MigrantoImmigrants in the Northern Mariana Islands
21K foreign-born residents — the #185 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 73% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Philippines | 11230 |
| China | 2633 |
| South Korea | 1458 |
| USA | 1268 |
| Micronesia | 1132 |
| Puerto Rico | 925 |
| Guam | 736 |
| Palau | 572 |
| Japan | 544 |
| Bangladesh | 374 |
| Nepal | 125 |
| Marshall Islands | 45 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 78%
16.4K
2.5K
1.3K
925
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Immigration partially offsets population decline
Despite a shrinking native population, immigration has compensated for 476% of the demographic decline of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Northern Mariana Islands is a primary destination for emigrants from Guam
Northern Mariana Islands attracts 62% of all emigrants from Guam, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Philippines is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Philippines accounts for 53% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 13%.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 2 residents of the Northern Mariana Islands is foreign-born — 21K out of 44.3K, representing 47.5% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 25498 |
| 1995 | 31106 |
| 2000 | 38613 |
| 2005 | 36049 |
| 2010 | 23130 |
| 2015 | 20715 |
| 2020 | 20892 |
| 2024 | 21042 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Philippines | China | South Korea | USA | Micronesia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12836 | 2598 | 2422 | 1203 | 1720 |
| 1995 | 12905 | 7844 | 1938 | 1530 | 1760 |
| 2000 | 13757 | 13566 | 1573 | 1951 | 1908 |
| 2005 | 15233 | 9611 | 1855 | 1953 | 1841 |
| 2010 | 12330 | 2894 | 1604 | 1395 | 1245 |
| 2015 | 11045 | 2592 | 1436 | 1249 | 1115 |
| 2020 | 11150 | 2614 | 1448 | 1259 | 1124 |
| 2024 | 11230 | 2633 | 1458 | 1268 | 1132 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Northern Mariana Islands as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in the Northern Mariana Islands
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in the Northern Mariana Islands?
Around 21K foreign-born residents live in the Northern Mariana Islands, making it the #185-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in the Northern Mariana Islands come from?
Most immigrants in the Northern Mariana Islands come from Philippines, China and South Korea — these three countries account for about 73% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of the Northern Mariana Islands are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 48% of the population of the Northern Mariana Islands — that's 21K out of a total population of 44.3K.
How has immigration to the Northern Mariana Islands changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in the Northern Mariana Islands has changed from 20.7K to 21K people, a change of about 2%.
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