Map of Guam | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Spain ceded Guam to the US 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

Area
Rank: 195
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 (January to June) rainy season (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 hills in center mountains in south

Elevation

Natural resources: aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism) fishing (largely undeveloped)

Land use

Irrigated land: 2 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 destructive typhoons (June to December)

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


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Population: 159,914 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 187
Growth rate: 0.24% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 172
Below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Chamorro 37.1% Filipino 26.3% other Pacific islander 11.3% white 6.9% other Asian 6.3% other ethnic origin or race 2.3% mixed 9.8% (2000 census)

Languages: English 38.3% Chamorro 22.2% Philippine languages 22.2% other Pacific island languages 6.8% Asian languages 7% other languages 3.5% (2000 census)

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.24% (2012 est.)
Rank: 172

Birth rate: 17.5 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 108

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 189

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 85

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 invasive species

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 175

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 50

Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 85

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: NA

Capital

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Discovery Day first Monday in March (1521)

Constitution: Organic Act of Guam 1 August 1950

Legal system: common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch

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

Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Supreme Court of Guam (hears appeals from Superior Court - judges appointed by governor); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)

International organization participation: IOC PIF (observer) SPC UPU

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 a proa or outrigger canoe with sail and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Punta Dos Amantes near the capital in the background; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression

National symbols: coconut tree

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy depends largely on US military spending and tourism. Total US grants wage payments and procurement outlays amounted to $1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years the tourist industry has grown to become the largest income source following national defense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in both its tourism and military sectors.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $2.5 billion (2005 est.)
Rank: 185

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $15,000 (2005 est.)
Rank: 86

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: fruits copra vegetables; eggs pork poultry beef

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 82,950 (2007 est.)
Rank: 184

Unemployment rate: 11.4% (2002 est.)
Rank: 123

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -3.9% of GDP (2002 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 125

Taxes and other revenues: 11.5% of GDP (2002 est.)
Rank: 203

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.5% (2005 est.)
Rank: 56

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: $45 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 198
Commodities: transshipments of refined petroleum products construction materials fish food and beverage products

Imports: $701 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 186
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products food manufactured goods

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: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Production: 1.755 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 137
Consumption: 1.632 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 143
Exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 203
Imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 195
Installed generating capacity: 553,000 kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 133
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 18
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 99
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 175
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 135

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 142
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 121
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 193
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 140

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 154
Products consumption: 14,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 147
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products exports rank: 183
Products imports: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 212

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 138
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 151
Exports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 207
Imports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 203
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 145

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.451 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 156

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 65,500 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 158
Mobile cellular: 98,000 (2004)
Mobile cellular rank: 192

Telephone system

Broadcast media: about a dozen TV channels including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations (2009)

Internet
Country code: .gu
Hosts: 23 (2012)
Hosts rank: 220
Users: 90,000 (2009)
Users rank: 163

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 (2012)
Rank: 179

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 184

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals: Apra Harbor


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs