Country Profile of Guam
Main statistical agency
Main statistical agency name
Bureau of Statistics and Plans
P.O. Box 2950
Hagatna, Guam 96932
Phone: (671) 472-4201/2/3
FAX: (671) 477-1812
Web address
http://www.spc.int/prism/country/gu/stats/
Position in the government
The Bureau of Statistics and Plans is a staff agency to the Office of the Governor.
Main duties
Public Law 20-147, as amended by Public Law 26-76, stipulates in statute that it is the Bureau’s responsibility to undertake any planning activity that is not being carried out or that is not the function of another department. The Bureau has the legislative flexibility to appraise, coordinate, prepare, and assist in the development of a wide range of plans, policies, and studies that further economic, social, land use, environmental, and infrastructure goals, priorities, and planning activities. It is further mandated to disseminate and make available economic, social, and physical data and information for researchers, policy makers, and the public.
The mission of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans is to ensure Guam’s resources are effectively used for the benefit of present and future generations by ensuring consistency among various plans, policies, and programs.
Originally housed under the Guam Department of Commerce, the Guam State Data Center was transferred to the Bureau of Statistics and Plans in July 2002 as a result of the closure of Commerce. The Guam State Data Center conducts data research and analysis, provides technical information and consultation to planners and researchers in the use of Census data for planning and decision making, as well as providing information to the general public. As the Lead Agency for Guam under the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Data Center Program, the Bureau of Statistics and Plans is the official repository of Census data information.
Brief history and other relevant background information
Brief history and other relevant background information
Guam is the westernmost territory of the United States and is the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas Archipelago. The island is 30 miles long, ranges from 5 to 9 miles in width, and has a total land area of 209 square miles. Guam is located in the Western Pacific Ocean 3,700 miles southwest of Honolulu, 1,500 miles east of Manila, and 1,500 miles southwest of Tokyo.
The Bureau of Statistics and Plans, a staff agency to the Office of the Governor, was initially created under Public Law 12-200 as the Bureau of Planning. In July 2002, under Public Law 26-76, the Bureau of Planning's name was changed to the Bureau of Statistics and Plans. Upon the enactment of Public Law 26-76, the Guam Department of Commerce was abolished and some of its statistical mandates and personnel were transferred to the Bureau. Further, Executive Order 2002-14 promulgated the transfer of Commerce's Economic Research Center personnel, duties, and responsibilities to the Department of Labor.
The Bureau of Statistics and Plans facilitates the creation of a comprehensive planning process that addresses long range development plans of the island. The Bureau provides technical assistance, support and planning information to integrate and coordinate all levels of development planning throughout the Government of Guam.
Legal basis
Legal basis
Guam Public Law 26-76 and Executive Oder 2002-14
Other producers of official statistics
Other producers of official statistics
The preparation of official statistics based on Government of Guam administrative, survey, census, and other data is done by each individual department or agency. Compilation of the information for dissemination is done by the Department of Labor’s Economic Research Center and the Bureau of Statistics and Plans’ Planning Information Program.
Among the major producers of statistics with an extensive history of data collection and reporting include:
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Department of Revenue and Taxation
Department of Education
Department of Public Health and Social Services
Guam Community College
Guam Police Department
Guam Visitors Bureau
University of Guam
Additionally, various United States federal agencies collect and report information about Guam. Chief among them is the U.S. Census Bureau which conducts the Population and Housing Census and Economic Census as well as producing the Consolidated Federal Funds Report.
Statistical advisory bodies
Statistical advisory bodies
None
Data collection
Most recent population census
2000 Census of Population and Housing
Access to administrative data
Access is governed by Government of Guam laws, rules, and regulations.
Data confidentiality
Government of Guam laws, rules, and regulations. (Census of Population and Housing data confidentiality is governed by US Code Title 13).
Data dissemination
Release calendar (existence, when and how published)
2000 Census of Population and Housing
=> Since 2002 on a flow basis: print, CD-ROM, electronic format on website
2002 Census of Agriculture
=> 2004: paper and electronic format on website
2002 Economic Census
=> 2004: paper and electronic format on website
2004 Guam Statistical Yearbook
=> 2005: CD-ROM and electronic format on website
Current Employment Report
=> 2005: paper and website
Main publications
Bureau of Statistics and Plans
=> Guam Statistical Yearbook
=> Guam Facts & Figures
Department of Labor
=> Current Employment Report
=> Household and Per Capita Income
=> Unemployment Report
=> Quarterly Economic Review
=> Consumer Price Index
=> Guam Imports
=> Guam Exports
Languages of main publications
English
How are data disseminated (Paper, CD Rom, Website, online databases, databanks)?
Paper
CD-ROM
Website
Availability of microdata for research purposes
1990 Census of Population and Housing - Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)
2000 Census of Population and Housing - Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)
Current Labor Force Survey (1992-2000)
|