Northern Mariana Islands/

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.

$900 million (2000 est.)

$633.4 million (2000)

NA%

$12,500 (2000 est.)

38,450 total indigenous labor force; 28,717 foreign workers (2005 est.)

8% (2005 est.)

3.9% (2001)

NA%

-0.8% (2000)

vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry and eggs, fish and aquaculture products

banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts

NA%

60,600 kWh (January 2009)

48,300 kWh (January 2009)

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

0 kWh (January 2009 est.)

$98.2 million (2008)

garments

$214.4 million (2001)

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

$NA

the US dollar is used