Guam

organized, unincorporated territory of the USIndependence none (territory of the US)

Guam as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 62 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAgana
Area541 km2
1991

Every edition of Guam

Populationas each edition published it
144,928 people July 1991 · 141,039 in 1990
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 2.53% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 25.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 74.29 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3 children per woman 1991 · 3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
12 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 12 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $14,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 1.3% in 2013

Geography

10 fields
Total area
541km2
land area: 541 km2Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

  • 125.5 km Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
  • Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);
  • Exclusive 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

  • arable land 11%;
  • permanent crops 11%;
  • meadows and pastures 15%;
  • forest and woodland 18%;
  • other 45%

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

14 fields
Population
144,928
(July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth
26Death
4Net migration
5
Literacy
96%
(male 96%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Infant mortality rate

12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth

70 years male, 75 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate

3.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality

noun--Guamanian(s); adjective--Guamanian

Ethnic divisions

Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Religion

Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%

Language

English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken

Labor force

54,000; government 42%, private 58% (1988)

Organized labor

13% of labor force

Government

Organized, unincorporated territory of the US

17 fields

Legislature, 21 seats, elected 6 November 1990one dot, one seat

Democratic 11Republican 10

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

National holiday

Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989

Executive branch

President of the US, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislature

Judicial branch

  • Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court) Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
  • Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986);
  • Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS 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 Governor--last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994);
  • Legislature--last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(21 total) Democratic 11, Republican 10;
  • US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992);
  • Guam elects one nonvoting delegate;
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(1 total) Republican 1

Note

relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Member of

ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC

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

The economy is based on US military spending and on revenues from tourism.

16 fields
Unemployment rate
2%
(1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$300 millionExpenditures
$290 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.)

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 900,000 in 1990. The small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production.

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. In 1990 the unemployment rate was about 2%, down from 10% in 1983.

GNP

$1.0 billion, per capita $7,000; real growth rate 18% (1990 est.)

Exports

  • $39 million (f.o.b., 1983);
  • commodities--mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products;
  • partners--US 25%, other 75%

Imports

  • $611 million (c.i.f., 1983);
  • commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods;
  • partners--US 77%, other 23%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,300 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra

Currency

US currency is used

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

Communications

4 fields

Airports, 5 total, 4 usable

permanent-surface runways
3runways over 3,659 m
nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m
3runways 1,220-2,439 m
none

Highways

674 km all-weather roads

Ports

Apra Harbor

Telecommunications

  • 26,317 telephones (1989);
  • stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
  • 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guam.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guam/1991.

How to cite ← 1990 edition 1992 edition →