2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

544 sq km

total

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

highest point

Mount Lamlam 406 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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%

other

78.18% (2005)

permanent crops

18.18%

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 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

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

18.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

female

5.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

6.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.93 deaths/1,000 live births

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

female

81.41 years (2010 est.)

male

75.14 years

total population

78.18 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (1990 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

29.7 years (2010 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

29.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Guamanian

noun

Guamanian(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

180,865 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.346% (2010 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.52 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

93% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 144 44 E

name

Hagatna (Agana)

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

cabinet

heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

election results

Eddie CALVO elected governor; percent of vote - 50.6%; Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor

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 a four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)

head of government

Governor Eddie CALVO (since 3 January 2011); Lieutenant Governor Ray TENORIO (since 3 January 2011)

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; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression note: the 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 elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1

elections

last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/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 (see United States)

name

"Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand Ye Guamanians)

National holiday

Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [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

Agriculture - products

fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

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 est.)

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 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,620 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.4% (2002 est.)

Broadcast media

about a dozen TV broadcast channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations broadcasting (2009)

Internet country code

.gu

Internet hosts

24 (2010)

Internet users

90,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

digital system, including mobile-cellular service and local access to the Internet

general assessment

modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers

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 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

98,000 (2004)

Airports

5; note - 2 serviceable (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Apra Harbor

Roadways

total

1,045 km (2008)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 37,983 females age 16-49: 36,469 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,597 (2010 est.)

male

1,687

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 3, 2011 ======================================================================