Country Guide

Guam Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 195
land:544 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
three times the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
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:1.85%
permanent crops:16.67%
other:81.48% (2011)


Irrigated land:
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.)country comparison to the world: 188


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.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:52.1 %
youth dependency ratio:39.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:12.8 %
potential support ratio:7.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:29.9 years
male:29.4 years
female:30.4 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.44% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 160


Birth rate:
17.01 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 110


Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 186


Net migration rate:
-7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 205


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:
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:
total:5.51 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 175
male:5.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:78.82 yearscountry comparison to the world: 50
male:75.78 years
female:82.05 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.38 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 84


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
66.6%


Drinking water source:
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:
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%country comparison to the world: 27
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


International organization participation:
IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU


Diplomatic representation in the US:
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.)
country comparison to the world: 173

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.6 billion (2010 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
1.3% (2002-10 average est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%


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%


Labor force:
69,390
country comparison to the world: 186
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.)
country comparison to the world: 92

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:
20.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Exports:
$44 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Exports - commodities:
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products


Imports:
$901 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods


Debt - external:
$NA


Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity - production:
1.734 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Electricity - consumption:
1.635 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
552,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
14,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182


Refined petroleum products - imports:
6,579 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.103 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
67,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 157


Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,000 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 193


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)
country comparison to the world: 219


Internet users:
90,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163

Transportation

Airports
5 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 182


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
total:1,045 km (2008)country comparison to the world: 185

Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Apra Harbor

Military

Manpower fit for military service
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
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook