Guam
Territory of Guam
NAIndependence none (territory of the US)
Guam as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about | three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
18 fieldsLocation
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
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 coralline 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
Land use
- arable land:
- 11%
- permanent crops:
- 11%
- permanent pastures :
- 15%
- forests and woodland:
- 18%
- other:
- 45% (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Geography - note
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- NA male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- NA male(s)/female 65 years and over : NA male(s)/female
- total population:
- NA male(s)/female
Government
NA; President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
19 fieldsLegislature, 21 seats, elected 5 November 1996one dot, one seat
Dependency status
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
- head of government:
- Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
- cabinet:
- executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
- elections :
- governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote and serve four-year terms;
- election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
- election results:
- Carl GUTIERREZ elected governor of Guam; percent of vote - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 54.6%, Tommy TANAKA (Republican) NA%
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature (21 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican 11, Democratic 10
note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democrat 1
Judicial branch
Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders
Republican Party (controls the legislature); Democratic Party (party of the Governor)
Flag 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, 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 revenue generated by the tourism industry.
22 fieldsEconomy - overview
The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenue generated by the tourism industry. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than one million tourists visit Guam each year.
Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
Industries
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Exports
- total value :
- $34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
- commodities:
- mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
- partners:
- US 25%, former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports
- total value:
- $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
- commodities:
- petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
- partners:
- US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Economic aid
- recipient:
- 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
6 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- NA
- international :
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan
Transportation
6 fieldsNetworkskm
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Guam.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guam/1997.