Northern Mariana Islands Travel Guide

Full Name

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Former Name

Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Capital City

Saipan

Government Type

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Climate

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

Geography

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

Languages

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

History

Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Currency

U.S. Dollar (USD)