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.

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N 144 47 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 541.3 km²
Land: 541.3 km²
Water: 0 km²
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
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
Arable land: 3.64%
Permanent crops: 18.18%
Other: 78.18% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

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

Population: 173,456 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 1.4% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guamanian (US citizens)
Adjective: Guamanian

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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.6% (male 25,686/female 23,938)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 57,023/female 54,872)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 5,592/female 6,345) (2007 est.)

Median age
Total: 28.8 years
Male: 28.5 years
Female: 29 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.4% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 18.56 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 4.56 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.073 male/female
15-64 years: 1.039 male/female
65 years and over: 0.881 male/female
Total population: 1.037 male/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.68 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 7.35 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.97 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.76 years
Male: 75.69 years
Female: 82.01 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (1990 est.)

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

Government type: NA

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)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

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: modeled on US; US federal laws apply

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
Head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)
Cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
Elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2010)
Election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7
Note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 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: Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)

International organization participation: IOC 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 outrigger canoe with sail and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

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.)

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

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

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

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: 62,050 (2002 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 26%
By occupation industry: 10%
By occupation services: 64% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.4% (2002 est.)

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

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

Budget
Revenues: $319.6 million
Expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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

Exports: $45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; construction materials fish food and beverage products
Partners: Japan 67.2% Singapore 11.6% UK 4.8% (2006)

Imports: $701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products food manufactured goods
Partners: Singapore 50% South Korea 21.4% Japan 14% Hong Kong 4.6% (2006)

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 1.793 billion kWh (2005)
Consumption: 1.667 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 0 kWh (2005)
Imports: 0 kWh (2005)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2005 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 80,000 (2001)
Mobile cellular: 98,000 (2004)

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
Domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet
International: country code - 1-671; major landing point for submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .gu
Hosts: 36 (2007)
Users: 65,000 (2005)

Airports: 5 (2007)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways
Total: 977 km (2004)

Ports and terminals: Apra Harbor

Disputes international: none