Northern Mariana Islands

Territory of the United States

This article is about the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a political entity. For the Marianas archipelago, see Mariana Islands.

Coordinates: 16°42′18″N 145°46′48″E﻿ / ﻿16.70500°N 145.78000°E﻿ / 16.70500; 145.78000

Place in the United States

Northern Mariana Islands

U.S. Commonwealth
Unincorporated U.S. territory

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
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[a]
Before belonging to 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°11′N 145°44′E﻿ / ﻿15.19°N 145.74°E﻿ / 15.19; 145.74
Official languages|

* English
* Chamorro
* Carolinian

Ethnic groups

(2010)[1]

* 51.6% Asian
* 33.0% Pacific Islander
* 12.7% Multiracial
* 2.1% White
* 0.6% 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

| Ralph Torres (R)

• Lieutenant Governor

| Arnold Palacios (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|

Trad. abbreviation|

CNMI

ISO 3166 code|

* MP
* US-MP

Internet TLD| .mp
Website| gov.mp

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (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.[9] The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory.

The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km2).[10] 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.[11][12]

The administrative center is Capitol Hill, a village in northwestern Saipan. However, most[quantify] publications[which?] consider Saipan to be the capital because the island is governed as a single municipality.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Arrival of humans
* 1.2 Spanish possession
* 1.2.1 Carolinian immigration
* 1.3 German possession and Japanese mandate
* 1.4 World War II
* 1.5 United Nations trusteeship
* 1.6 Commonwealth
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Climate
* 3 Politics and government
* 3.1 Administrative divisions
* 3.2 Political status and autonomy
* 3.3 Judicial system
* 3.4 Citizenship
* 4 Economy
* 4.1 Labor controversies
* 4.2 Infrastructure
* 5 Demographics
* 5.1 Languages
* 5.2 Ethnic groups
* 5.3 Religion
* 5.4 Education
* 6 Culture
* 6.1 Cuisine
* 6.2 Cinema
* 6.3 Sports
* 7 See also
* 8 Notes
* 9 References
* 10 Further reading
* 11 External links
* 11.1 Government
* 11.2 General
* 11.3 News media
* 11.4 Other

## History[edit | edit source]

### Arrival of humans[edit | edit source]

Main article: Mariana Islands § Prehistory

Chamorro Hunter with Spear, as depicted in the Boxer Codex (1590) of the Philippines

Chamorro Hunter with Bow, as depicted in the Boxer Codex (1590) of the Philippines

The Mariana Islands were the first islands settled by humans in Remote Oceania. Incidentally it is also the first and the longest of the ocean-crossing voyages of the Austronesian peoples, and is separate from the later Polynesian settlement of the rest of Remote Oceania. They were first settled around 1500 to 1400 BC by migrants departing 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.[13][14]

After first contact with Spaniards, they eventually became known as the Chamorros, a Spanish word similar to Chamori, the name of the indigenous caste system's higher division.

The ancient people of the Marianas raised colonnades of megalithic capped pillars called latte stones upon which they built their homes. The Spanish reported that by the time of their arrival, the largest of these were 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. Archeological evidence indicates that Tinian may have been the first Pacific island to be settled.[15]

### Spanish possession[edit | edit source]

Reception of the Manila galleon by the Chamorro in the Ladrones Islands, c. 1590. From Boxer Codex.

Main articles: New Spain, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish East Indies, and Spanish-Chamorro Wars

Colonial tower, a vestige of the former Spanish colony

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, 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 Manila galleon carrying 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 Felipe IV (reigned 1621–1665).[16]

Most of the islands' native population (90–95%)[17] died from European diseases carried by the Spaniards or married non-Chamorro settlers under Spanish rule. New settlers, primarily from the Philippines and the Caroline Islands, were brought[by whom?] to repopulate the islands. The Chamorro population gradually recovered, and Chamorro, Filipino, and 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] Both languages, as well as English, are now official in the commonwealth.

#### Carolinian immigration[edit | edit source]

The Northern Marianas experienced an influx of immigration from the Carolines during the 19th century. Both this Carolinian subethnicity and Carolinians in the Carolines archipelago refer to themselves as the Refaluwasch. The indigenous Chamoru 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 actually live in the Carolines and who 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 Chamoru majority was being subjugated with land alienation, forced relocations and internment. 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.[18][need quotation to verify]

### German possession and Japanese mandate[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Spanish–American War, Treaty of Paris (1898), German New Guinea, and South Seas Mandate

Saipan under the administration of Japan

Following its loss during the Spanish–American War of 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the United States and sold the remainder of the Marianas (i.e., the Northern Marianas), along with the Caroline Islands, to Germany under the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899. The United States could have taken the entire Marianas but beyond Guam saw no need for the group.[19] Germany administered the islands as part of its colony of German New Guinea and did little in terms of development.

Early in World War I, Japan declared war on Germany and invaded the Northern Marianas. In 1919, 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 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 main industry of the islands. Garapan on Saipan was developed as a regional capital, and numerous Japanese (including ethnic Koreans, Okinawan, and 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).

### World War II[edit | edit source]

Further information: Pacific Islands home front during World War II

On December 8, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces from the Marianas launched an 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 the referendum on reunification approved by the Northern Marianas in the 1960s.[citation needed]

Marine infantrymen in Garapan, Saipan

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.[20] Many Japanese civilians were also killed, by disease, starvation, enemy fire, and suicide. Approximately 1,000 civilians committed suicide by jumping off the cliffs at Mt. Marpi or Marpi Point.[21] U.S. forces then recaptured Guam on July 21, and 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 was left untouched (and isolated) until the Japanese surrender in August 1945, owing to its military insignificance. The story of the holdouts on Anatahan was told in 1953 by Josef von Sternberg in his film The Saga of Anatahan.

The war did not end for everyone with the signing of the armistice. The last group of Japanese holdouts surrendered on Saipan on December 1, 1945. On Guam, Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi, unaware that the war had ended, hid in a jungle cave in the Talofofo area until 1972.

Japanese nationals were eventually repatriated to the Japanese home islands.

### United Nations trusteeship[edit | edit source]

See also: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

The island of Saipan

After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Northern Marianas were administered by the United States pursuant to 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.[9] Four referendums offering integration with Guam or changes to the islands' status were held in 1958, 1961, 1963 and 1969. On each occasion, a majority voted in favor of integration with Guam, but this did not happen: Guam rejected integration in a 1969 referendum.[22]: 188

### Commonwealth[edit | edit source]

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 status began in 1972 and a covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the United States[23] was approved in a 1975 referendum.[22]: 188 A new government and constitution partially came into effect in on January 9, 1978[22]: 188 after being approved in a 1977 referendum.[24] The United Nations approved this arrangement pursuant to Security Council Resolution 683. The Northern Mariana Islands came under U.S. sovereignty on November 4, 1986, and the islanders became US citizens.[22][25] Also on November 4, 1986, the Northern Mariana Islands constitution became fully effective under the Covenant.[24]

In May 1981, volcanic eruptions led to evacuation of the island of Pagan.[22]: 185–86 Most residents of Pagan have not yet returned to Pagan.

The Chamorro-Carolinian Language Policy Commission was created in 1982 to carry out policies in support of the Chamorro and Carolinian languages and cultures.[26][27][28]

In December 1986, twenty percent of the homes on Saipan were destroyed by 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.[22]: 186

In April 1990, the inhabitants of the western coast of Anatahan were evacuated after earthquake swarms 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 VEI of 4 took place forming a new crater inside the eastern caldera and causing an ash plume 12 km (7.5 mi) high which impaired air traffic to Saipan and Guam.[29]

The Northern Mariana Islands does not have voting representation in the United States Congress, but, since 2009, has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a delegate;[30] congressional delegates may participate in debates and serve on congressional committees but may not cast decisive votes on the House floor.[31]

## Geography[edit | edit source]

Main article: Geography of the Northern Mariana Islands

Saipan seen from the International Space Station

Map of the Northern Mariana Islands

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 volcanoes on several islands, including Anatahan, Pagan, and Agrihan. The volcano on Agrihan, Mount Agrihan, has the highest elevation at 3,166 feet (965 m).[32] 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.[33]

Anatahan Volcano is a small volcanic island 80 miles (130 km) north of Saipan. It is about 6 miles (10 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide. Anatahan began erupting from its east crater on May 10, 2003. It has since alternated between eruptive and calm periods.[32] On April 6, 2005, an estimated 50,000,000 cubic feet (1,416,000 m3) of ash and rock were ejected, causing a large, black cloud to drift south over Saipan and Tinian.[34]

* Northernmost point – Farallon de Pajaros
* Easternmost point – Farallon de Medinilla
* Southernmost point – Puntan Malikok, Rota
* Westernmost point – Farallon de Pajaros

The islands lie in the Marianas tropical dry forests terrestrial ecoregion.[35]

### Climate[edit | edit source]

The Northern Mariana Islands have a tropical rainforest climate (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 typhoons. The Guinness Book of World Records has said Saipan has the most equable climate in the world.[36]

Climate data for Saipan

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 87
(31)  | 89
(32)  | 86
(30)  | 87
(31)  | 90
(32)  | 89
(32)  | 89
(32)  | 89
(32)  | 90
(32)  | 88
(31)  | 87
(31)  | 88
(31)  | 90
(32)
Average high °F (°C)  | 81.2
(27.3)  | 79.7
(26.5)  | 79.8
(26.6)  | 83.1
(28.4)  | 84.4
(29.1)  | 85.0
(29.4)  | 84.1
(28.9)  | 84.0
(28.9)  | 83.8
(28.8)  | 83.7
(28.7)  | 83.3
(28.5)  | 81.4
(27.4)  | 82.8
(28.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 77.3
(25.2)  | 76.3
(24.6)  | 76.4
(24.7)  | 78.5
(25.8)  | 79.9
(26.6)  | 80.2
(26.8)  | 79.6
(26.4)  | 79.6
(26.4)  | 79.4
(26.3)  | 79.3
(26.3)  | 79.1
(26.2)  | 77.8
(25.4)  | 78.6
(25.9)
Average low °F (°C)  | 73.4
(23.0)  | 72.9
(22.7)  | 73.1
(22.8)  | 73.9
(23.3)  | 75.5
(24.2)  | 75.3
(24.1)  | 75.1
(23.9)  | 75.2
(24.0)  | 75.0
(23.9)  | 74.9
(23.8)  | 75.0
(23.9)  | 74.1
(23.4)  | 74.5
(23.6)
Record low °F (°C)  | 68
(20)  | 67
(19)  | 64
(18)  | 63
(17)  | 66
(19)  | 70
(21)  | 64
(18)  | 67
(19)  | 67
(19)  | 67
(19)  | 68
(20)  | 68
(20)  | 63
(17)
Average rainfall inches (mm)  | 3.84
(98)  | 4.42
(112)  | 2.40
(61)  | 5.03
(128)  | 3.80
(97)  | 5.04
(128)  | 10.16
(258)  | 12.42
(315)  | 11.65
(296)  | 10.99
(279)  | 7.76
(197)  | 5.88
(149)  | 83.39
(2,118)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01-inch) | 18  | 16  | 15  | 17  | 18  | 20  | 24  | 24  | 23  | 25  | 21  | 19  | 240
Source: [37]

