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