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.

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
Agricultural land: 33.4%
Forest: 47.9%
Other: 18.7%

Irrigated land: 2 km² (2012)

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

Population
Distribution: no large cities exist on the island though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo: 167,358 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 186
Growth rate: 0.26% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 175
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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.54%
15-24 years: 16.63%
25-54 years: 37.44%
55-64 years: 9.8%
65 years and over: 8.59% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52.3
Youth dependency ratio: 38.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.6
Potential support ratio: 7.4

Median age
Total: 29 years
Male: 28.3 years
Female: 29.7 years
Rank: 111

Population growth rate: 0.26% (2017 est.)
Rank: 175

Birth rate: 19.7 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 81

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 162

Net migration rate: -11.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 213

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: 94.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change

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

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

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

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.6 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 12.3 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 12.8 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 114

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 78.6 years
Rank: 94

Total fertility rate: 2.96 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 57

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.84 physicians/1000 population (2007)

Sanitation facility access:

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

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)

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

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 Donald J. TRUMP ; Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
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 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results: Eddie CALVO reelected governor; percent of vote - Eddie CALVO 63.9% Carl GUTIERREZ (Democratic Party) 36.1%; Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislature of Guam or Liheslaturan Guahan
Elections: last held on 8 November 2016
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 8 November 2016

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:

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

Economy overview: US national defense spending is the main driver of Guam’s economy followed by tourism and other services. Guam serves as a forward US base for the Western Pacific and is home to thousands of American military personnel. Total federal spending (defense and non-defense) amounted to $1.973 billion in 2014 or 40.4% of GDP. Of that total federal grants amounted to $373.3 million in 2013 or 32.6% of Guam’s total revenues for the fiscal year. Service exports mainly spending by foreign tourists to 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 175

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 181

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 62

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 63.7%
Government consumption: 64.9%
Investment in fixed assets: 5.8%
Investment in inventories: NA
Exports of goods and services: 17%
Imports of goods and services: -51.2%

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

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: 70,490
Note: includes only the civilian labor force
Rank: 186
By occupation agriculture: 0.3%
By occupation industry: 21.6%
By occupation services: 78.1%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 105

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

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

Budget
Revenues: $1.147 billion
Expenditures: $1.188 billion
Surplus or deficit: -0.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 65

Taxes and other revenues: 24.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 118

Public debt:
Rank: 154

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 117

Exports:
Rank: 161
Commodities: transshipments of refined petroleum products construction materials fish foodstuffs and beverages
Partners: Palau 20.3% Japan 5.1% (2016)

Imports:
Rank: 152
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products food manufactured goods
Partners: Singapore 32.1% Japan 30.6% South Korea 8.4% Hong Kong 8.1% (2016)

Debt external: $N/A

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access population without electricity: 66,724
Access electrification total population: 59%
Access electrification urban areas: 60%
Access electrification rural areas: 45%
Production: 1.623 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Production rank: 144
Consumption: 1.509 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 148
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 144
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 157
Installed generating capacity: 552,000 kW (2015 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 143
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 8
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 101
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 179
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 185

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 144
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 132
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 136
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 143

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 152
Products consumption: 15,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 150
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 162
Products imports: 15,230 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 131

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2014 est.)
Production rank: 143
Consumption: 0 m³ (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 188
Exports: 0 m³ (2014 est.)
Exports rank: 114
Imports: 0 m³ (2014 est.)
Imports rank: 133
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 147

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 153

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 68,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42
Fixed lines rank: 152
Mobile cellular total: 181,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitatnts: 113
Mobile cellular rank: 191

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system integrated with US facilities for direct dialing including free use of 800 numbers
Domestic: three major companies provide both fixed-line and mobile services as well as access to the Internet
International: country code - 1-671; major landing point for submarine cables between Asia and the US ; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

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
Users total: 125,328
Users percent of population: 77.0%
Users rank: 168

Airports: 5 (2013)
Rank: 179
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
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1

Roadways
Total: 1045 km
Rank: 186

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Apra Harbor

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs
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