## Politics and government[edit | edit source]

Main article: Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands

Ralph Torres, the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands have a multiparty presidential 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 branch is headed by the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands; legislative power is vested in the bicameral Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature and the judicial power is vested in the 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.[38][39]

In April 2012, anticipating a loss of funding by 2014, the commonwealth's public pension fund declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[40] The retirement fund is a defined benefit-type pension plan and was only partially funded by the government, with only $268.4 million in assets and $911 million in liabilities. The plan experienced low investment returns and a benefit structure that had been increased without raises in funding.[41]

In August 2012, cries for impeachment[42] arose, as the sitting governor Benigno Fitial was being held responsible for withholding payments from the pension fund,[43] not paying the local utility (Commonwealth Utilities or "CUC") for government offices,[44] cutting off funding to the only hospital in the Northern Marianas,[45][46] interfering with the delivery of a subpoena to his attorney general,[47] withholding required funds from the public schools,[48][49] and for signing a sole source $190 million contract for power generation.[50][51]

Further information: Political party strength in the Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands’ delegation to the 2016 Republican National Convention boasted about being "the most Republican territory" in the U.S.[52] As of 2017, the Republican Party had large majorities in both the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.

### Administrative divisions[edit | edit source]

The islands total 179.01 square miles (463.63 km2). The table gives an overview, with the individual islands listed from north to south:[4]

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as: KML
No.  | Islands/features[53] | Area[54][55][56] | Population
(2020
census)[7] | Height  | Highest peak  | Location

|
|
|
|
|
|

sq mi | km2 | feet | m
Northern Islands (Northern Islands Municipality)
1 | Farallon de Pajaros (Urracas) | 0.985  | 2.55 | — | 1,047  | 319 |  | 20°33′N 144°54′E﻿ / ﻿20.550°N 144.900°E﻿ / 20.550; 144.900﻿ (Farallon de Pajaros)
| Supply Reef | 0.00  | 0.00 | — | −26  | −8[57] |  | 20°08′N 145°6′E﻿ / ﻿20.133°N 145.100°E﻿ / 20.133; 145.100
2 | Maug Islands including
-North Island
-East Island
-West Island | 0.822  | 2.13 | — | 745  | 227 | North Island | 20°02′N 145°19′E﻿ / ﻿20.033°N 145.317°E﻿ / 20.033; 145.317﻿ (Maug Islands)
3 | Asuncion | 2.822  | 7.31 | — | 2,923  | 891 |  | 19°43′N 145°41′E﻿ / ﻿19.717°N 145.683°E﻿ / 19.717; 145.683﻿ (Asuncion)
4 | Agrihan (Agrigan)[n 1] | 16.80  | 43.51 | 4 | 3,166  | 965 | Mount Agrihan | 18°46′N 145°40′E﻿ / ﻿18.767°N 145.667°E﻿ / 18.767; 145.667﻿ (Agrihan)
5 | Pagan[n 2] | 18.24  | 47.24 | 2 | 1,900  | 579 | Mount Pagan | 18°08′36″N 145°47′39″E﻿ / ﻿18.14333°N 145.79417°E﻿ / 18.14333; 145.79417﻿ (Pagan)
6 | Alamagan | 4.29  | 11.11 | 1 | 2,441  | 744 | Alamagan | 17°35′N 145°50′E﻿ / ﻿17.583°N 145.833°E﻿ / 17.583; 145.833﻿ (Alamagan)
7 | Guguan | 1.494  | 3.87 | — | 988  | 301 |  | 17°20′N 145°51′E﻿ / ﻿17.333°N 145.850°E﻿ / 17.333; 145.850﻿ (Guguan)
| Zealandia Bank | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 |  | 16°45′N 145°42′E﻿ / ﻿16.750°N 145.700°E﻿ / 16.750; 145.700
8 | Sarigan[n 3] | 1.92  | 4.97 | — | 1,801  | 549 | — | 16°43′N 145°47′E﻿ / ﻿16.717°N 145.783°E﻿ / 16.717; 145.783﻿ (Sarigan)
9 | Anatahan[n 1] | 12.05  | 31.21 | — | 2,582  | 787 |  | 16°22′N 145°40′E﻿ / ﻿16.367°N 145.667°E﻿ / 16.367; 145.667﻿ (Anatahan)
10 | Farallon de Medinilla | 0.328  | 0.85 | — | 266  | 81 |  | 16°01′N 146°04′E﻿ / ﻿16.017°N 146.067°E﻿ / 16.017; 146.067﻿ (Farallon de Medinilla)
Southern Islands (3 municipalities)
11 | Saipan | 44.55  | 115.38 | 43,385 | 1,555  | 474 | Mount Tapochau | 15°11′06″N 145°44′28″E﻿ / ﻿15.18500°N 145.74111°E﻿ / 15.18500; 145.74111﻿ (Saipan)
12 | Tinian | 39.00  | 101.01 | 2,044 | 558  | 170 | Kastiyu (Lasso Hill) | 14°57′12″N 145°38′54″E﻿ / ﻿14.95333°N 145.64833°E﻿ / 14.95333; 145.64833﻿ (Tinian)
13 | Aguijan (Agiguan)[n 4] | 2.74  | 7.10 | — | 515  | 157 | Alutom | 14°42′N 145°18′E﻿ / ﻿14.700°N 145.300°E﻿ / 14.700; 145.300﻿ (Aguijan)
14 | Rota | 32.97  | 85.39 | 1,893 | 1,611  | 491 | Mount Manira | 14°08′37″N 145°11′08″E﻿ / ﻿14.14361°N 145.18556°E﻿ / 14.14361; 145.18556﻿ (Rota)
| Northern Mariana Islands | 179.01  | 463.63 | 47,329 | 3,166  | 965 | Mount Agrihan | 14°08' to 20°33'N,
144°54° to 146°04'E

