Page:The World Factbook (1990).djvu/140

 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
 * Extended 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: 11% arable land; 11% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 45% other

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: 141,039 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)

Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality: noun—Guamanian(s); adjective—Guamanian

Ethnic divisions: 47% Chamorro, 25% Filipino, 10% Caucasian, 18% Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other

Religion: 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other

Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese also widely spoken

Literacy: 90%

Labor force: 54,000; 42% government, 58% private (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: US president, 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)

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 NA November 1986 (next to be held November 1990);

Legislature—last held on 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(21 total) Democratic 13, Republican 8;

US House of Representatives—last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1990); 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

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 800,000 in 1989. The small manufacturing sector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch production. About 58% 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 1989 the unemployment rate was about 3%, down from 10% in 1983.

GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,675; real growth rate 20% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $208.0 million; expenditures $175 million, including capital expenditures of $17 million (1987 est.)

Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities—mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, copra, fish; partners—US 25%, others 75%

Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities—mostly crude petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods; partners—US 77%, others 23%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,660 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: US military, tourism, petroleum refining, construction, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra

Aid: NA

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September 124