Education and healthLiteracy: virtually 100%.Health (2013): physicians 1478 (1 per 1,092 persons); hospital beds 1599

(1 per 1,009 persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (2014)5.5; undernourished population, n.a.

In early June 2015 Guam became the first U.S. territory to recog-nize same-sex marriage, ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court decisionlater that month that legalized it throughout the country.

Authorities attempted to eradicate the invasive coconut rhinoceros bee-tle, which was destroying the island’s coconut trees, by administering avirus that attacks the insects. Entomologists discovered, however, thatGuam’s beetle population had resistance to the virus. Six U.S. citizensresiding in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands filed suit ina U.S. district court in November for the right to vote in U.S. presi-dential elections.

Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 population (2014): 17.0 (world avg. 19.5).Death rate per 1,000 population (2014): 5.0 (world avg. 8.1).Life expectancy at birth (2014): male 75.8 years; female 82.1 years.

pigs, 200,000 chickens, 300 beehives; roundwood, n.a.; fisheries produc-tion (2012) 456 (from aquaculture 24%). Mining and quarrying: sandand gravel. Manufacturing (value of sales in U.S.$’000; 2007): cement,bricks, and ceramics 72,811; food processing 23,244; printing and pub-lishing 10,008; other industries include textiles/garments and boatbuilding. Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 2013)1,566,000,000 ([2012] 1,564,000,000), by source (2012): fossil fuels100%; crude petroleum, none (none); petroleum products (metric tons;2002) none (1,333,000); natural gas, none (none).

Average household size (2012): 3.6.Population economically active (20134): total 70,4905; participation rates

(2011): over age 15, male 69.3%; female 56.5%; unemployed (2013)11.5%, of which youth (ages 15–24; 2011) 29.4%.

Gross domestic product (at current market prices; 2009): U.S.$4,491,-000,000 (U.S.$24,446 per capita).

Land use as % of total land area (2009): in temporary crops or left fal-low c. 2%, in permanent crops c. 19%, in pasture c. 15%, forest area c. 48%.

GuamOfficial name: Guåhan (Chamorro); Territory of

Guam (English).Political status: self-governing, organized, unin-

corporated territory of the United States withone legislative house (Guam Legislature [15]).

Head of state: President of the United StatesBarack Obama.

Head of government: Governor Eddie Baza Calvo.Capital: Hagåtña (formerly Agana).Official languages: Chamorro; English.Official religion: none.Monetary unit: United States dollar (U.S.$); valuation (Sept. 1, 2015) 1 U.S.$ = £0.65.

National economyBudget (2010). Revenue: U.S.$942,556,818 (taxes 53.0%, federal contri-

butions 34.5%, other 12.5%). Expenditures: U.S.$1,081,647,395 (publiceducation 22.9%, health 17.6%, general administration 9.5%, publicorder 9.3%, interest 6.9%).

Public debt (September 2010): U.S.$742,400,000.Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture, forestry, fishing

(2013): coconuts 50,000, watermelons 2,000, bananas 350, cherries 350,cucumbers and gherkins 342, tomatoes 283, sweet potatoes 125, cab-bages and other brassicas 101, string beans 100, oranges 60, mangoes,mangosteens, and guavas 45; livestock (number of live animals) 5,200

Foreign tradeImports (2008): U.S.$224,914,0006 (food products and nonalcoholic bev-

erages 29.7%; motor cars 17.2%; leather luggage and handbags 8.6%;perfumes 3.6%). Major import sources: significantly U.S. and Japan.

Exports (2008): U.S.$104,878,000 (motor cars 45.8%; fish 18.3%; pre-cious metal jewelry 8.1%; perfumes 3.6%; leather luggage and hand-bags 3.4%). Major export destinations: U.S. 26.8%; other 73.2%.

TransportTransport. Roads (2008): total length 650 mi, 1,045 km (paved [2004]

76%)7. Vehicles (2013): passenger cars 76,002; trucks and buses 27,045.

MilitaryTotal active duty U.S. personnel (November 2014): 5,50010.

1Includes active-duty U.S. military personnel, U.S. Department of Defense employ-ees, and dependents of both. 2Detail does not add to total given because of rounding.3Based on land area; total area per most recent survey including area designated asinland water equals 217 sq mi (561 sq km). 4March. 5Civilian labour force only, includ-ing unemployed. 6Excludes some imports for transshipment. 7Public roads only; 426mi (685 km) of roads are private (including roads on federal government installations).8Includes military physicians licensed by the Guam public health office. 9GuamMemorial Hospital only. 10A 2006 agreement to move 8,000 U.S. Marines fromOkinawa to Guam by 2014 was ratified by the Japanese Diet in May 2009, but in 2013the number of Marines to be moved to Guam was reduced to 5,000, and the comple-tion date was pushed back to 2020.

Internet resource for further information:• Bureau of Statistics and Plans bsp3.guam.gov

DemographyPopulation (2015): 161,000.Density (2015)3: persons per sq mi 770.1, persons per sq km 297.3.Urban-rural (2014): urban 94.6%; rural 5.4%.Sex distribution (2014): male 50.70%; female 49.30%.Age breakdown (2014): under 15, 26.0%; 15–29, 24.2%; 30–44, 19.2%;

45–59, 17.9%; 60–74, 9.5%; 75–84, 2.6%; 85 and over, 0.6%.Population projection: (2020) 168,000; (2030) 184,000.Ethnic composition (2012): Chamorro 40.3%; other Micronesian 10.7%;

Filipino 24.5%; white 6.6%; other (mostly mixed race) 17.9%.Religious affiliation (2005): Roman Catholic c. 72%; Protestant c. 12%;

nonreligious/other c. 16%.Major populated places (2010): Dededo 6,386; Machanao 5,930; Apotgan

5,928; Mangilao 5,805; Liguan 5,735; Hagåtña 1,051.

Area and populationland area population1 land area population1

2010 2010Municipalities sq km census Municipalities sq km censusAAgat 29 4,917Asan 16 2,137Barrigada 23 8,875Chalan Pago-Ordot 16 6,822Dededo 78 44,943Hagåtña 3 1,051Hagåtña Heights 3 3,808Inarajan 49 2,273Mangilao 26 15,191Merizo 16 1,850

Mongmong-Toto-Maite 5 6,825

Piti 18 1,454Santa Rita 42 6,084Sinajana 3 2,592Talofofo 44 3,050Tamuning 16 19,685Umatac 16 782Yigo 91 20,539Yona 52 6,480TOTAL 5412 159,358

© 2016 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

World DataE N C Y C L O P Æ D I A

Britannica