Guam

Guam

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

Location

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 144 47 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 544 sq km
land:544 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

125.5 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

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

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources

aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)

Land use

arable land: 3.64%
permanent crops:18.18%
other:78.18% (2005)

Irrigated land

2 sq km (2008)

Natural hazards

frequent squalls during rainy season

relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June – December)

Environment – current issues

extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Geography – note

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago

strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
adjective:Guamanian

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)

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)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Population

183,286 (July 2011 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 25,577/female 23,836)
15-64 years:65.5% (male 61,237/female 58,891)
65 years and over:7.5% (male 6,287/female 7,458) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 29.4 years
male:29 years
female:29.8 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.314% (2011 est.)

Birth rate

17.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

4.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

HAGATNA (capital) 153,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male:6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.34 years
male:75.3 years
female:81.57 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.48 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (1990 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

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

Government type

NA

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)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Independence

none (territory of the US)

National holiday

Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Constitution

Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950

Legal system

common law modeled on US system

US federal laws apply

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

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 Eddie CALVO (since 3 January 2011)

Lieutenant Governor Ray TENORIO (since 3 January 2011)
cabinet:heads of executive departments

appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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)
election results:Eddie CALVO elected governor with 50.6% percent of vote against 49.4% for Carl GUTIERREZ

Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislature (15 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections:last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)
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

Judicial branch

Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president)

Supreme Court of Guam (hears appeals from Superior Court – judges appointed by governor)

Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

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

International organization participation

IOC, SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

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

National symbol(s)

coconut tree

National anthem

name: “Fanohge Chamoru” (Stand Ye Guamanians)
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)

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.773 billion (2001)

GDP – real growth rate

NA%

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$15,000 (2005 est.)

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%

Labor force

82,950 (2007 est.)

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 26%
industry:10%
services:64% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.4% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $319.6 million
expenditures:$427.8 million (2002 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.5% of GDP (2002 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2005 est.)

Agriculture – products

fruits, copra, vegetables

eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Industries

US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

1.764 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – consumption

1.641 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil – consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil – imports

12,710 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Exports

$45 million (2004 est.)

Exports – commodities

transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products

Imports

$701 million (2004 est.)

Imports – commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Debt – external

$NA

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Transportation

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)

Roadways

total: 1,045 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Apra Harbor

Military

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 38,358
females age 16-49:36,869 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,701
female:1,608 (2010 est.)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none