Notes

1. ^ a b evacuated 1990 due to volcanic eruptions
2. ^ evacuated 1981 due to volcanic eruptions
3. ^ formerly inhabited (population of 21 in 1935, but only 2 in 1968)
4. ^ part of Tinian Municipality

Map showing the four municipalities of the Northern Mariana Islands, with Guam shown for context and indicating which islands have airports.

Saipan sunset

Long Beach, Tinian

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, and Rota, with uninhabited Aguijan forming part of Tinian municipality.

Because of volcanic threat, the northern islands have been evacuated. Human habitation was limited to Agrihan, Pagan, and Alamagan, but 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 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 equivalents.[58]

### Political status and autonomy[edit | edit source]

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.[59] The Covenant was codified on March 24, 1976, as Public Law 94-241.[60] 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 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.[61] 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 CNMI delegate's seat; Democrat Gregorio Sablan was elected in 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 vote in committee 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.

TTPI High Court judges (some time between 1968 and 1978)

Under the Covenant, in general, United States federal law applies to CNMI. However, the CNMI is outside the customs territory of the United States and, although the internal revenue code does apply in the form of a local income tax, the income tax system is largely locally determined. 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."[62] 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 laws did not apply. After reports surfaced of abusive practices for immigrant workers, on November 28, 2009, the CNRA unilaterally amended the Covenant to match US law; 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."[63] Transition to U.S. immigration laws began November 28, 2009.[64][65]

Further information: Law of the Northern Mariana Islands

### Judicial system[edit | edit source]

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 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 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.

### Citizenship[edit | edit source]

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 for persons born in the CNMI.[60]

## Economy[edit | edit source]

Main article: Economy of the Northern Mariana Islands

Pagan Island

A proportional representation of Northern Mariana Islands exports, 2019

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. Historically, the CNMI's economy has relied on tourism, mostly from Japan, and on the garment manufacturing sector. The economy has declined since quotas were lifted in 2005, eventually leading all the garment factories on Saipan to close by February 2009. Tourism also declined after 2005 when Japan Airlines stopped serving the Marianas.[66]

Agricultural production, primarily of tapioca, cattle, coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes and melons, exists, but is relatively unimportant in the economy, representing only 1.7% of its GDP as of 2016.[67]

Non-native islanders are not allowed to own land, but can lease it.[68]

### Labor controversies[edit | edit source]

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 $3.05 per hour minimum wage in the commonwealth, 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 having to comply with all U.S. labor laws. However, the U.S. minimum wage law signed by 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.[69] 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 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.[70]

The island's exemption from U.S. labor laws had led to many alleged exploitations, including recent claims of sweatshops, child labor, child prostitution and forced abortions.[71][72]

An immigration system mostly outside of federal U.S. control (which ended on November 28, 2009) resulted in a large number of Chinese migrant workers (about 15,000 during the peak years) 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 recent factory closures. Adding to the U.S.-imposed scheduled wage increases, the garment industry became extinct by 2009.[73]

Further information: Saipan § Labor controversies

### Infrastructure[edit | edit source]

The islands have over 220 miles (350 km) of highways, three airports with paved runways (one about 9,800 feet [3,000 m] long; two around 6,600 feet [2,000 m]), three airports with unpaved runways, and one heliport. The main commercial airport is Saipan International Airport.

Mail service for the islands is provided by the 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[74][75] ("Marianas Pacific", NM and 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.[74]

Television service is provided by KPPI-LD, Channel 7, which simulcasts Guam's ABC affiliate KTGM, as well as WSZE, Channel 10, which simulcasts Guam's NBC affiliate KUAM-TV. About 10 radio stations broadcast within the CNMI.

In 2012 Michael Calabrese, Daniel Calarco, and Colin Richardson of Slate stated 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.[76]

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Demographics of the Northern Mariana Islands

See also: List of U.S. states and territories by population

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1960| 8,286| | —
1970| 9,436| | 13.9%
1980| 16,780| | 77.8%
1990| 43,345| | 158.3%
2000| 69,221| | 59.7%
2010| 53,883| | −22.2%
2020| 47,329| | −12.2%

According to the 2020 census, the population of the CNMI was 47,329, down from 69,221 in 2000.[7] 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.[65]

Except for the 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.[77]

### Languages[edit | edit source]

The official languages on the Northern Mariana Islands include English, Chamorro, and Carolinian. Few people still speak the nearly extinct Tanapag language. Many Philippine languages, Chinese, and other Pacific island languages are also spoken. 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.[78]

### Ethnic groups[edit | edit source]

* Asian (including Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Bangladeshi and other Asian) 49.9%
* Chamorro, Carolinian, Palauan and Other Pacific Islander 34.9%
* Multiracial 12.7%
* Others 2.5%

### Religion[edit | edit source]

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 had the effect of creating a sizable Buddhist community which remained even after their departure. Due to 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:[79]

* 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 (congregation) in the Northern Mariana Islands.[80]

### Education[edit | edit source]

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 colleges.

## Culture[edit | edit source]

Chamorro people

Much of the Chamorro culture in the Mariana Islands was heavily influenced by the Spanish during the Spanish era, as well as by the Germans and Japanese. Respect is an important part of Chamorro culture, and one common 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 culture is very similar to the Chamorro culture with respect being very important. The Carolinian culture can be traced back to Yap and Chuuk, where the Carolinians originated.

### Cuisine[edit | edit source]

Much of Chamorro cuisine is influenced by various cultures. Examples of popular foods of foreign origin include various types of sweet or savory empanada, originally introduced from 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 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 lemmai (breadfruit), mangga (mangoes), niyok (coconuts), and bilimbines (bilimbi, a fruit related to starfruit) are included in various local recipes. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and American cuisine are also commonly available.

Local specialities 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, 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 the World War II era.

### Cinema[edit | edit source]

Main article: 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. Films had already been shot in the islands in the 20th century by foreign producers.[81]

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.[82]

### Sports[edit | edit source]

Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field

Team sports popular 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.[83] Fighters from the CNMI have competed in the Pacific Xtreme Combat as well as the UFC.

Other sports in the CNMI include Ultimate Frisbee,[84] volleyball, tennis, soccer, outrigger sailing, softball, beach volleyball, rugby, golf, boxing, kickboxing, tae kwon do, track and field, swimming, triathlon, and football.

## See also[edit | edit source]

* 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
* List of National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ The Northern Mariana Islands belongs to, but is not a part of, the United States. See the page for the Insular Cases for more information.

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## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* The World Factbook, 2000.
* Land areas and population data from United States Census Bureau.
* Northern Mariana Islands and constituent municipalities, United States Census Bureau

## External links[edit | edit source]

Justapedia supports:

* Definitions from Wiktionary
* Media from Commons
* Quotations from Wikiquote
* Travel information from Wikivoyage

### Government[edit | edit source]

* Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands official website
* The CNMI Covenant
* The CNMI Constitution
* CNMI Office of Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio
* H.R. 873 – The Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act
* H.R. 5550 – The United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act

### General[edit | edit source]

* U.S. Census Bureau: Island Areas Census 2000
* Northern Mariana Islands. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
* Northern Mariana Islands at Curlie
* Wikimedia Atlas of Northern Mariana Islands
* Northern Mariana Islands travel guide from Wikivoyage

### News media[edit | edit source]

* KSPN-TV Channel 2 News
* Saipan Tribune
* Marianas Variety
* The Pacific Times
* Food for Thought – Weekly commentary on CNMI society by KZMI and KCNM manager Harry Blalock

### Other[edit | edit source]

* The Insular Empire: America in the Mariana Islands, PBS documentary film & website
* Northern Mariana Islands Online Encyclopedia
* USA Department of the Interior – Insular Area Summary for the Northern Mariana Islands

* v
* t
* e

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Saipan (capital)

Topics|

* Archipelago
* Geography
* Politics
* Economy
* Per capita income
* Campaign

Geography|

| Islands|

* Agrihan (Agrigan)
* Aguiguan (Aguijan)
* Alamagan
* Anatahan
* Asuncion
* Farallon de Medinilla
* Farallon de Pajaros (Urracas)
* Guguan
* Mañagaha
* Maug Islands (Ma'ok)
* Pagan
* Rota (Luta)
* Saipan
* Sarigan
* Tinian
* Zealandia Bank

|

Other|

* Mount Tapochau

Municipalities|

* Northern Islands
* Rota
* Saipan
* Tinian

Settlements|

| Saipan|

* Afetnas
* Achugao
* As Lito
* As Matuis
* As Perdido
* As Teo
* As Terlaje
* Capitol Hill
* Chalan Kanoa
* Chalan Kiya
* Chalan Laulau
* Chalan Piao
* China Town
* Dandan
* Fina Sisu
* Garapan
* Gualo Rai
* Kagman
* Kannat Tabla
* Koblerville
* Lower Base
* Marpi
* Navy Hill
* Oleai (San Jose)
* Papago
* Sadog Tasi
* San Antonio
* San Roque
* San Vicente
* Susupe
* Tanapag

|

Rota|

* Sinapalo
* Songsong

Tinian|

* Carolinas Heights
* Marpo Heights
* Marpo Heights II
* Marpo Valley
* San Jose

Education|

| K-12|

* CNMIPSS
* Kagman HS (Saipan)
* Marianas HS (Saipan)
* Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr-Sr HS (Rota)
* Saipan Southern HS
* Tinian Jr-Sr HS
* Saipan International
* Marianas Baptist Academy
* Mount Carmel
* Grace Christian Academy

|

Other|

* Northern Marianas College
* State Library

Transportation|

* Saipan International Airport
* Rota International Airport
* Tinian International Airport

