Countries & territories · capital city
What Is the Capital of Northern Mariana Islands?
Saipan
The capital of Northern Mariana Islands is Saipan. About 51,000 people live in the Saipan urban area — 117.1% of the country's population.
51,000
Urban area population
UTC+10
Time zone
15.20°N
Latitude · 145.75°E
Yes
Largest city
Saipan at a glance
Name origin
The origin of the name is unclear; it probably comes from a local word meaning "deserted" or "uninhabited," but stories vary on how it came to be used.
Time zone
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
15 12 N, 145 45 E · IANA time zone Pacific/Saipan
Location of Northern Mariana Islands
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Capitals closest to Saipan
Hagatna, Guam — 222 km
Ngerulmud, Palau — 1,484 km
Palikir, Micronesia — 1,636 km
Tokyo, Japan — 2,355 km
Manila, Philippines — 2,663 km
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea — 2,746 km
Taipei, Taiwan — 2,750 km
Majuro, Marshall Islands — 2,935 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Saipan
What is the capital of Northern Mariana Islands?
The capital of Northern Mariana Islands is Saipan. About 51,000 people live in the Saipan urban area — 117.1% of the country's population.
Is Saipan the largest city in Northern Mariana Islands?
Yes — Saipan is also the largest urban area of Northern Mariana Islands (51,000).
What time zone is Saipan in?
Saipan is on UTC+10 — UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Saipan come from?
The origin of the name is unclear; it probably comes from a local word meaning "deserted" or "uninhabited," but stories vary on how it came to be used.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).