Mariana Islands

Capital: Saipan

Population 63,500

Area 457 sq km (176 sq miles)

Major languages English, Chamarro, Carolinian

Major religion Christianity

Life expectancy 74 years (men), 80 years (women)

Currency US dollar

Head of State: Donald Trump

Head of government: Ralph Torres

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI, is a chain of 14 islands in the north-west Pacific. A self-governing commonwealth of the United States since 1976, the islands lie just 1,500 miles south of the Japanese coast.

Those born on the islands are US citizens but not eligible to vote in US presidential elections. The territory receives millions of dollars in aid from Washington. Most of the population live on the island of Saipan and only four other islands are populated. Native Micronesians outnumber the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian populations.

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