1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
125.5 km
Comparative area
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Contiguous zone
12 nm;
Continental shelf
200 m;
Environment
frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Extended economic zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
11% arable land; 11% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 45% other
Natural resources
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Note
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Terrain
volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
541 km2; land area: 541 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
26 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
47% Chamorro, 25% Filipino, 10% Caucasian, 18% Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other
Infant mortality rate
12 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
54,000; 42% government, 58% private (1988)
Language
English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken
Life expectancy at birth
70 years male, 75 years female (1990)
Literacy
90%
Nationality
noun--Guamanian(s); adjective--Guamanian
Net migration rate
5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
13% of labor force
Population
141,039 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)
Religion
98% Roman Catholic, 2% other
Total fertility rate
3.0 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US)
Capital
Agana
Communists
none
Constitution
Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Diplomatic representation
none (territory of the US)
Elections
Governor--last held on NA November 1986 (next to be held November 1990); Legislature--last held on 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(21 total) Democratic 13, Republican 8; US House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); Guam elects one nonvoting delegate; results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) Republican 1
Executive branch
US president, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet
Flag
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
Independence
none (territory of the US)
Judicial branch
Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)
Leaders
Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986)
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature
Long-form name
Territory of Guam
National holiday
Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989
Note
relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
Suffrage
universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Type
organized, unincorporated territory of the US
Economy
Agriculture
relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Aid
NA
Budget
revenues $208.0 million; expenditures $175 million, including capital expenditures of $17 million (1987 est.)
Currency
US currency is used
Electricity
500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,660 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$39 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities--mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, copra, fish; partners--US 25%, others 75%
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 October-30 September
GNP
$1.0 billion, per capita $7,675; real growth rate 20%
Imports
$611 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities--mostly crude petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods; partners--US 77%, others 23%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
US military, tourism, petroleum refining, construction, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.9% (1988)
Overview
The economy is based on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 800,000 in 1989. The small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production. About 58% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. In 1989 the unemployment rate was about 3%, down from 10% in 1983.
Unemployment rate
3% (1989 est.)
Communications
Airports
5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
674 km all-weather roads
Ports
Apra Harbor
Telecommunications
26,317 telephones (1989); stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US