Guam Population: 160,378


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Spain ceded Guam to the US 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.

Largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Area: total: 544 sq km
land: 544 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Size comparison: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: 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
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 hills in center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
Land use: arable land: 1.85%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 81.48% (2011)
Irrigated land: 2 sq km (2011)
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)
Current Environment Issues: extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
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Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white 6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8% (2000 census)
Languages: English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5% (2000 census)
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Population: 160,378 (July 2013 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 21,806/female 20,480)
15-24 years: 16.9% (male 13,961/female 13,156)
25-54 years: 39.5% (male 32,312/female 30,962)
55-64 years: 9.1% (male 7,325/female 7,273)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 5,950/female 7,153) (2013 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 39.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 12.3 %
potential support ratio: 8.1 (2013)
Median age: total: 29.7 years
male: 29.2 years
female: 30.2 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.34% (2013 est.)
Birth rate: 17.23 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Major urban areas - population: HAGATNA (capital) 153,000 (2009)
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.66 years
male: 75.62 years
female: 81.89 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.6% note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 99% of population

urban: 1% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1% of population (2010 est.)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
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Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long form: Guahan
local short form: Guahan
Government type: NA
Capital: name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Constitution: Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Legal system: common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

head of government: Governor Eddie CALVO (since 3 January 2011); Lieutenant Governor Ray TENORIO (since 3 January 2011)

cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: 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 ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)

election results: Eddie CALVO elected governor with 50.6% percent of vote against 49.4% for Carl GUTIERREZ; Ray TENORIO elected lieutenant governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

elections: last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices) note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are heard by 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)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Carlo BRANCH] Republican Party [Mike BENITO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Guam Commission on Decolonization Guam Federation of Teachers' Union Guam Waterworks Authority Workers We Are Guahan
International organization participation: IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
National symbol(s): coconut tree
National anthem: 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)
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The economy depends largely on US national defense spending, tourism, other services. Total US grants, wages and salaries, and procurement outlays amounted to approximately $1.6 billion in 2010. Over the past 30 years, tourism has grown to become the largest income source following national defense.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $4.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.3% (2002-10 average est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $28,700 (2010 est.)
Agriculture - products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries: national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 69,390 note: this number is for the civilian labor force only (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.3%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23% (2001 est.)
highest 10%: NA%
Budget: revenues: $942.6 million
expenditures: $1.082 billion (FY10/11 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2011 est.)
Exports: $44 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities: transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Imports: $901 million (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Debt - external: $NA
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
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Electricity - production: 1.755 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - consumption: 1.632 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 553,000 kW (2009 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 14,490 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 1.451 million Mt (2010 est.)
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Telephones in use: 65,500 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 158
Cellular Phones in use: 98,000 (2004)
Telephone system: general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers

domestic: digital system, including mobile-cellular service and local access to the Internet

international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media: about a dozen TV channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations (2009)
Internet country code: .gu
Internet hosts: 23 (2012)
Internet users: 90,000 (2009)
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Airports: 5 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 182
Airports (paved runways): total 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports (unpaved runways): total 1

under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways: total 1,045 km
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Apra Harbor
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Defense is the responsibility of the US
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 38,358
females age 16-49: 36,869 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 1,701
female: 1,608 (2010 est.)
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 Transnational Issues
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   Source: CIA - The World Factbook

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