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GUAM
OFFICIAL NAME
Territory of Guam
CAPITAL CITY
Agana
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 area:
541.3 sq km
land area:
541.3 sq km
comparative area:
three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from 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-rising hills in center, mountains in south
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources:
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
11%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
18%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
international agreements:
NA
Geographic note:
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People
Population:
156,974 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
NA
15-64 years:
NA
65 years and over:
NA
Population growth rate:
2.34% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
24.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
NA male(s)/female
under 15 years:
NA male(s)/female
15-64 years:
NA male(s)/female
65 years and over:
NA male(s)/female
all ages:
NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate:
15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.29 years
male:
72.42 years
female:
76.13 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guamanian(s)
adjective:
Guamanian
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99%
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Territory of Guam
conventional short form:
Guam
Data code:
GQ
Type of government:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
Agana
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July
Constitution:
Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system:
modeled on 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 (of the United States) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with 54.6% of the vote
cabinet:
executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislature:
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 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 (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Economy
Economic overview:
The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1991 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
NA%
GDP per capita:
$14,000 (1991 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1992 est.)
Labor force:
46,930 (1990)
by occupation:
federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$525 million
expenditures:
$395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Industries:
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
300,000 kW
production:
750 million kWh
consumption per capita:
4,797 kWh (1993)
Agriculture:
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Exports:
$34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
partners:
US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports:
$493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
partners:
US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
External debt:
$NA
Economic aid:
recipient:
although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Transportation
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
674 km (all-weather roads)
paved:
NA km
unpaved:
NA km
Ports:
Apra Harbor
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
total:
4
with paved runways over 3 047 m:
2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
1
with paved runways under 914 m:
1 (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
26,317 (1989 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic:
NA
international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
3
Televisions:
75,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
Defense note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
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