Map of Guam | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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.


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Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 541.3 km²
Land: 541.3 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive 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
Arable land: 11%
Permanent crops: 11%
Meadows and pastures: 15%
Forest and woodland: 18%
Other: 45%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US


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Population: 153,307 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guamanian(s)
Adjective: Guamanian

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

Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 25.01 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.29 years
Male: 72.42 years
Female: 76.13 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Guam
Conventional short form: Guam

Government type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

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) (1521; Liberation Day, 21 July

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply

International law organization participation

Citizenship

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994); Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994); election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) was elected Governor and Madeleine BORDALLO (Democrat) was elected Lieutenant Governor
Cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1

Judicial branch: Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC

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

Flag description: territorial flag is 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; US flag is the national flag

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy depends mainly 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 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% 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. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.)

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, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 46,930 (1990); federal and territorial government 40%, private 60%
By occupation trade: 18%
By occupation services: 15.6%
By occupation construction: 13.8%
By occupation other: 12.6% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $525 million
Expenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
Commodoties: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%

Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
Commodoties: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%

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


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Electricity
Capacity: 300,000 kW
Production: 750 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 4,797 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 26,317 telephones (1989)
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs