most
strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Guam 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: 549 sq km

land: 549 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: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from 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-rising hills
in center, mountains in south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)

Land use: arable land: 11%

permanent crops: 11%

permanent pastures: 15%

forests and woodland: 18%

other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in
August)

Environment - current issues: extirpation of native bird population
by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species

Geography - note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean

Guam People

Population: 157,557 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.07% (male 28,978; female 26,270)

15-64 years: 58.78% (male 48,704; female 43,902)

65 years and over: 6.15% (male 4,871; female 4,832) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.09% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 25.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female

total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.