Hagatna, Guam – The U.S. Census Bureau today released the 2020 Census of Guam Housing Unit and Population counts for Guam. Guam’s population totaled 153,836, representing a 3.5 percent decrease from the 2010 Census counts, or 159,358 persons. The population in the prior ten years revealed a modest decade growth of 2.9 percent between 2000 and 2010. The Guam census results showed a slight 2 percent rise in housing unit counts, or 988 housing units, between 2010 and 2020. The five top villages showing an increase in housing unit counts are Talofofo, Santa Rita, Yigo, Dededo, and Mangilao.
Most villages saw a decline in population with the southern villages of Umatac, Talofofo, and Merizo reporting double-digit percent loss ranging from 13 percent to 17 percent. The villages showing a rise in population were Talofofo, Piti, Santa Rita, Chalan Pago, and Inarajan with Talofofo showing the most growth at 16 percent, or 500 persons. The village of Dededo showed no change in growth but still accounts for a third of Guam’s population. Guam saw a reduction in population for persons living on Anderson Air Force Base from 3,061 in 2010 to 1,973 in 2020, or 36 percent. This situation may change in the coming years with the military relocation of personnel and their families from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The population drop may be contributed to a slow growth in births and the rise in deaths on Guam. According to data from the DPHSS, total births remained constant averaging about 3,300 births annually during the past decade. Total births dropped slightly at 2,938 births in 2020. In contrast, the number of deaths on Guam have reportedly increased during the past 10 years from 872 deaths in 2010 to a little over 1,000 deaths in 2020. Other contributing factors may be the federal government’s halt on the entry of temporary skilled foreign laborers to Guam which had damaging effects on Guam’s labor market and the construction industry. Once 2020 rolled in, the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused a major health crisis and economic disruption for the island and the rest of the world. Temporary and/or permanent business closures and the shutdown of travel to Guam last year may have impacted in-migration and loss of investment and economic opportunities.
The Census Bureau has made available the housing unit and population count tables by municipality and census designated place levels as attached. “Our office continues to work with the Census Bureau to provide more detailed information on Guam’s housing and population characteristics in the coming months”, says Tyrone Taitano, Director, Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
For information, contact Tyrone Taitano, Director, Bureau of Statistics and Plans at (671) 472-4201/2/3 or by email at tyrone.taitano@bsp.guam.gov.