Guernsey
Bailiwick of Guernsey
parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)Independence none (British Crown dependency)
Guernsey as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the main island of Guernsey and a number of smaller islands, including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou. The Bailiwick is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
16 fieldsLand useshare of 78 sq km
People and Society
19 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2022 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Environment
5 fieldsLand use(2022 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 28.4% (2016 est.)
note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
Government
Parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation); King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
22 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Bailiwick of Guernsey
- conventional short form:
- Guernsey
- former:
- Norman Isles
- etymology:
- the name is of Old Norse origin;
- the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is unclear but may refer to a person's name, Grani, or to the color green;
- the "-ey" ending means "island"
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
- etymology:
- named for the patron saint of fishermen; "port" distinguishes it from the Saint Peter (sometimes called Saint Peter in the Wood) on the other side of the island
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed -- Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark
Legal system
customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
Constitution
- history:
- unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice
- amendment process:
- new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)
- head of government:
- Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
- cabinet:
- none
- election/appointment process:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch;
- chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee, indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term
- most recent election date:
- 7/1/2025
- election results:
- 2025: Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister; 2020: Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5%; 2016: Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister
- expected date of next election:
- 2029
note: the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government; the Policy and Resources Committee,
elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive; the 5 members all have equal voting rights
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- States of Deliberation
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 38 (directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 4 years
- most recent election date:
- 7/1/2025
- parties elected and seats per party:
- independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 20%
- expected date of next election:
- 2030
note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general
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 1 judge and 4 jurats)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, 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 Bailiff and a number of jurats
- subordinate courts:
- Court of Alderney;
- Court of the Seneschal of Sark;
- Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court);
- Contracts Court;
- Ecclesiastical Court;
- Court of Chief Pleas
note: appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
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 on top of the Saint George cross
- meaning:
- the red cross represents Guernsey's status as a British Crown dependency
- history:
- the gold cross is a replica of the one William the Conqueror carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)
- lyrics/music:
- George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO
- history:
- adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; _____
- title:
- "God Save the King"
- lyrics/music:
- unknown
- history:
- official anthem, as a British crown dependency
Economy
15 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2023 est.)
Economic overview
- high-income English Channel island economy;
- strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions;
- manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover;
- stable inflation;
- maintains independent taxation authority
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 14.1% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 14.2% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 13.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Exports - commodities
aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022); top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Guernsey pound per US dollar 0.782 (2024 est.) · 0.805 (2023 est.) · 0.811 (2022 est.) · 0.727 (2021 est.) · 0.78 (2020 est.)
Energy
1 fieldElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–23 est.)
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
Transportation
4 fieldsPorts
- total ports:
- 3 (2024)
- large:
- 0
- medium:
- 0
- small:
- 1
- very small:
- 2
- ports with oil terminals:
- 2
- key ports:
- Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Military and Security
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Guernsey.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guernsey.