Discover Fascinating Guam Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Guam.
Guam
Background
π History of Guam
Guam has a rich and eventful history! π Spain gave control of Guam to the United States in 1898. Just a few decades later, in 1941, the island was captured by Japan during World War II. But wait! π The United States bounced back and regained control in just three years.
Today, Guam is home to some of the most important military bases for the United States in the Pacific region. ποΈ These installations are crucial not just for defense but also provide significant income and economic stability for the island and its residents. πͺπ°
Year Guam was ceded to the US
1898
Year Guam was captured by Japan
1941
Year Guam was retaken by the US
1944
Exports - commodities
Guam has a diverse range of exports! πβ¨ Among the top commodities that Guam exports in 2022 are:
- Refined Petroleum π
- Scrap Iron π¦Ύ
- Scrap Copper π
- Trunks and Cases π
- Aircraft Parts βοΈ
These exports contribute to the economy and showcase the varied resources that the beautiful island of Guam has to offer!
Exports - partners
π Guam has some interesting trading partners! In 2022, hereβs how the exports break down by country:
- Singapore - 30% π
- Taiwan - 20% πΉπΌ
- South Korea - 14% π°π·
- Philippines - 12% π΅π
- Hong Kong - 8% ππ°
If you add up these percentages, they total 100%! Isnβt that neat? π€©
Total Percentage of Exports
100%
Highest Export Partner
Singapore at 30%
Lowest Export Partner
Hong Kong at 8%
Guam's Export Partners (2022)
Capital
The capital of Guam is Hagatna, also known as Agana. ποΈ This vibrant city is not only the political center but also rich in history and culture! πΊ
Imports - commodities
π Guam relies on a variety of important commodities for its imports! Here are some key imports that the island needs in 2022:
- Refined petroleum: Vital for energy and transportation! β½
- Cars: Bringing wheels to the roads and helping people travel comfortably! π
- Raw iron bars: Essential for building and manufacturing! ποΈ
- Electric generating sets: Important for powering homes and businesses! β‘
- Trunks and cases: Useful for travel and storage! π§³
These imports play a huge role in Guam's economy and everyday life! π¦
Number of Commodities Imported
5
Climate
π΄ Climate of Guam π
Guam has a tropical marine climate which means it's usually warm and humid! βοΈ Thanks to the northeast trade winds, the weather is moderated, keeping those hot days a bit more bearable. π
π The year can be split into two main seasons:
- Dry Season: January to June
- Rainy Season: July to December
There isn't much change in temperature throughout the seasons, which is pretty neat! Just think about enjoying sunny beach days almost all year round! ποΈ
Climate Type
Tropical Marine
Seasons
Dry (Jan-Jun), Rainy (Jul-Dec)
Temperature Variation
Little Seasonal Variation
Executive branch
In the beautiful island of Guam, the executive branch is led by some important leaders! π΄
- Chief of State: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. has been in charge since January 20, 2021. ποΈ
- Head of Government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO has been leading since January 7, 2019. ποΈ
These leaders play vital roles in guiding Guam's government and helping the island thrive!
Current Chief of State
President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr.
Since when President R. BIDEN Jr. in charge
20 January 2021
Current Head of Government
Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO
Since when Governor GUERRERO in charge
7 January 2019
Legislative branch
π Welcome to the fascinating world of the Legislative branch of Guam! π It's a unicameral Legislature, which means it has only one chamber. This chamber is made up of 15 seats. Thatβs right, just 15 representatives making decisions for the island! ποΈ Let's dive into what this means and how it impacts the people of Guam!
Total seats in the Legislature
15
Natural resources
π Guam is blessed with rich natural resources, especially when it comes to aquatic wildlife! This vibrant biodiversity not only supports the local ecosystem but also fuels tourism, attracting visitors who are eager to explore the underwater wonders. π
Fishing is another important resource for Guam; however, it remains largely undeveloped. This means there's potential for growth in this sector, providing opportunities for sustainable fishing practices and enhancing local fishing traditions. π£
Overall, Guam's natural resources play a key role in its economy and lifestyle, with a special emphasis on the beauty of its aquatic environments! π
Tourism Support
Aquatic wildlife supports tourism
Fishing Development Level
Fishing is largely undeveloped
Economic overview
Guam, a small Pacific Island and a US territory, has a unique yet challenging economy! π΄π΅ Being classified as an upper-income economy, it relies heavily on tourism, which has faced significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. π·βοΈ However, Guam is resilient! It has relaunched many industries through the innovative concept of vaccination tourism, helping to revive local businesses and attract visitors eager for travel once again! πποΈ
Moreover, Guam's domestic economy is supported by multiple military bases, which provide stability. But, it's important to note that Guam's economy is also environmentally fragile, making it crucial to balance growth with preservation. πβοΈ
Economic reliance on tourism
high
Impact of COVID-19 on tourism
significant
Militarily supported economy
yes
Environmentally fragile economy
yes
Government type
π Guam: A Unique Government Structure! Guam is an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. But what does that mean? π€ It means that while it is part of the US, it has its own local self-government! Guam operates under a republican form of territorial government, which includes three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This structure allows for a balance of power and the ability for locals to make decisions about their own territory. ποΈβ¨
Government Type
Unincorporated organized territory with local self-government
