Guam: A brief territory profile
- Lewis Donaldson
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
Now you may not be that familiar with Guam. That's okay. You've come to the right place!
So, what is Guam? And where even is it?
Guam is a territory in the West Pacific at the bottom of the Mariana Island chain. It is East of the Philippines, North of Papua New Guinea and South from Japan.
It is an 'unincorporated sovereign state' of the US.
In other words, it is a US territory which could at some stage become the 51st state of the US. The same situation as American Samoa (also in the Pacific) or Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.
Almost a third (29%) of Guam is managed by the US military and has served as a crucial part of the United States Pacific strategy.
How did the US come about Guam?
Guam first came into American hands during the Spanish-American war in 1898. A Spanish territory since the 1600s, Guam was surrendered to the US with no blood shed.
Apparently, the Spanish on the island "hadn’t known they were two months into the Spanish-American War" when the Americans turned up. The Spanish were asked to surrender (which they did) and then the Americans left.
Fast forward to the 1940's, Guam was taken by the Japanese in 1941 just hours after the attack on Pearl Habor. Guam was occupied until August 1944 when recaptured by the US.
Fast Facts:
What does Guam produce?
Guam primarily produces agricultural goods and seafood but also exports manufactured goods like electronics and textiles.
The key agricultural products include tropical fruits and vegetables like taro, coconut, bananas, papayas and mangoes.
The fishing industry plays a significant role too with processed fish and seafood products being big exports. These include tuna, marlin, shrimp and crabs.
Regarding electronics, Guam produces semiconductors, computer components and communication devices.
Additionally, the island attracts millions of visitors each year, fueling the tourism sector and boosting local businesses that produce crafts and souvenirs.
Chamorro
Chamorro is the name for the indigenous people of Guam and the language they speak.
Chamorro is the largest ethnic group in Guam but is a minority of the island's population.
Other significant populations on the island are of Asian, European and African American descent.
Guam's diverse population is a result of its location in the Pacific close to Asia and due to centuries of migration, trade and colonial influence.
You can read more about Guam in a future blog. Interested to learn more about the Pacific? You can read here to see what sports are played in the region.
