Guam

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Guam's Information


Capital	Hagatna
Languages	English 43.6%, Filipino 21.2%, Chamorro 17.8%, other Pacific island languages 10%, Asian languages 6.3%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Chamorro 37.3%, Filipino 26.3%, white 7.1%, Chuukese 7%, Korean 2.2%, other Pacific Islander 2%, other Asian 2%, Chinese 1.6%, Palauan 1.6%, Japanese 1.5%, Pohnpeian 1.4%, mixed 9.4%, other 0.6% (2010 est.)
Religion	Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Government	Presidential democracy; a self-governing unincorporated territory of the US
Independance	None (territory of the US)
Area	544.00 km²
Land Area	544.00 km²
Population	162,742.00
Location	Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
GDP(PPP)	$4,882,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$30,500.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main exports are transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, and fish.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include petroleum, food, and manufactured goods.
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

Where is Guam?

Located in Oceania, Guam is an island nation. It has a 126.00 km coastline.

Guam’s capital city is Hagåtña, which is one of the island’s smallest cities. Located at the mouth of the Hagåtña River the city sits on the western coast of Guam. Comprising just one square mile, the administrative capital of the island territory is home to a population of 1,051 residents. Historically the city served as the capital during the time it spent as a Spanish colony. When the island was ceded to the United States in 1898 Hagåtña retained its status as Guam’s capital city. Among the more notable landmarks in the urban area include the Plaza de España as well as Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, built on the site of Guam’s first Catholic church and home to an image of Santa Marian Kamalen, the Patroness of Guam. Because Guam is located close to the equator the climate is very warm and humid with average temperatures ranging from 76F to 86F.

Geography

Guam has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical marine climate that is generall warm and humid, with a dry season from January to June and a rainy season from July to December. Its terrain is volcanic, with steep coastal cliffs and narrow plains in the north.

Population

Guam has a population of 162,742 making it the 186th largest in the world.

English, Filipino, Chamorro, and more are all spoken. The major ethnic groups reported include Chamorro, Filipino, and white. The majority of the country identifies as Roman Catholic.

As French Polynesia is an overseas collective of the European nation of France it stands to reason that French is the region’s official language. This Gallo-Romance language includes an alphabet made up of twenty six letters and four vowel diacritics. 68.5% of residents over fifteen years of age speak French as their primary language. Other languages spoken throughout the islands include Tahitian, Marquesan, Tuamotuan, Austral, Pa’umotu, and Rapa. Common French phrases include, “Bonjour” meaning “Hello” and “Bonne Chance” which translates to “Good Luck”. Languages historically native to the islands are still spoken in French Polynesia with Tahitian being the most popular with about 185,000 speakers. The least used minority language, Rapa, is only spoken by a very small percentage of local inhabitants.

Government

It is a territory of the United States. Its constitution was last ratified in 1950.

French Polynesia is an overseas collective of the European nation of France. The government operates as a parliamentary representative democracy with a president serving as its head of state. The territory’s government is known as the Assembly of French Polynesia which is made up of 57 members who are all elected by popular vote. The president is elected by the Assembly for a term of five years. The Assembly conducts its business in a building called the Place Tarahoi which is located in Papeete on the island of Tahiti. The president resides in the Presidential Palace which is housed in the same structure as the Assembly.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Guam's GDP is $4,882,000,000.00 (USD) with $30,500.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 174th largest economy and its citizens the 59th richest in the world. The currency of Guam is the Dollar (USD).

Its major imports include petroleum, food, and manufactured goods.

Flag

Guam is officially a U.S. territory. Its flag features a design that includes a blue background with a red border. In its center is an almond shaped coat of arms which depicts a variety of native symbols including a multihull sailboat sailing on Guam’s Agana Bay which is set against the backdrop of a blue sky and gray cliffs. In the foreground is a sandy shore which includes a large coconut palm tree. The original version of the flag was designed by Helen L. Paul, the wife of a US naval officer who was stationed in Guam during World War I. The national symbol was initially adopted on July 4, 1917. After the Japanese occupation of the island during World War II a red border was added to the flag in order to symbolize the lives lost during numerous bloody conflicts.