Map of Guam | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

top of page


Background: Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941 it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.


top of page


Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south

Elevation

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)

Land use: 11% arable land; 11% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 45% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US


top of page


Population: 141,039 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Guamanian(s; adjective--Guamanian

Ethnic groups: 47% Chamorro, 25% Filipino, 10% Caucasian, 18% Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other

Languages: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken

Religions: 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 26 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 90%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Guam

Government type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US

Capital: Agana

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch: Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989; Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US)

Flag description: dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: The economy is based on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 800,000 in 1989. The small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production. About 58% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. In 1989 the unemployment rate was about 3%, down from 10% in 1983.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra

Industries: US military, tourism, petroleum refining, construction, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 54,000; 42% government, 58% private (1988)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1989 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $208.0 million; expenditures $175 million, including capital expenditures of $17 million (1987 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983)
Commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, copra, fish
Partners: US 25%, others 75%

Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983)
Commodities: mostly crude petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Partners: US 77%, others 23%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


top of page


Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs