Guernsey

British crown dependencyIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Guernsey as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 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.

CapitalSt. Peter Port
Area194 km2
1990

Every edition of Guernsey

Populationas each edition published it
57,227 people July 1990 · 67,923 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 1.02% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 40.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 77.96 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.6 children per woman 1990 · 1.59 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 3.2 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $18,100 in 2000
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 9% in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
194km2
land area: 194 km2; includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islandsComparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Coastline
50km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 3 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate

temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Terrain

mostly level with low hills in southwest

Land use

  • NA% arable land;
  • NA% permanent crops;
  • NA% meadows and pastures;
  • NA% forest and woodland;
  • NA% other;
  • about 50% cultivated

Environment

large, deepwater harbor at St. Peter Port

Note

52 km west of France

People

14 fields
Population
57,227
(July 1990), growth rate 0.7% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
12Death
11Net migration
6

Infant mortality rate

6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 78 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Religion

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist

Language

English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy

NA%, but universal education

Government

British crown dependency

16 fields

Long-form name

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Type

British crown dependency

Capital

St. Peter Port

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch

British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff, deputy bailiff

Legislative branch

States of Deliberation

Judicial branch

Royal Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Alexander BOSWELL (since 1985); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 States of Deliberation--last held NA (next to be held NA);
  • results--percent of vote NA;
  • seats--(60 total, 33 elected), all independents

Diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)

Flag

white with the red cross of St. George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag

Economy

Tourism is a major source of revenue.

16 fields

Budget

Revenues
$145.0 millionExpenditures
$117.2 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Overview

Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic activity includes financial services, breeding the world-famous Guernsey cattle, and growing tomatoes and flowers for export.

GDP

$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)

Exports

  • $NA;
  • commodities--tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables;
  • partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

Imports

  • $NA;
  • commodities--coal, gasoline and oil;
  • partners--UK (regarded as internal trade)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,340 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

tourism, banking

Agriculture

tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle

Aid

none

Currency

Guernsey pound (plural--pounds); 1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence

Exchange rates

  • Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985);
  • note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

3 fields

Ports

St. Peter Port, St. Sampson

Airport

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La Villiaze)

Telecommunications

  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 41,900 telephones;
  • 1 submarine cable

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guernsey.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guernsey/1990.

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