Guam
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.
Area
Coastline
125.5 km
Elevation
Geographic coordinates
Geography - note
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Irrigated land
2 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)
Natural resources
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
Age structure
Birth rate
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
40.4% (2020 est.)
Death rate
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 59.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 41.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 18.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
1.31 (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78 years (2024 est.) male: 75.6 years female: 80.5 years
Major urban areas - population
147,000 HAGATNA (capital) (2018)
Median age
total: 30.5 years (2025 est.) male: 29.6 years female: 31.1 years
Nationality
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens) adjective: Guamanian
Net migration rate
-10.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
no large cities exist on the island; large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo
Population growth rate
0.08% (2025 est.)
Population
- breakdown
- {"male":{"value":87448,"unit":"people","formatted":"87,448","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":82243,"unit":"people","formatted":"82,243","name":"Female Population"}}
- meta
- {"year":2025}
Religions
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.)
Total fertility rate
2.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
1.819 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.819 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
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
Environmental issues
freshwater scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; rapid proliferation of the non-native brown tree snake
Land use
agricultural land: 29.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 14.8% (2023 est.) forest: 52.4% (2023 est.) other: 18% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 141,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.9% (2011 est.)
Capital
- name
- Hagatna
- geo
- {"lat":13.4667,"lng":144.7333}
- timezone
- {"difference":"UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":null}
- meta
- {}
Citizenship
see United States
Constitution
history: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)
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"), was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, when Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US
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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature election/appointment process: 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, but they can 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) most recent election date: gubernatorial: 8 November 2022 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 2018: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor expected date of next election: gubernatorial: 3 November 2026
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 (outrigger canoe with sail), and a palm tree; the word GUAM in red is centered in the ellipse; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Puntan Dos Amantes in the background meaning: blue stands for the sea and red for the blood shed in the fight against oppression; the central emblem is shaped like a Chamorro sling stone (a weapon for defense or hunting) note: the US flag is the national flag
Government type
unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Independence
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life but 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) note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to the US Supreme Court
Legal system
common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply
Legislative branch
legislature name: Legislature of Guam (Liheslaturan Guahan) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 15 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 2 years most recent election date: 11/8/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party (9); Republican Party (6) percentage of women in chamber: 40% expected date of next election: November 2024 note: Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as delegate to the US House of Representatives; 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
National anthem(s)
title: "Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand, Ye Guamanians) lyrics/music: Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English], Lagrimas UNTALAN [Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN history: adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as "Guam Hymn" _____ title: "The Star-Spangled Banner" lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH history: official anthem, as a US territory; played before "Stand, Ye Guamanians"
National color(s)
deep blue, red
National holiday
National symbol(s)
coconut tree
Political parties
Democratic Party Republican Party
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal note: Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Agricultural products
Budget
revenues: $1.24 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: $1.299 billion (2016 est.)
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
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
Exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
Imports - commodities
Imports - partners
Imports
Industries
Labor force
77,700 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Real GDP growth rate
5.1% (2022 est.) 2.1% (2021 est.) -10.5% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
Unemployment rate
5.6% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 5.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
13.7% (2024 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
Electricity generation sources
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 525,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.715 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 90.023 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
150.555 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
2 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
about a dozen TV channels, including digital; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations
Internet country code
.gu
Internet users
percent of population: 81% (2017 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 98,000 (2004 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2004 est.)
Airports
3 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
N
Heliports
2 (2025)
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 forces
Guam Police Department (GPD); Guam (US) National Guard
Military - note
the US military maintains thousands of active-duty uniformed personnel and several bases and installations on the island