Statistical information Guam 1996

Guam in the World

Guam - Introduction 1996

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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.

Guam - Geography 1996

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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

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
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources:

Fishing (largely undeveloped)
Tourism (especially from Japan)

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 11%
Permanent crops: 11%
Permanent pastures: 15%
Forests and woodland: 18%
Other: 45%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography

Guam - People 1996

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Population:

156,974 (July 1996 est.)
153,307 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate:

2.34% (1996 est.)
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

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

2.34% (1996 est.)
2.42% (1995 est.)

Birth rate:

24.24 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
25.01 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate:

3.86 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
3.86 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
3 migrants/1000 population 1995 est. Infant Mortality Rate:

15.17 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
15.17 deaths/1000 live births (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)
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.29 years
Male: 72.42 years
Female: 76.13 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
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
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1990)
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Guam - Government 1996

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

Government type: Organized, unincorporated territory of the U.S. with policy relations between Guam and the U.S. under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior

Capital: Agana

Administrative divisions: None (territory of the U.S.)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (territory of the U.S.)

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 U.S.; federal laws apply

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; U.S. citizens, but do not vote in U.S. 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) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results_Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with 54.6% of the vote
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 U.S. 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, judge is appointed by the president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders

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

Diplomatic representation

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; U.S. flag is the national flag

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Guam - Economy 1996

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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: purchasing power parity_ $14,000 (1991 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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:

U.S. military
Tourism
Construction
Transshipment services
Concrete products
Printing and publishing
Food processing
Textiles