1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (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 (depth)
Disputes
none
Environment
frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
541.3 km2
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 11%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 18%; other 45%
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
541.3 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
27 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
4 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Infant mortality rate
15 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
46,930; federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)
Languages
English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken
Life expectancy at birth
72 years male, 76 years female (1992)
Literacy
96% (male 96%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Nationality
noun - Guamanian(s); adjective - Guamanian; note - Guamanians are US citizens
Net migration rate
3 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
13% of labor force
Population
142,271 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)
Religions
Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Total fertility rate
2.5 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US)
Capital
Agana
Chief of State
President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989)
Constitution
Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Diplomatic representation
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch
President of the US, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet
Flag
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
Governor
last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Joseph F. ADA reelected
Head of Government
Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS
Independence
none (territory of the US)
Judicial branch
Federal District Court of Guam, Territorial Superior Court of Guam
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature
Legislature
last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992); a byelection was held in April 1991 to replace a deceased legislator, results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democratic 11, Republican 10
Long-form name
Territory of Guam
Member of
ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
National holiday
Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), Liberation Day (July 21), US Government holidays
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; policy relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
US House of Representatives
last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); Guam elects one nonvoting delegate; results - Ben BLAZ was elected as the nonacting delegate; seats - (1 total) Republican 1
Economy
Agriculture
relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Budget
revenues $525 million; expenditures $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA.
Currency
US currency is used
Economic aid
although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Electricity
500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,300 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$34 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
GNP
purchasing power equivalent - $2.0 billion, per capita $14,000; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)
Imports
$493 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12.6% (1991)
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 900,000 in 1990. The small manufacturing sector includes textiles and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production. About 60% 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 1991 the unemployment rate was about 4.1%.
Unemployment rate
4.1% (1991 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); broadcast stations - 3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US