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🇬🇺 Guam

Australia and Oceania

Page last updated: June 26, 2024

Introduction

Background

Guam was settled by Austronesian people around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including the Micronesians in the first millennium A.D., and island Southeast Asians around 900. Society was stratified, with higher classes living along the coast and lower classes living inland. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see Guam in 1521, and Spain claimed the island in 1565 because it served as a refueling stop for ships between Mexico and the Philippines. Spain formally colonized Guam in 1668. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population from more than 100,000 to less than 5,000 by the 1700s. Spain tried to repopulate the island by forcing people from nearby islands to settle on Guam and preventing them from escaping.

Guam became a hub for whalers and traders in the western Pacific in the early 1800s. During the 1898 Spanish-American War, the US Navy occupied Guam and set up a military administration. The US Navy opposed local control of government despite repeated petitions from the Chamorro. Japan invaded Guam in 1941 and instituted a repressive regime. During the US recapture of Guam in 1944, the island’s two largest villages were destroyed. After World War II, political pressure from local Chamorro leaders led to Guam being established as an unincorporated organized US territory in 1950, with US citizenship granted to all Chamorro. In a referendum in 1982, more than 75% of voters chose closer relations with the US over independence, although no change in status was made because of disagreements on the future right of Chamorro self-determination. The US military holds about 29% of Guam’s land and stations several thousand troops on the island. The installations are some of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific; they also constitute the island’s most important source of income and economic stability.

Geography

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: 544 km²

Land: 544 km²

Water: 0 km²

Area - comparative

Three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

Total: 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

Highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

Aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)

Land use

Agricultural land: 33.4% (2018 est.)

Arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.)

Forest: 47.9% (2018 est.)

Other: 18.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

2 km² (2012)

Population distribution

No large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo

Natural hazards

Frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)

Geography - note

Largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

People and Society

Population

Total: 169,532

Male: 87,345

Female: 82,187 (2024 est.)

Comparison rankings: female 186; male 185; total 185

Nationality

Noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)

Adjective: Guamanian

Ethnic groups

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 46.1% (Chamorro 32.8%, Chuukese 6.7%, Palauan 1.4%, Pohnpeian 1.4%, Yapese 1%, other Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 2.8%), Asian 35.5% (Filipino 29.1%, Korean 2.2%, Japanese 1.4%, Chinese (except Taiwanese) 1.3%, other Asian 1.5%), White 6.8%, African descent or African-American 0.9%, Indigenous 0.1%, other 0.6%, mixed 10% (2020 est.)

Languages

English 43.3%, Filipino 24.9%, Chamorro 16%, other Pacific Island languages 9.4%, Asian languages 6.5% (2020 est.)

Religions

Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 94.2%, folk religions 1.5%, Buddhist 1.1%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 23,139/female 21,632)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 55,591/female 50,741)

65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 8,615/female 9,814)

2022 population pyramid:

2023 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

Total dependency ratio: 60.7

Youth dependency ratio: 42.3

Elderly dependency ratio: 18.4

Potential support ratio: 5.4 (2021 est.)

Median age

Total: 30.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 29.6 years

Female: 31.1 years

Population growth rate

0.11% (2024 est.)

Birth rate

18.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

-10.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution

No large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo

Urbanization

Urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022)

Rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Major urban areas - population

147,000 HAGATNA (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 11 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 78 years (2024 est.)

Male: 75.6 years

Female: 80.5 years

Total fertility rate

2.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.32 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Drinking water source

Improved: urban: NA

Rural: NA

Total: 99.7% of population

Unimproved: urban: NA

Rural: NA

Total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure

NA

Sanitation facility access

Improved: urban: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

Rural: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

Total: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved: urban: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

Rural: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

Total: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

37% (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

Total population: NA

Male: NA

Female: NA

Environment

Environment - current issues

Fresh water scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; extermination of native bird populations by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

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

Land use

Agricultural land: 33.4% (2018 est.)

Arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.)

Forest: 47.9% (2018 est.)

Other: 18.7% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022)

Rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 141,500 tons (2012 est.)

Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,258 tons (2011 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.9% (2011 est.)

Government

Country name

Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Guam

Local long form: none

Local short form: Guahan

Abbreviation: GU

Etymology: the native Chamorro name for the island "Guahan" (meaning "we have" or "ours") was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, whereby Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US

Government type

Unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Dependency status

Unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the Federal Government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

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)

Etymology: the name is derived from the Chamoru word "haga," meaning "blood", and may refer to the bloodlines of the various families that established the original settlement

Administrative divisions

None (territory of the US)

Independence

None (territory of the US)

National holiday

Discovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)

Constitution

History: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)

Amendments: amended many times, last in 2015

Legal system

Common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply

Citizenship

See United States

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021)

Head of government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature

Elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); gubernatorial election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)

Election results: 2022: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO reelected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 55%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 44%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

Legislative branch

Description: unicameral Legislature of Guam or Liheslaturan Guahan (15 seats; members elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)

Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as the delegate to the US House of Representatives; note - the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

Elections: Guam Legislature - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)

Delegate to the US House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)

Election results: Guam Legislature - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6; composition - men 9, women 6, percent of women 40%

Guam delegate to the US House of Representatives - Democratic Party 1 (man)

Judicial branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to 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 [Anthony "Tony" M. BABAUTA]

Republican Party [Juan Carlos BENITEZ]

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Flag description

Territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Puntan Dos Amantes, near the capital, in the background; the shape of the central emblem is that of a Chamorro sling stone, used as a weapon for defense or hunting; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression

Note: the US flag is the national flag

National symbol(s)

Coconut tree; national colors: deep blue, red

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)

Economy

Economic overview

Small Pacific island US territorial economy; upper income, tourism-based economy; hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions; relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism; domestic economy relies on multiple military bases; environmentally fragile economy

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.793 billion (2016 est.)

$5.697 billion (2015 est.)

$5.531 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

1.06% (2021 est.)

-11.39% (2020 est.)

2.6% (2019 est.)

Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$35,600 (2016 est.)

$35,200 (2015 est.)

$34,400 (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.123 billion (2021 est.)

Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2017 est.)

0% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: NA

Industry: NA

Services: 58.4% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Household consumption: 56.2% (2016 est.)

Government consumption: 55% (2016 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2016 est.)

Investment in inventories: (2016 est.) NA

Exports of goods and services: 19.4% (2016 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -51.2% (2016 est.)

Agricultural 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

4.3% (2014 est.)

Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

80,000 (2022 est.)

Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

5.57% (2022 est.)

6% (2021 est.)

6.25% (2020 est.)

Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Total: 15.3% (2021 est.)

Male: 14.7%

Female: 16.1%

Population below poverty line

23% (2001 est.)

Average household expenditures

On food: 34.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)

Budget

Revenues: $1.24 billion (2016 est.)

Expenditures: $1.299 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Public debt

22.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

32.1% of GDP (2013)

Taxes and other revenues

21.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Exports

$186 million (2021 est.)

$371 million (2020 est.)

$1.403 billion (2019 est.)

Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

Singapore 30%, Taiwan 20%, South Korea 14%, Philippines 12%, Hong Kong 8% (2022)

Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

Refined petroleum, scrap iron, scrap copper, trunks and cases, aircraft parts (2022)

Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$3.667 billion (2021 est.)

$3.383 billion (2020 est.)

$3.552 billion (2019 est.)

Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

South Korea 37%, Singapore 35%, Japan 12%, Taiwan 3%, Hong Kong 3% (2022)

Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, cars, raw iron bars, electric generating sets, trunks and cases (2022)

Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Debt - external

NA

Exchange rates

The US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity access

Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

Electricity

Installed generating capacity: 455,000 kW (2020 est.)

Consumption: 1.683 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 85 million kWh (2019 est.)

Comparison rankings: imports 205; exports 205; installed generating capacity 153; transmission/distribution losses 52; consumption 151

Electricity generation sources

Fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Solar: 4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal

Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

13,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas

Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

1.828 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 1.828 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

152.767 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

Total subscriptions: 70,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Total subscriptions: 98,000 (2009 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2009 est.)

Telecommunication systems

General assessment: Guam’s telecommunications companies provide important services that allow other businesses on island to operate; Guam plays a larger, and growing role, in global telecommunications infrastructure, the submarine fiber optic cables that land on Guam benefit island residents and the local economy; in the Asia-Pacific region the demand for 4G, 5G, and broadband access is rapidly increasing; the 11 submarine cables that currently land on Guam, connecting the U.S. to the Asia-Pacific region, are some of the more than 400 cables that are the backbone of global telecommunications, providing nearly all of the world’s internet and phone service (2021)

Domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 41 per 100 and 62 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions in 2004 (2020)

International: country code - 1-671; major landing points for Atisa, HANTRU1, HK-G, JGA-N, JGA-S, PIPE-1, SEA-US, SxS, Tata TGN-Pacific, AJC, GOKI, AAG, AJC and Mariana-Guam Cable submarine cables between Asia, Australia, and the US (Guam is a transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

About a dozen TV channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations

Internet country code

.gu

Internet users

Total: 136,850 (2021 est.)

Percent of population: 80.5% (2021 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Total: 3,000 (2020 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

N

Airports

3 (2024)

Heliports

2 (2024)

Roadways

Total: 1,045 km (2008)

Merchant marine

Total: 3 (2023)

By type: other 3

Ports

Total ports: 1 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 1

Small: 0

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Apra Harbor

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Guam Police Department (GPD); Guam (US) National Guard

Military - note

Defense is the responsibility of the US; the US military maintains over 6,000 personnel on Guam, including an air base, an air wing, and a naval installation command (2023)