{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Austronesian people settled the Northern Mariana Islands around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including Micronesians in the first century A.D. and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521, and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle there. By the time they returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands.<br><br>In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US after the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and later administered them as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI).<br><br>On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, which Guam rejected in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-governance separate from the rest of the TTPI, and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship, with the territory coming under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "15 12 N, 145 45 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Oceania"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "464 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "464 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian"
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "2.5 times the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,482 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Agrihan Volcano 965 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "arable land, fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "6.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "65.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "27.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "1 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "51,118"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "27,044"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "24,074 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "NA (US citizens)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1% (includes Carolinian (official), Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "22.1% (male 6,066/female 5,231)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "67.7% (male 18,206/female 16,377)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "10.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,772/female 2,466)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "46"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "31.7"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "14.3"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "7 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "32.4 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "31.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "33.2 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.34% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "15.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-13.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "92.1% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.17 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.16 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.11 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "1.12 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "14.4 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "9 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "77.1 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "75 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "79.5 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.56 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.18 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 97.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2.1% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "6.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "65.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "27.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "92.1% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "32,761 tons (2013 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "11,794 tons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "36% (2016 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Northern Mariana Islands"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District"
      },
      "abbreviation": {
        "text": "CNMI"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches"
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Saipan"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "15 12 N, 145 45 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the entire island of Saipan is organized as a single municipality and serves as the capital; according to legend, when the first native voyagers arrived in their outrigger canoes they found an uninhabited island; to them it was like an empty voyage, so they named the island <em>saay</em> meaning \"a voyage,\" and <em>peel</em> meaning \"empty\"; over time <em>Saaypeel</em> - \"island of the empty voyage\" - became Saipan"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "none (commonwealth in political union with the US)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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"
      }
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see United States"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Governor Arnold PALACIOS (since 9 January 2023)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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; election last held on 8 November 2022 with a runoff held on 25 November 2022 (next to be held in 2026)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2022: </em>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<br><br><em>2018: </em>Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (independent) 37.8%;  Arnold PALACIOS elected lieutenant governor"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>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": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the CNMI Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Superior Court"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Democratic Party<br>Republican Party"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "PIF (observer), SPC, UPU"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "none (commonwealth in political union with the US) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a mwáár or head lei (wreath); blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the Chamorro latte stone and the Carolinian mwáár (head lei) represent elements of Marianas culture; the mwáár is composed of the flowers from four flowering plants: flores mayo (<em>Plumeria</em>), ylang-ylang or langilang (<em>Cananga odorata</em>), angagha or peacock flower (<em>Caesalpinia pulcherrima</em>), and teibwo or Pacific basil (<em>Ocimum tenuiflorum</em>)"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "latte stone; national colors: blue, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi\" (In the Middle of the Sea)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Jose S. PANGELINAN [Chamoru], David PETER [Carolinian]/Wilhelm GANZHORN"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as \"Satil Matawal Pacifico;\" as a commonwealth of the US, in addition to the local anthem, \"The Star-Spangled Banner\" is official (see United States)"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "US Pacific island commonwealth economy; growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination; hit hard by 2018 typhoon; dependent on energy imports; exempt from some US labor and immigration laws; longstanding garment production"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016": {
        "text": "$1.242 billion (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015": {
        "text": "$933 million (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014": {
        "text": "$845 million (2014 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> GDP estimate includes US subsidy; data are in 2013 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "16.64% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "4.97% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-29.68% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2016": {
        "text": "$24,500 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2015": {
        "text": "$18,400 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2014": {
        "text": "$16,600 (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$1.096 billion (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": {
        "text": "0.3% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015": {
        "text": "0.1% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.7% (2016)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "58.1% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "40.2% (2016)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "66.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "28.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "26.3% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "22.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-70.9% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4.3% (2014 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$389.6 million (2016 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$344 million (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "7.1% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "31.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$128 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$500 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$660 million (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "South Korea 48%, Thailand 9%, Germany 6%, Cyprus 6%, India 6% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "scrap iron, refined petroleum, scrap copper, hydraulic engines, integrated circuits, peas, scrap aluminum (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$536 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$735 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$754 million (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Singapore 42%, Japan 20%, South Korea 16%, Hong Kong 7%, Taiwan 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, watches, jewelry (2019)"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "text": "<p>the US dollar is used</p>"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "20,000 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "42 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "20,474 (2004 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "28 (2004)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "digital fiber-optic cables and satellites connect the islands to worldwide networks; demand for broadband growing given that mobile services are the source for Internet across region; future launch of 5G; as of April 2024 the Northern Mariana Islands Broadband Policy and Development Office (BPD) received an award of $81 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program; CNMI submitted its BEAD Five-Year Action Plan to NTIA; this plan aims to improve Internet services in the Commonwealth by outlining strategies for enhancing Internet accessibility and affordability for all members of the CNMI community (2024)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 40 per 100 persons; mobile cellular subscriptions are 28 per 100 (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 1-670; landing points for the Atisa and Mariana-Guam submarine cables linking Mariana islands to Guam; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 TV broadcast station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio broadcast stations (2009)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mp"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "25.1% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "text": "4 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "7 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "536 km (2008)"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "3 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Rota, Saipan, Tinian"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of the US"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
  }
}