Northern Mariana Islands
Territory · Oceania, Micronesia
The Northern Mariana Islands is a United States territory in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania. With a population of about 43,500 and an area of 464 square kilometers, the territory is administered from its capital, Saipan.
Highlights
This guide covers 1 sight in the Northern Mariana Islands. The American Memorial Park is located in Saipan.
Food and drink
Local cuisine includes a dish called Kelaguen.
When to go
Based on weather data for the capital, Saipan, the islands maintain average temperatures between 25 °C and 27 °C throughout the year. Rainfall varies significantly by season. The driest period is from February through May, with March being the driest month, recording 73 mm of rain over about 9 days. Rainfall increases during the summer and autumn months, peaking in August with 382 mm of rain over about 28 days.
Practical notes
The official currency is the United States dollar. English, Chamorro, and Carolinian are spoken. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road. The territory operates on UTC+10:00 time.
Food and drink to try in Northern Mariana Islands
- Kelaguen
Top sights in Northern Mariana Islands
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 26 °C on average. The wettest is August, with about 382 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Rainfall, mm | 111 | 95 | 73 | 84 | 92 | 136 | 285 | 382 | 326 | 320 | 208 | 148 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 16 | 13 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Saipan (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.