to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
Martinique; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations
licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground
station

@Guadeloupe, Defense Forces

Branches:
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Note:
defense is responsibility of France

@Guam

Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)

@Guam, Geography

Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km
west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between
Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
541.3 sq km
land area:
541.3 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
125.5 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
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 coraline
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
Natural resources:
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
11%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
18%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
international agreements:
NA
Note:
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;
strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

@Guam, People

Population:
149,620 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.48% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.29 years
male:
72.42 years
female:
76.13 yea