2009 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2009 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
total: 544 sq km land: 544 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 (January to June), rainy season (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
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
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
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 3.64% permanent crops: 18.18% other: 78.18% (2005)
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June - December)
Natural resources
aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 25,651/female 23,904) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 59,304/female 56,995) 65 years and over: 7% (male 5,786/female 6,790) (2009 est.)
Birth rate
18.22 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate
4.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
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)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 6.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.01 years male: 74.97 years female: 81.23 years (2009 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
Median age
total: 29.1 years male: 28.8 years female: 29.4 years (2009 est.)
Nationality
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens) adjective: Guamanian
Net migration rate
NA
Population
178,430 (July 2009 est.)
Population growth rate
1.365% (2009 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.54 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 93% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of the US)
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)
Constitution
Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam local long form: Guahan local short form: Guahan
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of the US)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) 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; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; 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
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
IOC, SPC, UPU
Judicial branch
Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)
Legal system
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, Republican Party 5 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
National holiday
Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)
Political pressure groups and leaders
Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority Workers other: activists; indigenous groups
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: $319.6 million expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)
Debt - external
$NA
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.
Electricity - consumption
1.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production
1.767 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$45 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$15,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.773 billion (2001)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.5 billion (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$701 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force
82,950 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 26% industry: 10% services: 64% (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2008)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Oil - consumption
9,227 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Population below poverty line
23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.4% (2002 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.gu
Internet hosts
23 (2009)
Internet users
85,000 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use
65,500 (2008)
Telephones - mobile cellular
98,000 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
3 (2006)
Transportation
Airports
5; note - 2 serviceable (2009)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals
Apra Harbor
Roadways
total: 1,045 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 37,563 females age 16-49: 36,083 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 1,677 female: 1,581 (2009 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none page last updated on October 28, 2009