Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands[lower-alpha 1] (CNMI; Chamorro: Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; Carolinian: Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.[10] The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Marianas Islands are listed by the United Nations as one of 17 non-self governing territories.

Northern Mariana Islands
Unincorporated and organized U.S. territory
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands[lower-alpha 1] Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas (Chamorro) Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas (Carolinian)
Flag Seal
Anthem: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (Chamorro) "Satil Matawal Pacifiko" (Carolinian) ("In the Middle of the Sea")
Location of the Northern Mariana Islands (circled in red)
Sovereign state	United States[lower-alpha 2]
Before association with the United States	Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Commonwealth status	January 9, 1978
End of U.N. Trusteeship	November 4, 1986
Capital and largest city	Saipan 15.19°N 145.74°E / 15.19; 145.74
Official languages	English Chamorro Carolinian
Ethnic groups (2023)[1]	35.3% Filipino 23.9% Chamorro 6.8% Chinese 4.6% Refaluwasch 4.2% Korean 6.4% Other Pacific Islanders 3.7% Other Asians 15.1% Other
Religion (2010)[2]	81.3% Christianity 10.6% Buddhism 5.3% Folk religions 1.0% No religion 0.7% Islam 1.1% Other
Demonym(s)	Northern Mariana Islander (formal) Northern Marianan (other) Marianan (diminutive form) Chamorro (colloquial)[3]
Government	Devolved presidential constitutional dependency
• Governor	Arnold Palacios (I)
• Lieutenant Governor	David M. Apatang (I)
Legislature	Commonwealth Legislature
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
United States Congress
• House delegate	Gregorio Sablan (D)
Area
• Total	464[4][5] km2 (179 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Highest elevation (Mount Agrihan)	965 m (3,166 ft)
Population
• 2022 estimate	55,650[6] (209th)
• 2020 census	47,329[7]
• Density	113/km2 (292.7/sq mi) (97th)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$1.24 billion[6]
• Per capita	$25,516[6]
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	US$1,182,000,000[8]
• Per capita	$21,239
Currency	United States dollar (US$) (USD)
Time zone	UTC+10:00 (ChST)
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1-670
USPS abbreviation	MP
Trad. abbreviation	CNMI
ISO 3166 code	MP US-MP
Internet TLD	.mp
Website	gov.mp

The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km²).[11] According to the 2020 United States Census, 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at that time.[7] The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other islands of the Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan, which for various reasons over the centuries has experienced major population flux, but formerly had residents numbering in the thousands.[12][13]

The administrative center is Capitol Hill, a village in northwestern Saipan.