GUAM (territory of the US) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 541 km2; land area: 541 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 125.5 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 m (depth); Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm 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 coraline 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 Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan) Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 18%; other 45% Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August) Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines PEOPLE Population: 144,928 (July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991) Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1991) Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--Guamanian(s); adjective--Guamanian Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18% Religion: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2% Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken Literacy: 96% (male 96%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980) Labor force: 54,000; government 42%, private 58% (1988) Organized labor: 13% of labor force GOVERNMENT Long-form name: Territory of Guam Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US Capital: Agana Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US) Independence: none (territory of the US) Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950 Legal system: NA National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989 Executive branch: President of the US, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court) Leaders: Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Head of Government--Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor) Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Elections: Governor--last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); Legislature--last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(21 total) Democratic 11, Republican 10; US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1992); Guam elects one nonvoting delegate; results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) Republican 1 Communists: none Note: relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior Member of: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US) Flag: 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 ECONOMY Overview: The economy is based on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1990. The small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. In 1990 the unemployment rate was about 2%, down from 10% in 1983. GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,000; real growth rate 18% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1990) Unemployment rate: 2% (1990 est.) Budget: revenues $300 million; expenditures $290 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.) Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities--mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products; partners--US 25%, other 75% Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities--petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods; partners--US 77%, other 23% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,300 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra Economic aid: NA Currency: US currency is used Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September COMMUNICATIONS Highways: 674 km all-weather roads Ports: Apra Harbor Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); stations--3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of the US