North Mariana Islands Country Summary

North Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States. As such, we are including the information for the United States below:

FATF Status

The U.S.A. is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

The latest follow-up Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in the USA was undertaken by in 2024. According to that Evaluation, the USA was deemed Compliant for 9 and Largely Compliant for 23 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 4 and Substantially Effective for 4 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.

The North Mariana Islands, in political union with the United States, face significant challenges related to crime and corruption, particularly in areas such as human trafficking, drug trade, and cyber crimes. Despite these issues, there is a demonstrated resilience through robust legal frameworks, international cooperation, and civil society efforts aimed at supporting victims and enhancing public trust in governance.

The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is primarily driven by tourism, particularly from Japan, alongside a historical reliance on garment manufacturing, which has seen a decline in recent years. Agriculture contributes minimally to the GDP but remains essential for local food supply, while the islands benefit from federal funding and a unique labor market that has included low-wage workers from Asia. Despite the stability provided by its status as a U.S. territory, the CNMI's heavy dependence on tourism and the garment industry renders it vulnerable to external shocks, prompting recent efforts to diversify the economy and enhance infrastructure to attract foreign investment and revive the tourism sector post-pandemic.