Australia-Oceania :: GUAM

  • Introduction :: GUAM

  • 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 :: GUAM

  • Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
    13 28 N, 144 47 E
    Oceania
    total: 544 sq km
    land: 544 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 195
    three times the size of Washington, DC
    0 km
    125.5 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    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
    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
    lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
    aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
    agricultural land: 33.4%
    arable land 1.9%; permanent crops 16.7%; permanent pasture 14.8%
    forest: 47.9%
    other: 18.7% (2011 est.)
    2 sq km (2011)
    frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)
    extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
    largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

  • People and Society :: GUAM

  • noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
    adjective: Guamanian
    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.)
    English 43.6%, Filipino 21.2%, Chamorro 17.8%, other Pacific island languages 10%, Asian languages 6.3%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)
    Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
    161,785 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 188
    0-14 years: 25.47% (male 21,189/female 20,017)
    15-24 years: 17% (male 14,267/female 13,241)
    25-54 years: 39.23% (male 32,315/female 31,159)
    55-64 years: 9.4% (male 7,655/female 7,560)
    65 years and over: 8.89% (male 6,552/female 7,830) (2015 est.)
    total dependency ratio: 52%
    youth dependency ratio: 38.7%
    elderly dependency ratio: 13.3%
    potential support ratio: 7.5% (2015 est.)
    total: 29.9 years
    male: 29.4 years
    female: 30.4 years (2014 est.)
    0.54% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 160
    16.82 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 185
    -6.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 205
    urban population: 94.5% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 1.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    HAGATNA (capital) 143,000 (2014)
    at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
    total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
    total: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 5.81 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    total population: 78.98 years
    male: 75.94 years
    female: 82.21 years (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    2.34 children born/woman (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 86
    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 (2015 est.)
    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 (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    total: 29.4%
    male: 29.7%
    female: 28.9% (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 25

  • Government :: GUAM

  • conventional long form: Territory of Guam
    conventional short form: Guam
    local long form: Guahan
    local short form: Guahan
    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
    NA
    name: Hagatna (Agana)
    geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
    time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    none (territory of the US)
    none (territory of the US)
    Discovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)
    effective 1 July 1950; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)
    common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply
    18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
    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: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
    elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)
    election results: Eddie CALVO reelected governor; percent of vote - Eddie CALVO (Republican Party) 64%, Carl GUTIERREZ (Democratic Party) 36%; Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor
    description: unicameral Legislature of Guam or Liheslaturan Guahan (15 seats; members elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)
    elections: last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2016)
    election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6
    note: Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegate last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014)
    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)
    Democratic Party [Carlo BRANCH]
    Republican Party [Mike BENITO]
    Guam Commission on Decolonization
    Guam Federation of Teachers' Union
    Guam Waterworks Authority Workers
    We Are Guahan
    AOSIS (observer), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
    none (territory of the US)
    none (territory of the US)
    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; the shape of the central emblem is that of a Chamorro sling stone, used as a weapon for defense or hunting; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression
    note: the US flag is the national flag
    coconut tree; national colors: deep blue, red
    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 :: GUAM

  • US national defense spending is the main driver of Guam’s economy, followed by tourism and other services. Total federal spending (defense and non-defense) amounted to $1.973 billion in 2014, or 40.4% of GDP. Service exports, mainly spending by foreign tourists while on Guam, amounted to $651 million in 2013, or 13.3% of GDP. In 2013, Guam’s economy grew 0.6%. Despite slow growth, Guam’s economy has been stable over the last decade. National defense spending cushions the island’s economy against fluctuations in tourism, its other major income source. Guam serves as a forward US base for the Western Pacific and is home to thousands of American military personnel. Federal grants amounted to $373.3 million in 2013, or 32.6% of Guam’s total revenues for fiscal year.
    $4.882 billion (2013 est.)
    $4.756 billion (2012 est.)
    $4.562 billion (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    $4.6 billion (2010 est.)
    0.6% (2013 est.)
    1.8% (2012)
    -0.3% (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 172
    $30,500 (2013 est.)
    $29,800 (2012)
    $28,600 (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 58
    household consumption: 63.7%
    government consumption: 64.9%
    investment in fixed assets: 5.8%
    exports of goods and services: 17%
    imports of goods and services: 17% (2013)
    agriculture: NA%
    industry: NA%
    services: NA%
    fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
    national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
    NA%
    70,490
    note: this number is for the civilian labor force only (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    agriculture: 0.3%
    industry: 21.6%
    services: 78.1% (2013)
    8.4% (2013 est.)
    8.2% (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    23% (2001 est.)
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $1.147 billion
    expenditures: $1.188 billion (2013 est.)
    24.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    -0.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    32.1% of GDP (2013)
    35.8% of GDP (2012)
    1 October - 30 September
    1.8% (2014 est.)
    4% (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 92
    $828 million (2013 est.)
    $795 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 199
    transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, foodstuffs and beverages
    $2.501 billion (2013 est.)
    $2.438 billion (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 182
    petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
    $NA
    the US dollar is used

  • Energy :: GUAM

  • 1.566 billion kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 140
    1.564 billion kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    552,000 kW (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 16
    0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 182
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 180
    0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 194
    0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 140
    0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    12,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 150
    0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 182
    6,579 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    0 cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    0 cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 150
    0 cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    0 cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 201
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    1.775 million Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153

  • Communications :: GUAM

  • total subscriptions: 67,400
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    total: 98,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2004)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    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)
    about a dozen TV channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations (2009)
    AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005)
    3 (2006)
    .gu
    total: 107,800
    percent of population: 67.0% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168

  • Transportation :: GUAM

  • 5 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    total: 4
    over 3,047 m: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
    total: 1
    under 914 m:
    1 (2013)
    total: 1,045 km (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    major seaport(s): Apra Harbor

  • Military :: GUAM

  • males age 16-49: 38,358
    females age 16-49: 36,869 (2010 est.)
    male: 1,701
    female: 1,608 (2010 est.)
    defense is the responsibility of the US

  • Transnational Issues :: GUAM

  • none