Located in Oceania, the Northern Mariana Islands include 14 islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. The most important islands are Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. Before World War II, the Northern Mariana Islands were ruled successively by Spain, Germany, and Japan. Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific after World War II, 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. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) became part of the United States in Novenber 1986.

GOVERNMENT
Country name (conventional long form): Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Capital: Saipan

ECONOMY
GDP/PPP: purchasing power parity - $900 million; note: GDP numbers reflect US spending (2000 est.).
Agriculture: Coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Industry: Tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts.