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

top of page


Background:


top of page


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
Comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 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
Highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 33.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Forest: 47.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 18.7% (2018 est.)

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 and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean


top of page


Population
Distribution: no large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo: 169,330 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 0.13% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
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: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 94.2%, folk religions 1.5%, Buddhist 1.1%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 26.64% (male 23,325/female 21,792)
15-64 years: 62.85% (male 55,606/female 50,816)
65 years and over: 10.51% (2023 est.) (male 8,290/female 9,501)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 60.7
Youth dependency ratio: 42.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 18.4
Potential support ratio: 5.4 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.1 years (2023 est.)
Male: 29.4 years
Female: 30.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.13% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 18.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -10.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: no large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo

Urbanization
Urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022)
Rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 147,000 HAGATNA (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: fresh water scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; extermination of native bird populations by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 75.3 years
Female: 80.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 99.7% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 15.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 14.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.1%


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Guam
Local long form: none
Local short form: Guahan
Abbreviation: GU
Etymology: the native Chamorro name for the island "Guahan" (meaning "we have" or "ours") 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: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Capital
Name: Hagatna (Agana)
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
Time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name is derived from the Chamoru word "haga," meaning "blood", and may refer to the bloodlines of the various families that established the original settlement

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
History: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)
Amendments: amended many times, last in 2015

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 Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)
Head of government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019); Lieutenant Governor Josh TENORIO (since 7 January 2019)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
Elections/appointments: 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 (eligible for a second 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); gubernatorial election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2,026)
Election results: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO reelected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 55%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 44%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices); 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 (a US territorial court; appeals beyond this court are heard before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US)
From the us embassy: 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 Puntan 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" (Stand Ye Guamanians)
Lyrics/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 (see United States)

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: small Pacific island US territorial economy; upper income, tourism-based economy; hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions; relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism; domestic economy relies on multiple military bases; environmentally fragile economy

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 56.2% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 55% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: (2016 est.) NA
Exports of goods and services: 19.4% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.2% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA
Industry: NA
Services: 58.4% (2015 est.)

Agriculture products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Industries: national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 76,200 (2021 est.)
Note: includes only the civilian labor force

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 15.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 14.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.1%

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.24 billion (2016 est.)
Expenditures: $1.299 billion (2016 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

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:
Partners: South Korea 31%, Hong Kong 27%, Taiwan 18%, Philippines 7% (2019)
Commodities: scrap iron, scrap copper, boring/sinking machinery, leather handbags, rubber, scrap aluminum (2021)

Imports:
Partners: Singapore 33%, Japan 21%, South Korea 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Malaysia 6% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, insulated wire, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 455,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 1.683 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 85 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 13,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.828 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.828 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 152.767 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 70,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 98,000 (2009 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2009 est.)

Telephone system

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

Internet
Country code: .gu
Users total: 136,850 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 80.5% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces: Guam National Guard (US Army)

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: N

Airports: 5 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 1
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 1,045 km (2008)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 3 (2022)
By type: other 3

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Apra Harbor


top of page


Disputes international: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs