Guam

• tropical marine;
• generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
• dry season (January to June), rainy season (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

noun:

Guamanian(s) (US citizens)

adjective:

Guamanian

total:

30.3 years (2024 est.)

male:

29.6 years

female:

31.1 years

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.88 male(s)/female

total population:

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

11 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

78 years (2024 est.)

male:

75.6 years

female:

80.5 years

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

• fresh water scarcity;
• reef damage;
• inadequate sewage treatment;
• extermination of native bird populations by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

• tropical marine;
• generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
• dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December);
• little seasonal temperature variation

urban population:

95.2% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization:

0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

141,500 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

25,258 tons (2011 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

17.9% (2011 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Guam

local long form:

none

local short form:

Guahan

abbreviation:

GU

etymology:

the native Chamorro name for the island "Guahan" (meaning "we have" or "ours") was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, whereby Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US

• unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government;
• republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

name:

Hagatna (Agana)

geographic coordinates:

13 28 N, 144 44 E

time difference:

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name is derived from the Chamoru word "haga," meaning "blood", and may refer to the bloodlines of the various families that established the original settlement

history:

effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)

amendments:

amended many times, last in 2015

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

chief of state:

President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021)

head of government:

Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature

elections/appointments:

• president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
• under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president;
• however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections;
• governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms);
• gubernatorial election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)

election results:

• 2022: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO reelected governor;
• percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 55%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 44%;
• Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

;

• 2018: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor;
• percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%;
• Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

highest court(s):

Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to the US Supreme Court

judge selection and term of office:

justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life subject to retention election every 10 years

subordinate courts:

• Superior Court of Guam - includes several divisions;
• US Federal District Court for the District of Guam (a US territorial court; appeals beyond this court are heard before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)

• 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, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters;
• the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Puntan Dos Amantes, near the capital, in the background;
• the shape of the central emblem is that of a Chamorro sling stone, used as a weapon for defense or hunting;
• blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression

note: the US flag is the national flag

name:

"Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand Ye Guamanians)

lyrics/music:

Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English], Lagrimas UNTALAN [Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN

note: adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as "Guam Hymn"; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which generally follows the playing of "Stand Ye Guamanians," is official (see United States)

• small Pacific island US territorial economy;
• upper income, tourism-based economy;
• hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions;
• relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism;
• domestic economy relies on multiple military bases;
• environmentally fragile economy

total:

12.9% (2023 est.)

male:

12.6% (2023 est.)

female:

13.2% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

34.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

1.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

12,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

general assessment:

• Guam’s telecommunications companies provide important services that allow other businesses on island to operate;
• Guam plays a larger, and growing role, in global telecommunications infrastructure, the submarine fiber optic cables that land on Guam benefit island residents and the local economy;
• in the Asia-Pacific region the demand for 4G, 5G, and broadband access is rapidly increasing;
• the 11 submarine cables that currently land on Guam, connecting the U.S. to the Asia-Pacific region, are some of the more than 400 cables that are the backbone of global telecommunications, providing nearly all of the world’s internet and phone service;
• as of January 2024, one of the world's most dominant companies will be landing two new subsea cables on Guam;
• in May 2024 a global arm of a leading telecommunications and technology company, announced its plans to develop a regional network hub in Guam by establishing a new dedicated point-of-presence (PoP) in Piti at the carrier-neutral GNC iX data center;
• this PoP will serve growing connectivity demand in the region and will be a key connection point for new cable systems including the Echo cable and central Pacific Connect cable that are being constructed to provide additional low latency network reliability and redundancy throughout Asia and between Asia, Australia, and the U.S. (2021)

domestic:

fixed-line subscriptions 41 per 100 and 62 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions in 2004 (2021)

international:

• country code - 1-671;
• major landing points for Atisa, HANTRU1, HK-G, JGA-N, JGA-S, PIPE-1, SEA-US, SxS, Tata TGN-Pacific, AJC, GOKI, AAG, AJC and Mariana-Guam Cable submarine cables between Asia, Australia, and the US (Guam is a transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia);
• satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

• about a dozen TV channels, including digital channels;
• multi-channel cable TV services are available;
• roughly 20 radio stations

total:

3 (2023)

by type:

other 3

total ports:

1 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

1

small:

0

very small:

0

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Apra Harbor