Guam
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relationsIndependence none (territory of the US)
Guam as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km | west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between | Hawaii and the Philippines
25 fieldsLocation
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
total area
541.3 sq km
land area
541.3 sq km
comparative area
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
contiguous zone
24 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
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
arable land
11%
permanent crops
11%
meadows and pastures
15%
forest and woodland
18%
other
45%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
international agreements
NA
Note
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People
21 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
74.29 years
male
72.42 years
female
76.13 years (1994 est.)
noun
Guamanian(s)
adjective
Guamanian
total population
96%
male
96%
female
96%
by occupation
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 with policy relations
23 fieldsLegislature, 21 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 1 seatsone dot, one seat
conventional long form
Territory of Guam
conventional short form
Guam
Type
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
chief of state
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government
- Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986);
- Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS (since NA);
- election last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1994);
- results - Joseph F. ADA reelected
cabinet
executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislature
- elections last held on 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (21 total) Democratic 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives
- elections last held 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994);
- Guam elects one delegate;
- results - Robert UNDERWOOD was elected as delegate;
- seats - (1 total) Democrat 1
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
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 depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues | from tourism.
25 fieldsOverview
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. In early 1994, Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
revenues
$525 million
expenditures
$395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
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%
commodities
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
partners
US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
capacity
500,000 kW
production
2.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita
16,300 kWh (1990)
Industries
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture
relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Economic aid
- 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
11 fieldstotal
674 km (all-weather roads)
paved
NA
unpaved
NA
total
5
usable
4
with permanent-surface runways
3
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
3
with runways 1,200-2,439 m
0
Telecommunications
- 26,317 telephones (1989);
- broadcast stations - 3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
- 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations
Defense Forces
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Guam.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guam/1994.