GUAM

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 ::GUAM
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:

Current Weather
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:

NA
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 ::GUAM
Population:

178,430 (July 2010 est.)
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.)
Median age:

total: 29.3 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 29.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.365% (2010 est.)
Birth rate:

18.22 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:

4.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Net migration rate:

NA
Urbanization:

urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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.)
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 (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.01 years
male: 74.97 years
female: 81.23 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.52 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA
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)
Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 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)
Literacy:

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

NA

Government ::GUAM
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:

modeled on US; 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 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
(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 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
Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held on 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 on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch:

Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); 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: US flag is the national flag

Economy ::GUAM
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.)
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:

1.767 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:

1.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 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 - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 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 - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 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

Communications ::GUAM
Telephones - main lines in use:

65,500 (2008)
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 trans-Pacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
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:

23 (2009)
Internet users:

85,000 (2008)

Transportation ::GUAM
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 (2007)
Ports and terminals:

Apra Harbor

Military ::GUAM
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:

male: 1,687
female: 1,597 (2010 est.)
Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues ::GUAM
Disputes - international:

none