Guam

Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

• 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

• 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

arable land:

10.91%

permanent crops:

10.91%

other:

78.18% (1998 est.)

0-14 years:

35.1% (male 30,334; female 27,264)

15-64 years:

58.4% (male 50,258; female 45,538)

65 years and over:

6.4% (male 5,269; female 5,278) (2003 est.)

at birth:

1.14 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.11 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

1 male(s)/female

total population:

1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

noun:

Guamanian(s)

adjective:

Guamanian

conventional long form:

Territory of Guam

conventional short form:

Guam

local long form:

Guahan

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

chief of state:

President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)

election results:

Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent of vote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A. UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6%

elections:

• US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for a four-year term;
• governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term;
• election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)

head of government:

Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003)

cabinet:

executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature

• 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

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes;
• under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam

general assessment:

modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers

domestic:

modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet

international:

• satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
• submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT T, IT E, and GTE, linking the US and Asia)

total:

885 km

paved:

675 km

unpaved:

210 km

note: there are also 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations