male: 1,034 female: 970 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues
Grenada
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Guam
Introduction
Guam
Background:
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain 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.
Geography
Guam
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
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
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: 3.64% permanent crops: 18.18% other: 78.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues:
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People
Guam
Population:
175,877 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 28.2% (male 25,644/female 23,910) 15–64 years: 64.8% (male 58,034/female 55,900) 65 years and over: 7% (male 5,801/female 6,588) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.373% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
18.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.93 years male: 75.86 years female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.55 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
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)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government
Guam
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam local long form: Guahan local short form: Guahan
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Hagatna (Agana) geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none