Landmarks|

| NRHP listings|

| Saipan|

* Banzai Cliff
* Campaneyan Kristo Rai
* Chalan Galaide
* Hachiman Jinja
* Isley Field
* Japanese 20mm Cannon Blockhouse
* Japanese Hospital
* Japanese Jail Historic and Archeological District
* Japanese Lighthouse
* Landing Beaches; Aslito/Isely Field; & Marpi Point
* Laulau Kattan Latte Site
* Mañagaha
* Suicide Cliff (Laderan Banadero)
* Tachognya
* Unai Achugao Archaeological Site
* Unai Lagua Japanese Defense Pillbox
* Unai Obyan Latte Site
* Waherak Maihar

|

Rota|

* Chudang Palii Japanese WWII Defensive Complex
* Chugai' Pictograph Site
* Commissioner's Office
* Dugi Archeological Site
* Japanese Coastal Defense Gun
* Japanese Hospital
* Mochong
* Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Sugar Mill
* Rectory
* Rota Latte Stone Quarry

Tinian|

* House of Taga
* Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha complex
* North Field
* Unai Dangkulo Petroglyph Site

Religious Sites|

* Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral
* Saipan Katori Shrine

Media|

* Marianas Variety
* Saipan Tribune
* Radio stations
* Television stations

Museums and History|

* NMI Museum of History and Culture
* Sugar King Park
* Sugar Dock (Saipan)
* Garapan Heritage Trail
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Naval Base Saipan
* Tinian Naval Base

* v
* t
* e

Countries and territories of Oceania

Sovereign states|

| Entire|

* Australia
* Federated States of Micronesia
* Fiji
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

|

In part|

* Chile
* Easter Island
* Juan Fernández Islands
* Ecuador
* Galápagos Islands
* Indonesia
* Papua
* Central Papua
* Highland Papua
* South Papua
* West Papua
* Japan
* Bonin Islands
* Minami-Tori-shima
* Volcano Islands
* United States
* Hawaii
* Palmyra Atoll

Associated states
of New Zealand

* Cook Islands
* Niue

Dependencies and
other territories

| Australia|

* Ashmore and Cartier Islands
* Coral Sea Islands
* Norfolk Island

|

France|

* French Polynesia
* New Caledonia
* Wallis and Futuna

New Zealand|

* Tokelau

United Kingdom|

* Pitcairn Islands

United States|

* American Samoa
* Baker Island
* Guam
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Atoll
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Wake Island

* v
* t
* e

Spanish Empire

Timeline–immersed

* Catholic Monarchs
* Conquest of the Americas, Asia and the Pacific
* Treaty of Tordesillas
* Italian Wars
* Habsburgs
* Golden Age
* War of the League of Cognac
* Encomiendas
* New Laws in favour of the indigenous
* Expulsion of the Moriscos
* Ottoman–Habsburg wars
* French Wars of Religion
* Bruneian–Spanish conflict
* Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
* Piracy in the Caribbean
* Eighty Years' War
* Spanish–Moro conflict
* Thirty Years' War
* Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)
* Portuguese Restoration War
* War of the Spanish Succession
* Queen Anne's War
* Bourbons
* Bourbon Reforms
* War of Jenkins' Ear
* Treaty of Madrid (1750)
* Seven Years' War
* Nootka Convention
* Napoleonic invasion
* Third Treaty of San Ildefonso
* Independence of Spanish continental Americas
* Adams–Onís Treaty
* Liberal constitution
* Carlist Wars
* Spanish–American War
* German–Spanish Treaty (1899)
* Spanish Civil War
* Independence of Morocco
* Independence of Equatorial Guinea
* Western Sahara conflict

Territories

Europe

* Spain
* Gibraltar
* Kingdoms of Naples, Sicily and Sardinia
* Milan
* Union with Holy Roman Empire
* Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northernmost France
* Franche-Comté
* Pyrénées-Orientales
* Union with Portugal

Asia

* Philippines
* Pacific Islands (Guam, Mariana, Caroline, Micronesia, Palau, Marshall)
* Northern Taiwan
* Tidore

North America

* Florida
* New Spain (Western United States, Mexico, Central America, Spanish Caribbean)
* Spanish Louisiana (Central United States)
* Coastal Alaska

Central America

* Trinidad
* Jamaica
* Haiti
* Aruba
* Curazao
* Bonaire
* Belize

South America

* Venezuela, part of Guyana
* New Granada (Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela a northernmost portion of Brazilian Amazon)
* Peru (Peru, Acre)
* Río de la Plata (Argentina, Paraguay, Charcas (Bolivia), Banda Oriental (Uruguay), Falkland Islands)
* Chile

Africa

* Equatorial Guinea
* Northern Africa (Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Peñón of Algiers, Oran, Béjaïa, Ifni and Cape Juby)

Antarctica

* Terra Australis

Administration

* Archivo de Indias
* Council of the Indies
* Cabildo
* Exequatur
* Laws of the Indies
* Papal bull
* Royal Decree of Graces
* Trial of residence
* School of Salamanca

