Statistical information Guam 2016

Guam in the World

Guam - Introduction 2016

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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 installations on the island are some of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Guam - Geography 2016

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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
Total: 544 km²
Land: 544 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 195
Comparative: three times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

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

Land use

Land use
Agricultural land: 33.4%

arable land: 1.9%
permanent crops: 16.7%
permanent pasture: 14.8%

Forest: 47.9%
Other: 18.7%

Irrigated land: 2 km² (2012)

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

Guam - People 2016

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Population: 162,742 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 188
Growth rate: 0.64% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 151
Below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guamanian
Adjective: Guamanian

Ethnic groups: Chamorro 37.3% Filipino 26.3% white 7.1% Chuukese 7% Korean 2.2% other Pacific Islander 2% other Asian 2% Chinese 1.6% Palauan 1.6% Japanese 1.5% Pohnpeian 1.4% mixed 9.4% other 0.6% (2010 est.)

Languages: English 43.6% Filipino 21.2% Chamorro 17.8% other Pacific island languages 10% Asian languages 6.3% other 1.1% (2010 est.)

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 24.95%
15-24 years: 17.09%
25-54 years: 39.09%
55-64 years: 9.62%
65 years and over: 9.25% (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52%
Youth dependency ratio: 38.7%
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.3%
Potential support ratio: 7.5%

Median age
Total: 30.4 years
Male: 29.8 years
Female: 30.9 years
Rank: 111

Population growth rate: 0.64% (2016 est.)
Rank: 151

Birth rate: 16.7 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 110

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 182

Net migration rate: -5.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 193

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 94.5% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.36% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: HAGATNA (capital) 143,000 (2014)

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
At birth: 1.06 male/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male/female
Total population: 1.03 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.3 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 5.7 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 172

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.1 years
Male: 76.1 years
Female: 82.4 years
Rank: 50

Total fertility rate: 2.31 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 88

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 99.5% of population
total: 99.5% of population
urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 0.5% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access:

urban: 89.8% of population
rural: 89.8% of population
total: 89.8% of population
urban: 10.2% of population
rural: 10.2% of population
total: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

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

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Guam - Government 2016

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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Guam
Conventional short form: Guam
Local long form: Guahan
Local short form: Guahan
Etymology: the native Chamorro name for the island 'Guahan' was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris whereby Spain relinquished Guam Cuba Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the US

Government type: presidential democracy; a self-governing unincorporated territory of the US

Capital
Name: Hagatna
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N 144 44 E
Time difference: UTC+10

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of the US)

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

Constitution: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution); amended many times last in 2015 (2016)

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United States

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA ; Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
Head of government: Governor Eddie CALVO ; Lieutenant Governor Ray TENORIO (since 3 January 2011)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
Electionsappointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term ; under the US Constitution residents of unincorporated territories such as Guam do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)
Election results: Eddie CALVO reelected governor; percent of vote - Eddie CALVO 64% Carl GUTIERREZ (Democratic Party) 36%; Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislature of Guam or Liheslaturan Guahan
Elections: last held on 4 November 2014
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9 Republican Party 6
Note: Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2012

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Guam ; note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to the US Supreme Court
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life subject to retention election every 10 years
Subordinate courts: Superior Court of Guam - includes several divisions; US Federal District Court for the District of Guam

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Carlo BRANCH]
Republican Party [Mike BENITO]

International organization participation: AOSIS (observer) 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; the shape of the central emblem is that of a Chamorro sling stone used as a weapon for defense or hunting; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression
Note: the US flag is the national flag

National symbols: coconut tree; national colors: deep blue red

National anthem
Name: 'Fanohge Chamoru'
Lyrics and music: Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English] Lagrimas UNTALAN [Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN
Note: adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as 'Guam Hymn'; as a territory of the United States 'The Star-Spangled Banner' which generally follows the playing of 'Stand Ye Guamanians' is official

National heritage

Guam - Economy 2016

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Economy overview: US national defense spending is the main driver of Guam’s economy followed by tourism and other services. Total federal spending (defense and non-defense) amounted to $1.973 billion in 2014 or 40.4% of GDP. Service exports mainly spending by foreign tourists while on Guam amounted to $651 million in 2013 or 13.3% of GDP. In 2013 Guam’s economy grew 0.6%. Despite slow growth Guam’s economy has been stable over the last decade. National defense spending cushions the island’s economy against fluctuations in tourism. Guam serves as a forward US base for the Western Pacific and is home to thousands of American military personnel. Federal grants amounted to $373.3 million in 2013 or 32.6% of Guam’s total revenues for the fiscal year.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

$4.882 billion (2013 est.)
$4.756 billion (2012 est.)
$4.562 billion (2011 est.)

Rank: 175

Real gdp growth rate:

0.6% (2013 est.)
1.8% (2012)
-0.3% (2011)

Rank: 183

Real gdp per capita:

$30,500 (2013 est.)
$29,800 (2012 est.)
$28,600 (2011 est.)

Rank: 61

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin