Wake Island
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air ForceIndependence none (territory of the US)
Wake Island as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 45 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of | Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern | Mariana Islands
25 fieldsLocation
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands
total area
6.5 sq km
land area
6.5 sq km
comparative area
about 11 times the size of The Mall in 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
Terrain
- atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
- central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim;
- average elevation less than 4 meters
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
0%
other
100%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
subject to occasional typhoons
international agreements
NA
Note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
1 fieldGovernment
Unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force
7 fieldsconventional long form
none
conventional short form
Wake Island
Type
- unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force (under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June 1972;
- presently administered by Base Commander, Major James ANDEL until August 1994, when Willis ALLEY will take over until July 1995
Economy
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military | personnel and contractors located on the island.
2 fieldsOverview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Communications
9 fieldstotal
1
usable
1
with permanent-surface runways
1
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
0
Telecommunications
- satellite communications;
- 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS);
- Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite;
- broadcast station - closed early 1992.
Note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
Defense Forces
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Wake Island.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/wake-island/1994.