Administrative subdivisions

| Viceroyalties|

* Columbian
* New Spain
* New Granada
* Perú
* Río de la Plata

|

Captaincies General|

* Chile
* Cuba
* Guatemala
* Philippines
* Provincias Internas
* Puerto Rico
* Santo Domingo
* Venezuela
* Yucatán

Governorates|

* Castilla de Oro
* Cuba
* La Florida
* La Luisiana
* New Andalusia (1501–1513)
* New Andalusia
* New Castile
* New Navarre
* New Toledo
* Paraguay
* Río de la Plata
* Terra Australis

Audiencias|

* Bogotá
* Buenos Aires
* Caracas
* Charcas
* Concepción
* Cusco
* Guadalajara
* Guatemala
* Lima
* Manila
* Mexico
* Panamá
* Quito
* Santiago
* Santo Domingo

Economy

| Currencies|

* Dollar (Peso)
* Real
* Maravedí
* Escudo
* Columnario
* Doubloon

|

Trade|

* Manila galleon
* Spanish treasure fleet
* Casa de Contratación
* Spanish Road
* Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas
* Barcelona Trading Company
* Consulate of the Sea
* Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
* Commerce Consulate of Buenos Aires

Military

| Armies|

* Tercio
* Army of Flanders
* Free Company of Volunteers of Catalonia
* Indian auxiliaries
* Spanish Armada
* Ships of the line
* Royalists
* Legión

|

Strategists|

* Duke of Alba
* Antonio de Leyva
* Martín de Goiti
* Alfonso d'Avalos
* García de Toledo Osorio
* Duke of Savoy
* Álvaro de Bazán the Elder
* John of Austria
* Charles Bonaventure de Longueval
* Pedro de Zubiaur
* Ambrosio Spinola
* Blas de Lezo
* Bernardo de Gálvez

Mariners|

* Christopher Columbus
* Pinzón brothers
* Ferdinand Magellan
* Juan Sebastián Elcano
* Juan de la Cosa
* Juan Ponce de León
* Miguel López de Legazpi
* Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
* Sebastián de Ocampo
* Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
* Alonso de Ojeda
* Vasco Núñez de Balboa
* Alonso de Salazar
* Andrés de Urdaneta
* Antonio de Ulloa
* Ruy López de Villalobos
* Diego Columbus
* Alonso de Ercilla
* Nicolás de Ovando
* Juan de Ayala
* Sebastián Vizcaíno
* Juan Fernández
* Luis Fajardo
* Felipe González de Ahedo

Conquistadors|

* Hernán Cortés
* Francisco Pizarro
* Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
* Hernán Pérez de Quesada
* Francisco Vázquez de Coronado
* Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar
* Pedro de Valdivia
* Gaspar de Portolà
* Pere Fages i Beleta
* Joan Orpí
* Pedro de Alvarado
* Martín de Ursúa
* Diego de Almagro
* Pánfilo de Narváez
* Diego de Mazariegos
* Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera
* Pere d'Alberní i Teixidor
* García López de Cárdenas

Notable battles|

| Old World|

| Won|

* Comuneros
* Bicocca
* Rome (1527)
* Landriano
* Pavia
* Tunis
* Mühlberg
* St. Quentin
* Gravelines
* Malta
* Lepanto
* Antwerp
* Azores
* Mons
* Gembloux
* Ostend
* English Armada
* Cape Celidonia
* White Mountain
* Breda
* Nördlingen
* Valenciennes
* Ceuta
* Bitonto
* Bailén
* Vitoria
* Tetouan
* Alhucemas

|

Lost|

* Capo d'Orso
* Vienna (1529)
* Preveza
* Siege of Castelnuovo
* Algiers
* Ceresole
* Balearic Islands (1558)
* Djerba
* Tunis
* Spanish Armada
* Leiden
* Rocroi
* Downs
* Montes Claros
* Passaro
* Manila Bay
* Trafalgar
* Somosierra
* Annual
* Mactan

New World|

| Won|

* Tenochtitlan
* Cajamarca
* Cusco
* Bogotá savanna
* Penco
* Mataquito
* Guadalupe Island
* Recife
* San Juan (1595)
* Bahia
* Colonia del Sacramento
* Comuneros (Paraguay)
* Cartagena de Indias
* Cuerno Verde
* Túpac Amaru II
* Túpac Katari
* Pensacola
* Newfoundland
* San Juan (1797)

|

Lost|

* La Noche Triste
* Iguape
* Tucapel
* Guiana
* Curalaba
* Comuneros (New Granada)
* Trinidad (1797)
* Chacabuco
* Boyacá
* Carabobo
* Pichincha
* Ayacucho
* Guam
* Santiago de Cuba
* Asomante

Spanish conquests

* Canary Islands
* The Americas
* Aztec
* Maya
* Chiapas
* Yucatán
* Guatemala
* Petén
* El Salvador
* Honduras
* Nicaragua
* Chibchan Nations
* Colombia
* Chile
* Inca
* Philippines

Other civil topics

* Spanish missions in the Americas
* Architecture
* Mesoamerican codices
* Cusco painting tradition
* Indochristian painting in New Spain
* Quito painting tradition
* Tapada limeña
* Academia Antártica
* Colonial universities in Hispanic America
* Colonial universities in the Philippines
* General Archive of the Indies
* Colonial Spanish Horse
* Mustang
* Castas
* Criollos in the colonial society
* Old inquisition
* Slavery in Spanish Empire
* Asiento
* Law of coartación (which allowed slaves to buy their freedom, and that of others)
* Great Potosí Mint Fraud of 1649

* v
* t
* e

Former German colonies and protectorates

Colonies|

| Africa|

* East Africa
* Kionga Triangle
* Wituland
* South-West Africa
* West Africa
* Kapitaï and Koba
* Kamerun
* Neukamerun
* Mahinland
* Togoland

|

Pacific|

* New Guinea
* Samoa

Concessions|

| China|

* Kiautschou
* Tsingtao
* Tientsin

|

Unrecognised|

| Antarctica|

* New Swabia (claimed by Nazi Germany)

|

* v
* t
* e

Political divisions of the United States

List of states and territories

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Federal district|

Washington, D.C.

Insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Outlying islands|

* Baker Island
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Atoll
* Navassa Island
* Palmyra Atoll
* Wake Island

Indian reservations|

* List of Indian reservations

Others|

* Federal enclave

* v
* t
* e

Territories of the United States

* Organic act
* Organized incorporated territories
* Territorial evolution
* Thirteen Colonies (1607–1776)
* U.S. territorial sovereignty

* Northwest (1787–1803)
* Southwest (1790–1796)
* Mississippi (1798–1817)
* Indiana (1800–1816)
* Orleans (1804–1812)
* Louisiana/Missouri (1805–1821)
* Michigan (1805–1837)
* Illinois (1809–1818)
* Alabama (1817–1819)
* Arkansas (1819–1836)
* Florida (1822–1845)
* Oklahoma
* Indian Territory, 1834–1907
* Panhandle, 1850–1890
* Territory, 1890–1907
* Wisconsin (1836–1848)
* Iowa (1838–1846)
* Oregon (1848–1859)
* Minnesota (1849–1858)
* New Mexico
* U.S. Provisional Government, 1846–1850
* Territory, 1850–1912
* Utah (1850–1896)
* Washington (1853–1889)
* Kansas (1854–1861)
* Nebraska (1854–1867)
* Nevada (1861–1864)
* Colorado (1861–1876)
* Dakota (1861–1889)
* Idaho (1863–1890)
* Arizona (1863–1912)
* Montana (1864–1889)
* Alaska
* Department, 1867–1884
* District, 1884–1912
* Territory, 1912–1959
* Wyoming (1868–1890)
* Hawaii (1900–1959)

* Unincorporated territories

* Guam (1898–)
* Philippines
* U.S. Military Government, 1898–1901
* Insular Government, 1901–1935
* Commonwealth, 1935–1946
* Puerto Rico (1898–)
* American Samoa (1899–)
* Panama Canal Zone (1903–1979)
* United States Virgin Islands (1917–)
* Northern Mariana Islands (1986–)

* United Nations trust territories and other inhabited territories governed by the United States

* Ryukyu Islands
* United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands, 1945–1950
* United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands, 1950–1972
* Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947–1994)
* American Concession in Shanghai (1848–1863)

* Guano Islands Act claims and other uninhabited islands

* Phoenix Islands (1856–1979)
* Roncador Bank (1856–1981)
* Serrana Bank (1856–1981)
* Baker Island (1857–)
* Jarvis Island (1858–)
* Johnston Atoll (1858–)
* Navassa Island (1858–)
* Kingman Reef (1860–)
* Swan Islands (1863–1972)
* Howland Island (1867–)
* Midway Atoll (1867–)
* Quita Sueño Bank (1869–1981)
* Palmyra Atoll (1898–)
* Wake Island (1899–)
* Corn Islands (1914–1971)

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

United States census topics

Regions|

* Division
* State
* Federal District
* Insular area
* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* United States Virgin Islands
* ZIP Code Tabulation Area

Native areas|

* Alaska Native corporation
* Indian colony
* Indian reservation
* list
* Hawaiian home land
* Off-reservation trust land
* Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area

Metropolitan|

* Primary statistical area
* list
* Combined statistical area
* Core-based statistical area
* list
* Metropolitan statistical area
* list
* Micropolitan statistical area
* list
* New England city and town area
* Urban area
* list

State-level|

* Congressional district
* County
* list
* Alaska census area
* Independent city
* Municipio
* Place
* Census-designated
* Public use microdata area
* School district
* lists
* State legislative district
* Urban growth area

County-level|

* Census county division
* Minor civil division
* Traffic analysis zone
* Voting district

Local|

* Block
* Block group
* Tract

* Census Bureau
* Office of Management and Budget

* v
* t
* e

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Members|

* Australia
* Cook Islands
* Fiji
* French Polynesia
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Niue
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* New Caledonia
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

Associate members|

* Tokelau

Observers|

* American Samoa
* East Timor
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Wallis and Futuna

Observer Organisations|

* African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
* Asian Development Bank
* Commonwealth of Nations
* International Organization for Migration
* United Nations
* Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
* World Bank

Dialogue partners|

* Canada
* China
* Cuba
* European Union
* France
* Germany
* India
* Indonesia
* Italy
* Japan
* Korea
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* Spain
* Thailand
* Turkey
* United Kingdom
* United States

Meetings|

* 45th
* 51st

* v
* t
* e

Lists of United States counties and county equivalents

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Federal district|

* District of Columbia

Insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Outlying Islands|

* United States Minor Outlying Islands

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[Pub.L.]: Public Law (United States)
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