1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
three times the size of Washington, DC
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 144 47 E
Geography-note
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 18% other: 45% (1993 est.)
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Natural resources
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
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-rising hills in center, mountains in south
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 34% (male 25,972; female 24,097) 15-64 years: 60% (male 47,357; female 42,189) 65 years and over: 6% (male 4,244; female 4,201) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
25.04 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
4.42 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Infant mortality rate
8.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
English, Chamorro, Japanese
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.7 years male: 74.12 years female: 79.44 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian
Net migration rate
-5.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
148,060 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
1.5% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.58 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US)
Constitution
Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam
Data code
GQ
Dependency status
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Executive branch
chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature elections: governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote and serve four-year terms; election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998) election results: Carl GUTIERREZ elected governor of Guam; percent of vote-Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 54.6%, Tommy TANAKA (Republican) NA%
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of the US)
International organization participation
ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
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: Republican Party (controls the legislature); Democratic Party (party of the Governor)
Legal system
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature (21 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Republican 11, Democratic 10 note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results-Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Democrat 1
National capital
Hagatna (Agana)
National holiday
Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Economy
Agriculture-products
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Budget
revenues: $524.3 million expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Currency
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: 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
Economy-overview
The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenue generated by the tourism industry. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than one million tourists visit Guam each year. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
Electricity-capacity
302,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
4,925 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
755 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
total value: $86.1 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Fiscal year
1 October-30 September Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$19,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $202.4 million (c.i.f., 1992) 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 price index
4% (1992 est.)
Labor force
total: 65,660 (1995) by occupation: federal and territorial government 31%, private 69% (trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other 3%) (1995)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
206,000 (1994)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan
Telephones
74,317 (March 1997)
Television broadcast stations
3
Televisions
97,000 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
2% (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
5 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none