also==
<!-- [[American imperialism]] -->
* [[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]]
<!-- *[[Bibliography of the Northern Mariana Islands]] -->
<!-- [[International rankings of the Northern Mariana Islands]] -->
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in the Northern Mariana Islands|List of National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands]]
<!-- [[List of people from the Northern Mariana Islands]] -->
<!-- [[List of places in the Northern Mariana Islands]] -->

{{portalbar|History|Spain|Germany|Japan|Geography|Oceania|United States|<!--Northern Mariana Islands-->}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
<references>
<ref name="CIA Factbook">{{cite web |title=Australia-Oceania :: Northern Mariana Islands (Territory of the US) |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/northern-mariana-islands/ |website=The World Factbook |date=September 25, 2023 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="CIA Factbook-b">{{citation |title=Area:total: 464 sq km land: 464 sq km water: 0 sq km note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian}}</ref>
</references>

==Further reading==
* ''[[The World Factbook]]'', 2000.
* Land areas and population data from [[United States Census Bureau]].
* [https://www.census.gov Northern Mariana Islands and constituent municipalities, United States Census Bureau]

==External links==
{{sister project links|voy=Northern Mariana Islands}}

===Government===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090428022941/http://www.gov.mp/ Official website] – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (archived April 28, 2009)
* [http://www.paclii.org/pits/en/treaty_database/1975/2.html The CNMI Covenant]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081005081138/http://www.cnmilaw.org/constitution.htm The CNMI Constitution] (archived October 5, 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070523005455/http://www.resrep.gov.mp/ CNMI Office of Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio] (archived May 23, 2007)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081224001609/http://www.theorator.com/bills109/hr873.html H.R. 873 – The Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act] (archived December 24, 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081223230256/http://www.theorator.com/bills109/hr5550.html H.R. 5550 – The United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act] (archived December 23, 2008)

===General===
* [https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/islandareas/ ''U.S. Census Bureau: Island Areas Census 2000'']
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/northern-mariana-islands/ Northern Mariana Islands]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [https://guides.loc.gov/northern-mariana-islands-state-guide U.S. Northern Mariana Islands: Resource Guide, from the Library of Congress] 
* {{wikiatlas|Northern Mariana Islands}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}

===News media===
* [http://www.kspn2.com/ KSPN-TV Channel 2 News]
* [http://saipantribune.com/ ''Saipan Tribune'']
* [http://www.mvariety.com/ ''Marianas Variety'']
* [http://www.ptimes.net/ ''The Pacific Times'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080905144057/http://www.chamorro.com/fft Food for Thought – Weekly commentary on CNMI society by KZMI and KCNM manager Harry Blalock]

===Other===
* [http://www.theinsularempire.com/ ''The Insular Empire: America in the Mariana Islands'', PBS documentary film & website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030313031814/http://www.cnmi.humanities.org.mp/encyclopedia/ Northern Mariana Islands Online Encyclopedia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082659/http://www.doi.gov/archive/oia/Islandpages/cnmipage.htm U.S. Department of the Interior – Insular Area Summary for the Northern Mariana Islands]

{{Northern Mariana Islands}}
{{Countries and territories of Oceania}}
{{Spanish Empire}}
{{Former German colonies}}
{{United States political divisions}}
{{Territories of the United States}}
{{USCensus Geography}}
{{Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)}}
{{U.S. Counties}}
{{Authority control}}

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