Introduction
Background
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography
Location
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Area (sq km)
total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative (sq km)
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
50 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m
Natural resources
cropland
Land use (%)
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land (sq km)
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Geography - note
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups (%)
British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries
Languages (%)
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Religions (%)
Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
Population
65,849 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 4,967/female 4,629)
15-24 years: 11.9% (male 3,993/female 3,854)
25-54 years: 42.2% (male 13,991/female 13,800)
55-64 years: 12.9% (male 4,229/female 4,249)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 5,469/female 6,668) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 43.1 years
male: 41.9 years
female: 44.2 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
0.36% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
9.89 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 31.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 82.39 years
male: 79.72 years
female: 85.2 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
1.55 children born/woman (2014 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Literacy (%)
NA
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution
unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice
Legal system
customary legal system based on Norman customary law, and includes elements of the French Civil Code and English common law
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011)
head of government: Chief Minister Jonathan LE TOCQ (since 12 March 2014); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012) note - Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD resigned 25 February 2014
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation
election results: Peter HARWOOD elected chief minister, percent of vote NA
Legislative branch
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; note - there are also 10 Douzaine representatives - one from each parish, 2 representatives from Alderney and the appointed attorney general and soliciter general); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments
elections: last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with a 1 judge and 4 jurats); note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: Royal Court Balliff, Deputy Balliff and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Balliff and a number of jurats
subordinate courts: Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS
No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]
International organization participation
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings
National symbol(s)
Guernsey cow; donkey
National anthem
name: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)
lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO
note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economy - overview
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. In January 2013, Guernsey signed a tax agreement with Jersey and the Isle of Man, in order to enable the islands' authorities to end tax avoidance and evasion. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.742 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.742 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$44,600 (2005)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)
Labor force
31,470 (March 2006)
Unemployment rate (%)
0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
20.6% of GDP (2005)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
1.2% of GDP (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
3.4% (June 2006)
Agriculture - products
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Industries
tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities (%)
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Imports
$NA
Imports - commodities (%)
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
External debt ($)
$NA
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Guernsey pound per US dollar
0.6307 (2014)
0.6391 (2013)
0.6472 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
45,100 (2010)
Telephones - mobile cellular
43,800 (2004)
Telephone system
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2011)
Broadcast media
multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)
Internet country code
.gg
Internet hosts
239 (2012)
Internet users
48,300 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
Military
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 12,493
females age 16-49: 12,272 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 354
female: 342 (2010 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Guernsey
These are the 50 largest cities of Guernsey ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|