Guam

Internet country code

.gu

Internet hosts

76 (2006)

Internet users

79,000 (2004)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2006)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet international: country code - 1-671; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE, linking the US and Asia)

Telephones - main lines in use

84,134 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

98,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

3; 6 (Low Power TV) (2006)

Agriculture - products

fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Budget

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

Currency (code)

US dollar (USD)

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.)

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.

Electricity - consumption

781.3 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

840.1 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2005)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.773 billion

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force

62,050 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.4% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

three times the size of Washington, DC

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

Coastline

125.5 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 144 47 E

Geography - note

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Natural resources

fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)

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

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Capital

name: Hagatna (Agana) geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003) cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

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, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

IOC, SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

Legal system

modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1

National holiday

Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. FLORES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 29% (male 25,703/female 23,903) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 56,020/female 53,894) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 5,391/female 6,108) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

4.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.58 years male: 75.52 years female: 81.83 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 28.6 years male: 28.3 years female: 28.8 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

171,019 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.43% (2006 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals

Apra Harbor

Roadways

total: 977 km (2004)