Branches of Government
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Ethnic groups
π Guam is a vibrant blend of cultures and ethnicities! Here's a quick look at the ethnic makeup of this beautiful island based on a 2020 estimate:
-
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 46.1%
- Chamorro: 32.8% π¬πΊ
- Chuukese: 6.7% π«πΊ
- Palauan: 1.4% π΅πΌ
- Pohnpeian: 1.4% π΅π¬
- Yapese: 1% πΎπΉ
- Other Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 2.8%
-
Asian: 35.5%
- Filipino: 29.1% π΅π
- Korean: 2.2% π°π·
- Japanese: 1.4% π―π΅
- Chinese (except Taiwanese): 1.3% π¨π³
- Other Asian: 1.5%
-
White: 6.8% π€
-
African descent or African-American: 0.9% π€
-
Indigenous: 0.1% πΏ
-
Other: 0.6% π
-
Mixed: 10% π
From Native Hawaiians to different Asian heritages, Guam's ethnic diversity is truly a reason to celebrate! π
Percentage of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
46.1%
Percentage of Asian
35.5%
Percentage of White
6.8%
Percentage of African descent or African-American
0.9%
Percentage of Indigenous
0.1%
Percentage of Other
0.6%
Percentage of Mixed
10%
Ethnic Composition of Guam (2020 Estimate)
Religions
π Guam has a vibrant mix of beliefs! In 2020, most people identified as Christians, making up a whopping 94.2% of the population. π Here's how the rest of the religions stack up:
- Folk religions: 1.5%
- Buddhist: 1.1%
- Other: 1.6%
- Unaffiliated: 1.7%
This shows that Guam's culture is deeply influenced by Christianity, with a sprinkle of other beliefs! β¨
Percentage of Christians
94.2%
Percentage of Folk religions
1.5%
Percentage of Buddhists
1.1%
Percentage of Other religions
1.6%
Percentage of Unaffiliated
1.7%
Distribution of Religions in Guam (2020)
Languages
π Languages Spoken in Guam
Guam is a melting pot of cultures, and its languages reflect this diversity! Hereβs a fun breakdown of the languages spoken on the island based on 2020 estimates:
- English: 43.3% π£οΈ
- Filipino: 24.9% π΅π
- Chamorro: 16% π¬πΊ
- Other Pacific Island languages: 9.4% π
- Asian languages: 6.5% π
As you can see, English is the most widely spoken language, followed by Filipino and Chamorro. This rich linguistic variety showcases Guam's cultural heritage and connections to neighboring regions! πΊ
Letβs visualize how these languages are represented in a pie chart! π
Total percentage of languages listed
100%
Most spoken language
English
Least spoken language
Asian languages
Language Distribution in Guam
Imports - partners
Guam imports goods from several countries, and here's how it breaks down in 2022! πβοΈ Let's take a closer look at the top partners:
- South Korea: 37% π°π·
- Singapore: 35% πΈπ¬
- Japan: 12% π―π΅
- Taiwan: 3% πΉπΌ
- Hong Kong: 3% ππ°
As you can see, South Korea and Singapore are leading the way, making up over half of Guam's imports! ππΌ
Total Percentage of Top 2 Partners
72%
Percentage from Japan
12%
Percentage from Taiwan and Hong Kong Combined
6%
Guam's Import Partners in 2022
Population
π Population of Guam: As of the latest data, the total population of Guam is 169,532 people! This vibrant island brings together a unique blend of cultures, stunning landscapes, and friendly faces. Let's dive into the details of this beautiful place! π
Total Population
169,532
Area
ποΈ Guam, a beautiful island in the Pacific, has a total area of 544 square kilometers! π Surprisingly, all of this area is land, with 0 square kilometers of water. This means that Guam is all about its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture without any body of water taking up space! π
Total Area
544 sq km
Land Area
544 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
π Let's take a look at the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) for Guam over the years! This number helps us understand how much money the citizens of Guam are really making when we take into account the cost of living. Hereβs a peek at the estimates for 2014-2016:
- 2014: $5.531 billion π°
- 2015: $5.697 billion π΅
- 2016: $5.793 billion πΈ
From 2014 to 2016, we can see a steady increase in GDP! Itβs like watching money grow in a garden! π±π΅
So, letβs visualize this exciting growth!
Real GDP Growth in Guam (2014-2016)
Real GDP per capita
π Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita for Guam over the past few years! This statistic tells us how much money the average person in Guam makes each year. It's like looking at how much treasure each pirate finds! π΄ββ οΈπ°
- In 2016, the average was $35,600.
- In 2015, the average went down a little to $35,200.
- In 2014, it was even lower at $34,400.
Can you see how it's like a roller coaster ride? π’ Let's visualize this exciting climb in GDP per capita to understand the growth better!
Real GDP per Capita in 2016
$35,600
Real GDP per Capita in 2015
$35,200
Real GDP per Capita in 2014
$34,400
Real GDP per Capita in Guam (2014-2016)
Imports
π Let's take a look at the imports for Guam over the last few years! The numbers tell a story of trade and commerce that helps fuel the island's economy.
Here's how the imports have changed from 2019 to 2021:
- 2019: $3.552 billion
- 2020: $3.383 billion
- 2021: $3.667 billion
Can you see the pattern? In 2020, there was a little dip, but it bounced back in 2021! π Keep reading to discover more about Guam's import activities!
Total Imports in 2021
$3.667 billion
Total Imports in 2020
$3.383 billion
Total Imports in 2019
$3.552 billion
Guam Imports Over Time
Exports
π Let's dive into the exports of Guam over the past few years! π Hereβs how much Guam has been exporting:
- In 2019, Guam exported $1.403 billion! π°
- In 2020, the exports dropped to $371 million.
- But then in 2021, they bounced back to $186 million!
The fluctuations in these numbers show the changes in Guam's economy and trade activities during those years.
Total Exports in 2019
$1.403 billion
Total Exports in 2020
$371 million
Total Exports in 2021
$186 million
Guam Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
π΄ The population growth rate for Guam is estimated to be 0.11% for the year 2024. This means that more people are coming to live in this beautiful island! πβοΈ
Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024
0.11%