Compare Aruba (2008) - Northern Mariana Islands (2006)

Compare Aruba (2008) z Northern Mariana Islands (2006)

	Aruba (2008)	Northern Mariana Islands (2006)

Administrative divisions	none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)	none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Age structure	0-14 years: 19.7% (male 9,943/female 9,761) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 33,553/female 36,661) 65 years and over: 10.1% (male 4,046/female 6,054) (2007 est.)	0-14 years: 19.4% (male 8,350/female 7,623) 15-64 years: 79% (male 26,715/female 38,442) 65 years and over: 1.6% (male 679/female 650) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products	aloes; livestock; fish	coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Airports	1 (2007)	5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)	total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Area	total: 193 sq km land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative	slightly larger than Washington, DC	2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background	Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.	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, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Birth rate	12.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	19.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget	revenues: $507.9 million expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)	revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02 est.)
Capital	name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation	tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Coastline	68.5 km	1,482 km
Constitution	1 January 1986	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba	conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Death rate	7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	2.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external	$478.6 million (2005 est.)	$NA
Dependency status	member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs	commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Diplomatic representation from the US	the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba	-
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands	-
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	$11.3 million (2004)	extensive funding from US
Economy - overview	Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in 1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.	The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with the employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.
Electricity - consumption	716.1 million kWh (2005)	NA kWh
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh
Electricity - production	770 million kWh (2005)	NA kWh
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Environment - current issues	NA	contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Ethnic groups	mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%	Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)
Exchange rates	Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)	the US dollar is used
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held in 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA	chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006) cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads appointed by and reporting directly to the governor elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL (Covenant Party) 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Independent) 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA (Republican) 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO (Democrat) 17.99%
Exports	230,600 bbl/day (2004)	$NA
Exports - commodities	live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment	garments
Exports - partners	Netherlands 27.7%, Panama 25.5%, Colombia 12.8%, Venezuela 11.1%, US 9.4%, Netherlands Antilles 7.1% (2006)	US (2004)
Fiscal year	calendar year	1 October - 30 September
Flag description	blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner	blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 0.4% industry: 33.3% services: 66.3% (2002 est.)	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - real growth rate	2.4% (2005 est.)	NA%
Geographic coordinates	12 30 N, 69 58 W	15 12 N, 145 45 E
Geography - note	a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)	strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
Heliports	-	1 (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine	-
Imports	235,000 bbl/day (2004)	$214.4 million $NA
Imports - commodities	machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs	food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners	US 53.6%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.6% (2006)	US, Japan (2004)
Independence	none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)	none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining	tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate	total: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3.4% (2005)	-0.8% (2000)
International organization participation	Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO	Interpol (subbureau), SPC, UPU
Irrigated land	0.01 sq km (1998 est.)	NA
Judicial branch	Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch)	Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Labor force	41,500 (2004 est.)	44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 10.53% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)	arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005)
Languages	Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)	Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Legal system	based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence	based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Legislative branch	unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1	bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November 2007) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 2, independent 2 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 74.83 years male: 71.8 years female: 77.91 years (2007 est.)	total population: 76.09 years male: 73.5 years female: 78.83 years (2006 est.)
Literacy	definition: NA total population: 97.3% male: 97.5% female: 97.1% (2000 census)	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)
Location	Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela	Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Oceania
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands	defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches	no regular indigenous military forces; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2005)	-
National holiday	Flag Day, 18 March (1976)	Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Nationality	noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch	noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA
Natural hazards	lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt	active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Natural resources	NEGL; white sandy beaches	arable land, fish
Net migration rate	10 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]	Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	100,018 note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census (July 2007 est.)	82,459 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	1.522% (2007 est.)	2.54% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)	AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2006)
Religions	Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 10%	Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.019 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.915 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.668 male(s)/female total population: 0.906 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female total population: 0.77 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system	general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2007)	general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	38,300 (2005)	21,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular	108,200 (2005)	20,500 (2004)
Television broadcast stations	1 (1997)	1 (Low Power TV on Saipan; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)
Terrain	flat with a few hills; scant vegetation	southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Total fertility rate	1.85 children born/woman (2007 est.)	1.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate	6.9% (2005 est.)	3.9% NA%

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