Introduction
Background
Spain ceded Guam to the US in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installations on the island are some 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
Area (sq km)
total: 544 sq km
land: 544 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
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 (m)
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: 1.85%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 81.48% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
2 sq km (2011)
Natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to 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 37.3%, Filipino 26.3%, white 7.1%, Chuukese 7%, Korean 2.2%, other Pacific Islander 2%, other Asian 2%, Chinese 1.6%, Palauan 1.6%, Japanese 1.5%, Pohnpeian 1.4%, mixed 9.4%, other 0.6% (2010 est.)
Languages (%)
English 43.6%, Filipino 21.2%, Chamorro 17.8%, other Pacific island languages 10%, Asian languages 6.3%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)
Religions (%)
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Population
161,001 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 26% (male 21,520/female 20,279)
15-24 years: 16.9% (male 14,109/female 13,164)
25-54 years: 39.3% (male 32,285/female 31,058)
55-64 years: 9.3% (male 7,483/female 7,411)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 6,228/female 7,464) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 29.9 years
male: 29.4 years
female: 30.4 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
0.44% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
17.01 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 93.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
HAGATNA (capital) 169,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 5.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 78.82 years
male: 75.78 years
female: 82.05 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2.38 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 99.5% of population
total: 99.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 0.5% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 89.8% of population
rural: 89.8% of population
total: 89.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 10.2% of population
rural: 10.2% of population
total: 10.2% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)
total: 29.4%
male: 29.7%
female: 28.9% (2011)
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
effective 1 July 1950; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)
Legal system
common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are 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
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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014)
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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices)
note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are heard by the US Supreme Court
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life subject to retention election every 10 years
subordinate courts: Superior Court of Guam - includes several divisions; US Federal District Court for the District of Guam (a US territorial court; appeals beyond this court are heard before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party [Carlo BRANCH]
Republican Party [Mike BENITO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Guam Commission on Decolonization
Guam Federation of Teachers' Union
Guam Waterworks Authority Workers
We Are Guahan
International organization participation
IOC, PIF (observer), 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 national defense spending, tourism, other services. Total US grants, wages and salaries, and procurement outlays amounted to approximately $1.6 billion in 2010. Over the past 30 years, tourism has grown to become the largest income source following national defense.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
1.3% (2002-10 average est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$28,700 (2010 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force
69,390
note: this number is for the civilian labor force only (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: (2004 est.)
services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
8.2% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
23% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $942.6 million
expenditures: $1.082 billion (FY10/11 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
20.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-3% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
4% (2011 est.)
Agriculture - products
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries
national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Exports
$44 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Imports
$901 million (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
External debt ($)
$NA
Exchange rates
Currency converter
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
1.734 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
1.635 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
552,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
14,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
6,579 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
1.103 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
67,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
98,000 (2004)
Telephone system
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: digital system, including mobile-cellular 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 transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media
about a dozen TV channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations (2009)
Internet country code
.gu
Internet hosts
23 (2012)
Internet users
90,000 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
5 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 1,045 km (2008)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): 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
Largest cities of Guam
These are the 50 largest cities of Guam ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
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