Guam

• 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

• no large cities exist on the island;
• large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population;
• the largest of these is Dededo

noun:

Guamanian(s) (US citizens)

adjective:

Guamanian

total:

30.5 years (2025 est.)

male:

29.6 years

female:

31.1 years

• no large cities exist on the island;
• large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population;
• the largest of these is Dededo

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.88 male(s)/female

total population:

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

11 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

78 years (2024 est.)

male:

75.6 years

female:

80.5 years

• freshwater scarcity;
• reef damage;
• inadequate sewage treatment;
• rapid proliferation of the non-native brown tree snake

• 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

urban population:

95.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization:

0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

141,500 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

17.9% (2011 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Guam

local long form:

none

local short form:

Guahan

abbreviation:

GU

etymology:

the native Chamorro name for the island, Guahan (meaning "we have"), was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, when Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US

• unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government;
• republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

name:

Hagatna (Agana)

geographic coordinates:

13 28 N, 144 44 E

time difference:

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name Hagatna is derived from the Chamorro word haga , meaning "life's blood" and referring to the town's role as the center of government for the island

chief of state:

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government:

Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature

election/appointment process:

• 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, but they can 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)

most recent election date:

gubernatorial: 8 November 2022

election results:

• 2022: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO reelected governor;
• percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 55%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 44%;
• Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

;

• 2018: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor;
• percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%;
• Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

expected date of next election:

gubernatorial: 3 November 2026

highest court(s):

Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices)

judge selection and term of office:

justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life but 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)

note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to the US Supreme Court

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 ( outrigger canoe with sail), and a palm tree;
• the word GUAM in red is centered in the ellipse;
• the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Puntan Dos Amantes in the background

meaning:

• blue stands for the sea and red for the blood shed in the fight against oppression;
• the central emblem is shaped like a Chamorro sling stone (a weapon for defense or hunting)

note: the US flag is the national flag

title:

"Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand, Ye Guamanians)

lyrics/music:

Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English], Lagrimas UNTALAN [Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN

history:

adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as "Guam Hymn"; _____

title:

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music:

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

history:

official anthem, as a US territory; played before "Stand, Ye Guamanians"

• small Pacific island US territorial economy;
• upper income, tourism-based economy;
• hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions;
• relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism;
• domestic economy relies on multiple military bases;
• environmentally fragile economy

total:

13.7% (2024 est.)

male:

13.3% (2024 est.)

female:

14.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

34.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

1.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

• about a dozen TV channels, including digital;
• multi-channel cable TV services are available;
• roughly 20 radio stations

total:

3 (2023)

by type:

other 3

total ports:

1 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

1

small:

0

very small:

0

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Apra Harbor