ExecutivePulse
MP

Northern Mariana Islands

FIPS 69 · Population 47,329
2 Sources Updated June 22, 2026
47,329
Population
334,922,499 U.S.
$31,362
Median Income
$80,734 national
14.1%
Unemployment

County Map

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Demographics & Population

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas (Demographic Profile)

Household Income

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · 2020 Census of Island Areas (Demographic Profile)
Median Household
$31,362
Per Capita
$13,594
Mean Household
$43,905
Poverty Rate
38%

Age & Race / Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile · 15-19 band apportioned
65+: 5.9% (2,792 residents) 55-64: 12.4% (5,863 residents) 35-54: 31% (14,656 residents) 18-34: 22.4% (10,580 residents) Under 18: 28.4% (13,438 residents) 34 Median Age
Cohorts
Under 18 · 28.4%
18-34 · 22.4%
35-54 · 31%
55-64 · 12.4%
65+ · 5.9%
Race & Ethnicity
White2.1%
Black or African American0.1%
Asian46.6%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)1.2%
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnic category and overlaps with the race categories above.

Educational Attainment

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile · Population 25+
85.6%
High School+
National: 89.6%
▼ 4.0 pts
21%
Bachelor's+
National: 35.7%
▼ 14.7 pts
4.5%
Graduate+
National: 14.1%
▼ 9.6 pts

Employment Overview

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · 2020 Census of Island Areas (Demographic Profile)
47,329
Population
21,827
Labor Force
Employed
18,759
Unemployment Rate
14.1%
Mean Commute 14 min below national avg
12.1 min
Work From Home vs 15.1% national
2.9%
Northern Mariana Islands's median household income sits 61% below the national median. At 38%, its poverty rate runs 25.5 pts above the ~12.5% national level, relevant for federal funding eligibility narratives. Bachelor's-or-higher attainment of 21% trails the national average of 35.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census of Island Areas (Demographic Profile). Island areas are not covered by the annual American Community Survey; figures are from the 2020 Census.
Key Takeaways
  • Income gap: Households earn meaningfully less than the national median, affecting retail demand, housing absorption, and tax base statewide.
  • Elevated poverty: At 38%, the rate supports federal funding narratives across distressed counties (CDFI, NMTC, EDA).
  • Talent gap: Bachelor's-or-higher attainment trails the national average by 14.7 pts, relevant for advanced-services attraction strategy.
  • Young population: Median age of 34 is materially below the U.S. norm, a workforce pipeline asset.

Housing & Affordability

2020 Census of Island Areas

Housing Overview

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile (housing)
$184,191
Median Home Value
$502
Rent/Mo
29%
Owner-Occ
21.9%
Vacancy
5.9x
Home Value to Income Ratio - Stretched
vs. ~4.1x national average
Key Takeaways
  • Stretched market: Home value to income ratio of 5.9x is well above the ~4.1x national average; attainable workforce housing may be a recruitment friction.
  • Renter-majority market: 29% owner-occupied; flexible labor mobility but consider home-buying pipeline if attracting families.
  • Elevated vacancy: 21.9% vacancy rate; potential redevelopment opportunity.
Source: 2020 Census of Island Areas Demographic Profile.

Workforce Pipeline

Labor force readiness, commuting, and workforce composition

Labor Market Overview

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile (employment)
31,099
Working Age (18-64)
Labor force participation rate: 64.4% of working-age population (18-64) 64% Participation
Mean Commute
12.1 min
Work From Home
2.9%

Education & Talent Pipeline

Bachelor's+
21%
HS Diploma+
85.6%
Top Institutions
Degrees, certificates, and other credentials awarded last academic year (College Scorecard).
Northern Marianas College 383/yr

Aging Workforce

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile, derived from age & labor force
18.9%
55-64 of working-age population (18-64)

Workforce by Occupation

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census of Island Areas · Demographic Profile (occupation) · Civilian employed population 16+
Management / Professional
28.4%
Service
24.6%
Sales & Office
20%
Construction / Maint.
16.4%
Production / Transport
10.6%
Bars scaled 2× for visual differentiation; percentage labels show actual share of 18,759 employed workers.
Key Takeaways
  • Short commutes: 12.1-minute mean commute is a quality-of-life and labor-access advantage for site selectors.
Source: 2020 Census of Island Areas Demographic Profile.

Municipality Profiles

4 municipalities in the Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Islands Municipality FIPS 69085 Rota Municipality FIPS 69100 Saipan Municipality FIPS 69110 Tinian Municipality FIPS 69120

AI Insights

AI-assisted analysis, drawn from 2 federal data sources

Industry Shift Analysis

Manufacturing Automation Risk
High
Healthcare Growth Forecast
+4.2% CAGR
Remote Work Migration
67/100

Prospect Match Scores

Advanced Manufacturing
92/100
Life Sciences
84/100
Data Centers
71/100
Illustrative example

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Data Sources

Updated from official federal government data.

2020 Census of Island Areas2020
BEA Regional GDP2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Key economic and demographic figures for Northern Mariana Islands, from federal data sources.

What is the population of Northern Mariana Islands?

47,329 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates).

What is the median household income in Northern Mariana Islands?

$31,362 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates).

What is the unemployment rate in Northern Mariana Islands?

14.1% (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates).