Moving to Northern Mariana Islands: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

51,433

Population Growth Rate

0.09%

Urban Population

91.500000

Population in Major Urban Areas

SAIPAN (capital) 56,000

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Age Structure

25.540000

Median Age

31.100000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

20

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

3.52

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.05

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.060000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-15.22

Ethnic Groups

Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean

Nationality Noun

NA

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Literacy - total population

97%

Literacy - male

97%

Literacy - female

96%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

0.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

77.450000

Infant Mortality Rate

5.590000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

5.590000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

97.500000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

79.700000

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Economic Overview

The economy of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) has been on the rebound in the last few years, mainly on the strength of its tourism industry.

In 2016, the CNMI’s real GDP increased 28.6% over the previous year, following two years of relatively rapid growth in 2014 and 2015.

Chinese and Korean tourists have supplanted Japanese tourists in the last few years.

The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to the main Island of Saipan, its political and commercial center.

Investment is concentrated on hotels and casinos in Saipan, the CNMI’s largest island and home to about 90% of its population.

Federal grants have also contributed to economic growth and stability.

In 2016, federal grants amounted to $101.4 billion which made up 26% of the CNMI government’s total revenues.

A small agriculture sector consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons.

Legislation is pending in the US Congress to extend the transition period to allow foreign workers to work in the CNMI on temporary visas.

Industries

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$1,242,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$13,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5%

GDP - official exchange rate

$1,232,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 91.3% government
• consumption: 51.5% investment in fixed
• assets: 3.8% exports of goods and
• services: 42.2% imports of goods and
• services: 42.2%

GDP - note

GDP estimate includes US subsidy

GDP by Sector- agriculture

1.7%

GDP by Sector- Industry

2.9%

GDP by Sector- services

95.4%

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Inflation Rate

-0.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

US dollar (USD)

Currency Name and Code

US Dollar (USD)

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

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Labor Force

38,450

Unemployment Rate

8%

Major Industries

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Agriculture Products

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

1.9%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

10%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

88.1%

Annual Budget

$193,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-7.9%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

35.5%

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Full Country Name

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Country Name

Northern Mariana Islands

Abbreviation

CNMI

Former Name

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Etymology- history of name

formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria

Independence

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National Holiday

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

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Government Type

a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Constitution

• history: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)
• amendments: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote; amended several times, last in 2012

Legal System:

the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
• head of government: Governor David M. APATANG (since 24 July 2025)
• cabinet: Sworn in by CNMI Chief Justice Alexandro Castro on Thursday, 24 July 2025 election/appointment
• process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed most recent election
• date: 8 November 2022, with a runoff held on 25 November 2022
• election results: 2022: Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; percent of vote in second round - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor 2018: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (independent) 37.8%; Arnold PALACIOS elected lieutenant governor expected date of next
• election: 2026

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature consists of: Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms) the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term
• elections: CNMI
• Senate - last held on 8 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) CNMI House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2024) Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2024)
• election results: CNMI
• Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 6, independent 3;
• Composition: men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2% CNMI House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 9, Democrat Party 8, independent 3;
• Composition: men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%;
• Note: overall CNMI legislature percent of women 24.1% delegate to US House of Representatives - seat won by independent;
• Composition: 1 man
• Note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the "Committee of the Whole House" but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

Judicial Branch:

• office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms
• subordinate courts: Superior Court

Regions or States:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Democratic Party [Daniel QUITUGUA]
• Republican Party [James ADA]

Suffrage:

• 18 years of age
• universal
• note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Citizenship Criteria:

see United States

Capital Name

Saipan

Capital - geographic coordinate

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

International Organization Participation:

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Dependency Status

commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US

federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, Washington, DC

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Geographic Location

Oceania

Geographic Coordinates

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Total Area

179 Square Miles 464 Square Kilometers

Land Area

179 Square Miles 464 Square Kilometers

Coastline

921 Miles 1,482 Kilometers

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Terrain

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs

northern islands are volcanic

Highest Point

965 Meters

Highest Point Location

unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Lowest Point Location

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

arable land, fish

Irrigated Land

0 Square Miles 1 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

• tropical marine
• moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation
• dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs

northern islands are volcanic

Location

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

Total Area

179 Square Miles 464 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

• contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease
• clean-up of landfill
• protection of endangered species conflicts with development

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Exports

$0 (USD)

Imports

$0 (USD)

Major Exports

garments

Major Imports

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Top Export Partners

US

Top Import Partners

US, Japan

Export Partners

US

Import Partners

US, Japan

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Airports - total

5

Airports with Paved Runways

3

Heliports

1

Roadways- total

333 Miles 536 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Saipan, Tinian

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Telephones

25,100

Cell Phones

20,500

Internet Users

10,000

Internet Country Code

.mp

Internet Hosts

9

Broadcast Media

• 1 TV broadcast station on Saipan
• multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan
• 9 licensed radio broadcast stations

Telephone System

international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

48,300

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

60,600

Anthem History

territory of United States