Map of Guam | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | 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: 13 28 N 144 47 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Comparative: three times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims

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 coralline 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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

Geography
Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean


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Population: 154,623 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 1.67% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

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

Languages: English Chamorro Japanese

Religions: Roman Catholic 85% other 15% (1999 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.67% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 26.19 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake an exotic species

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 6.83 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: NA

Capital: Hagatna (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 (1944)

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: modeled on US; 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

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

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: Democratic Party (party of the Governor) [leader NA]; Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader NA]

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 tourist revenue. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry suffered a setback in 1998 because of the continuing Japanese recession; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. 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 ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: fruits copra vegetables; eggs pork poultry beef

Industries: US military tourism construction transshipment services concrete products printing and publishing food processing textiles

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 65,660 (1995)
By occupation federal and territorial government: 31%
By occupation private: 69%
By occupation (trade: 21%
By occupation services: 33%
By occupation construction: 12%
By occupation other: 3%) (1995)

Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (1992 est.)

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: $86.1 million (f.o.b. 1992)
Commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products construction materials fish food and beverage products
Partners: US 25%

Imports: $202.4 million (c.i.f. 1992)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products food manufactured goods
Partners: US 23% Japan 19% other 58%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 800 million kWh (1998)

Electricity consumption: 744 million kWh (1998)

Electricity exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular: 55,000 (1998)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

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 (1999 est.)

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs