FEB. 15, 2024 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released 2020 Island Areas Censuses Detailed Cross Tabulations for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

The release includes 95 demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics tables. These characteristics are cross-tabulated by race, age, sex, place of birth, educational attainment, labor force status, occupation, industry, and income and earnings. Housing characteristics are cross-tabulated by age of householder, household income in 2019, household size, tenure, units in structure, and year built. This final release of 2020 Island Areas Censuses data include the Island Area and county-equivalent levels of geography.

The following highlights are for the CNMI Island Area level of geography.

• The median age was 34.4 years; males (52.6% of the population) and females (47.4%) had about the same median ages (34.5 and 34.3, respectively).
• Almost half (46.6%) of the total population reported their race as Asian alone and 43.7% reported their race as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone. The Asian alone population (median age 41.6) was much older than the CNMI population overall (median age 34.4), while the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population (median age 29.4) was younger.
• The Multiracial population, also referred to as the Two or More Races population (7.3% of the population), was much younger (median age 17.4) than the CNMI population overall (median age 34.4).  
• Among the Asian alone population, males (median age 41.6) and females (median age 41.5) were about the same age; among the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population, males (median age 29.0) were slightly younger than females (median age 29.8); and among the Multiracial population, males (median age 18.1) were slightly older than females (median age 16.8).

• Over half (60.1%) of grandparents living with grandchildren under age 18 were female.
• A higher percentage of younger coresident grandparents were female: 70.4% of those ages 30 to 44 compared to 57.5% of those age 65 and over.
• Among adults ages 25 to 29, women (28.4%) were more likely than men (22.3%) to currently be married. This pattern reversed among adults age 75 and over in households, where 27.7% of women and 75.5% of men were currently married.
• Among people age 25 and older, 21.0% had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment varied by sex and age: 24.1% of women and 18.3% of men had a bachelor’s degree or higher; people ages 25 to 44 (22.0%) were the most likely and those ages 45 to 54 (19.8%) the least likely to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Among people 18 years and over in households, the median earnings in 2019 dollars of those with a bachelor’s degree ($28,052) were more than double the earnings of those with less than a high school degree ($12,940). Men with a bachelor’s degree or higher earned more (median of $30,018) than women with the same education (median of $27,059).
  • Among 18- to 24-year-olds in households, 20.4% of men and 31.8% of women were enrolled in college or graduate school.
  • Of the population age 5 and over in households, 74.0% spoke a language other than English. Among them, 39.0% spoke a Philippine language and 52.5% spoke English “very well.”
• Nearly 60% (57.7%) of 5- to 17-year-olds spoke English only. Of those in this age group who spoke a language other than English, 33.6% spoke a Philippine language and 72.7% spoke English “very well.”
• Among the population age 65 and older, 88.2% spoke a language other than English. Of that group, 44.5% spoke English “very well” and 44.1% spoke Chamorro.

Note: The Island Areas Censuses asked households about their income the previous year (in 2019).

• The poverty rate for all people for whom poverty status is determined was 38.0%.
• The poverty rate for the Asian alone population for whom poverty status is determined was 42.0%, while the poverty rate for the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population for whom poverty status is determined was 36.6%.
• The median household income was $31,362.
  • The median income of households with a Chinese (except Taiwanese) householder was $18,373, a Filipino householder was $25,934, a Korean householder was $32,031, a Carolinian householder was $32,857, and a Chamorro householder was $45,278. 
• Households with a householder age 65 and older had a higher median income ($38,378) than all other age groups. 
• The median household income of households with a householder born in the CNMI was $41,171.
• 25.2% of households with a householder 15 to 24 years old received Nutrition Assistance Plan (NAP) benefits, compared to 12.8% of those with a householder age 65 and over.
• Among people age 16 and over in the civilian labor force, 85.9% were employed and 14.1% were unemployed.
•  The unemployment rate of women was 16.0% and of men was 12.7%.
• Among workers age 16 and over, 76.7% worked full-time, year-round (35 hours or more per week, 50 to 52 weeks).
• Among workers age 16 and over, 62.6% were born outside of the CNMI while 37.4% were born in the CNMI.

• 78.1% of all housing units were occupied; of those, 29.0% were occupied by owners and 71.0% by renters.
• In owner-occupied households with only one person, comparing across age groups, those householders ages 15 to 24 made up the smallest share (0.8%), and householders 65 years or older represented the largest share (30.7%).
• The median monthly owner cost for households with a mortgage whose housing was built in 2019 or 2020 was $900, and $159 for households that did not have a mortgage. The median gross rent for households living in units built in 2019 or 2020 was $502.
• 89.6% of children ages 5 to 17 lived in households with a computer and a broadband internet subscription.
• Households with a computer and internet subscription had a higher median income ($36,142) than those without a computer ($15,950).

For more information about 2020 Census products for the Island Areas, visit the 2020 Island Areas Censuses Press Kit.

The 2020 Island Areas Censuses provide a wide range of demographic, social, economic and housing information to meet the U.S. Island Areas’ data needs. Census Bureau surveys, such as the American Community Survey (ACS), are not conducted in the Island Areas. Therefore, the Census Bureau used a long-form census questionnaire in the 2020 Census similar to the ACS questionnaire used in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 

The Census Bureau previously released population and housing counts, a demographic profile, and the demographic and housing characteristics file for the CNMI from the 2020 Island Areas Censuses. More information is available on the 2020 Island Areas Censuses Data Products webpage.

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