The World Factbook (1990)/Guam
Guam
(territory of the US)
_Guam.jpg)
See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 541 km²; land area: 541 km²
Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
- Contiguous zone: 12 nm
- Continental shelf: 200 m
- Extended economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
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 coraline 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
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: 11% arable land; 11% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 45% other
Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
People
Population: 141,039 (July 1990), growth
rate 2.8% (1990)
Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Guamanian(s); adjective—Guamanian
Ethnic divisions: 47% Chamorro, 25% Filipino, 10% Caucasian, 18% Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other
Religion: 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other
Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken
Literacy: 90%
Labor force: 54,000; 42% government, 58% private (1988)
Organized labor: 13% of labor force
Government
Long-form name: Territory of Guam
Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US
Capital: Agana
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: NA
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989
Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)
Leaders: Chief of State—President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Head of Government—Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Elections: Governor—last held on NA November 1986 (next to be held November 1990);
Legislature—last held on 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(21 total) Democratic 13, Republican 8;
US House of Representatives—last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); Guam elects one nonvoting delegate; results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) Republican 1
Communists: none
Note: relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: 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
Economy
Overview: The economy is based 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 800,000 in 1989. The
small manufacturing sector includes
textile and clothing, beverage, food, and
watch production. About 58% 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. In 1989 the unemployment
rate was about 3%, down from 10% in
1983.
GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,675; real growth rate 20% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1989 est.)
Budget: revenues $208.0 million; expenditures $175 million, including capital expenditures of $17 million (1987 est.)
Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities—mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, copra, fish; partners—US 25%, others 75%
Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities—mostly crude petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods; partners—US 77%, others 23%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,660 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: US military, tourism, petroleum refining, construction, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Aid: NA
Currency: US currency is used
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Highways: 674 km all-weather roads
Ports: Apra Harbor
Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); stations—3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the
US