under American administration before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship.

Their area is 183.5 sqmi. In 2020, 47,329 people lived in the CNMI. The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other Northern Mariana islands are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan,