Guam

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

Guam as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 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

Area541.3 km2

Populationas each edition published it

142,271 people July 1992 · 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

2.5 children per woman 1992 · 3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

15 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields

Total area

541.3km2

Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

125.5km

land boundaries: noneContiguous zone: 12 nmContinental shelf: 200 m (depth)Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial 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

142,271

(July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

27Death

4Net migration

Literacy

96%

(male 96%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Nationality

noun - Guamanian(s);
adjective - Guamanian;
note - Guamanians are US citizens

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

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

Labor force

46,930; federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)

Government

Organized, unincorporated territory of the US

18 fields

Type

organized, unincorporated territory of the US;
policy relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

National holiday

Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), Liberation Day (July 21), US Government holidays

Executive branch

President of the US, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet

Judicial branch

Federal District Court of Guam, Territorial Superior Court of Guam

Leaders

Chief of State:: President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989)
Head of Government:: Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS

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 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Joseph F. ADA reelected
Legislature:: last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992);
a byelection was held in April 1991 to replace a deceased legislator, 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 3 November 1992);
Guam elects one nonvoting delegate;
results - Ben BLAZ was elected as the nonacting delegate;
seats - (1 total) Republican 1

Flag

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

Economy

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.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

12.6%

(1991)

Unemployment rate

4.1%

(1991 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$525 millionExpenditures

$395 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA.

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 textiles 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 1991 the unemployment rate was about 4.1%.

GNP

purchasing power equivalent - $2.0 billion, per capita $14,000; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)

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%

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

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

26,317 telephones (1989);
broadcast 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 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guam/1992.

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →