Northern Mariana Islands: Flag and Facts
The Northern Mariana Islands flag is blue with a white five-pointed star on a gray latte stone, all ringed by a mwaar, a flower wreath worn on the head.
- Official name
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Capital
- Saipan
- Region
- Micronesia
- Population
- 51,118 (2024)
- Languages
- Carolinian, Chamorro, English
- Currency
- United States dollar
- Area
- 464 km² (179 sq mi)
- People
- American
- Calling code
- +1670
- Highest point
- Agrihan Volcano 965 m
- Independence
- none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
- National symbols
- latte stone
- Borders
- No land borders
- Status
- Territory (not a sovereign country)
About Northern Mariana Islands
Blue is the Pacific and the star is the Commonwealth, while the stone and the wreath both stand for Marianas culture. A latte stone is a traditional foundation pillar, and it is also the islands' main symbol. The wreath mixes four flowers: plumeria, ylang-ylang, peacock flower, and Pacific basil.
Austronesian settlers arrived around 1500 B.C. and became the Chamorro people. Magellan sailed through in 1521, and Spain claimed the chain in 1565. Harsh Spanish rule, disease, and war cut the native population by about 90% in the 1700s. Spain sold the islands to Germany in 1899, and Japan ran them after World War I, bringing in so many sugar workers that they outnumbered the Chamorro. Today the islands are a US commonwealth, joined politically to the United States. The southern islands are limestone with coral reefs, while the northern ones are volcanic, and several still have active volcanoes.
Did you know?
- Agrihan Volcano is the tallest point at 965 meters.
- Commonwealth Day falls on 8 January and dates to 1978.
- Expect a dry spell from December to June and heavier rain from July to October.
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Questions about Northern Mariana Islands
What languages are spoken in the Northern Mariana Islands?
Chamorro, Carolinian, and English.
What is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands?
Saipan, with about 51,000 people.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.