Guam is an island territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago. Guam has a unique political status as an unincorporated territory, meaning it is under the sovereignty of the United States but is not part of any state.
Here are some key points about Guam:
- Geography: Guam is approximately 210 square miles (549 square kilometers) in size, making it the largest island in Micronesia. It is situated about 3,800 miles (6,115 kilometers) west of Hawaii and about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) east of the Philippines.
- Capital: The capital city of Guam is Hagåtña (formerly known as Agana).
- Population: As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Guam had an estimated population of around 168,783 people. The majority of the population is of Chamorro descent, which is the indigenous people of Guam.
- Languages: The official languages of Guam are English and Chamorro, an indigenous language. English is widely spoken and used for official purposes, while Chamorro is taught in schools and used in cultural contexts.
- Economy: Tourism, military bases, and federal government spending are the primary drivers of Guam’s economy. The U.S. military maintains several bases on the island, including Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam.
- Tourism: Guam is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and diverse marine life. Many visitors come from Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries.
- Political status: Guam has been a U.S. territory since 1898, when it was acquired by the United States from Spain after the Spanish-American War. It is governed by an elected governor and a territorial legislature. Guam does not have representation in the U.S. Congress, but its people are U.S. citizens.
- Time zone: Guam follows the Chamorro Standard Time (ChST), which is 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+10:00).
Please note that this information is based on my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, and there may have been some changes since then.