The first European exploration of the area was that led by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, who landed on nearby Guam and claimed the islands for Spain.

In 1668 the islands were renamed by Padre Diego Luis de Sanvitores to Las Marianas after Mariana of Austria, widow of Spain's Philip IV.

Nearly all of the islands' native population (90%-95%) died out under Spanish rule, but new settlers, primarily from the Philippines and the Caroline Islands, were brought in to repopulate the islands. Despite this, the Chamorro population did gradually resurge, and Chamorro, Filipino and Carolinian language and ethnic differences remain basically distinct in the Marianas to this day.

The Marianas came under German control for a brief period when Spain sold them to Germany, exclusive of Guam. In 1919 the Japanese invaded and occupied these islands and the League of Nations, pre-cursor of the United Nations, awarded them to Japan by mandate.

The Empire of Japan captured Guam during World War II and Japanese governance of the Islands moved to Guam.

The Japanese annexation of the Marianas was not popular among its residents, and the Japanese forces have been accused of atrocities during their occupation of the islands, including the torture and killing of the residents of Guam and the Northern Marianas

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.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 84,546 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.9% (male 8,354/female 7,612) 15-64 years: 79.5% (male 27,334/female 39,860) 65 years and over: 1.6% (male 717/female 669) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 29.7 years male: 31.8 years female: 28.7 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 2.461% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 19.27 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 2.29 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.097 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.686 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.072 male(s)/female total population: 0.756 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.29 years male: 73.7 years female: 79.05 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

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Ethnic groups: Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

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Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

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Languages: Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

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.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $633.4 million (2000)

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GDP - real growth rate: NA%

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $12,500 (2000 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

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Labor force: 44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

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Unemployment rate: 3.9% (2001)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (2000)

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Budget: revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02 est.)

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Agriculture - products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

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Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: NA kWh

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Electricity - consumption: NA kWh

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh

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Exports: $NA

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Exports - commodities: garments

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Exports - partners: US (2006)

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Imports: $214.4 million (2001)

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Imports - commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

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Imports - partners: US, Japan (2006)

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Debt - external: $NA

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Economic aid - recipient: extensive funding from US

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Currency (code): US dollar (USD)

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Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

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Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September