Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey

NAIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Guernsey as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 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.

CapitalSaint Peter Port
Position49 28 N, 2 35 W
Area194 sq km
LocationWestern Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of
Populationas each edition published it
63,731 people July 1997 est. · 57,227 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.28% 1997 est. · 1.02% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 40.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
78.38 years 1997 est. · 77.96 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.62 children per woman 1997 est. · 1.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 6 in 1990
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

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of | France

18 fields
Area
194sq km
land: 194 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islandsslightly larger than Washington, DC
Coastline
50km
land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone : 12 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
Highest point
114m
unnamed location on Sarklowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates

49 28 N, 2 35 W

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly level with low hills in southwest

Land use

arable land :
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
permanent pastures :
NA%
forests and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%

Environment - international agreements

party to:
NA
signed, but not ratified:
NA

Geography - note

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People

15 fields
Population
63,731
(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.28% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth
13.54Death
9.65Net migration
8.94

Age structure

0-14 years:
18% (male 5,703; female 5,584)
15-64 years:
67% (male 20,883; female 21,702) 65 years and over : 15% (male 3,959; female 5,900) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.67 male(s)/female
total population:
0.92 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
78.38 years
male:
75.44 years
female:
81.43 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Channel Islander(s)
adjective:
Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

UK and Norman-French descent

Religions

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

Languages

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

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)

19 fields

Country name

conventional long form:
Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form:
Guernsey

Dependency status

British crown dependency

National capital

Saint Peter Port

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
cabinet:
Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees) appointed by the Assembly of the States
elections:
  • none;
  • the queen is a hereditary monarch;
  • lieutenant governor appointed by the queen;
  • bailiff appointed by the queen

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats, 33 popularly elected; members serve six-year terms)

elections:
last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Judicial branch

Royal Court

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

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

Economy

Financial services account for about 55% of total | income.

22 fields

Budget

Revenues
$257.9 millionExpenditures
$235.8 million (1994 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - overview

Financial services account for about 55% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major income generators.

GDP

$NA

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%

Industries

tourism, banking

Agriculture - products

tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle

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)

Currency

1 Guernsey (£G) pound = 100 pence

Exchange rates

  • Guernsey pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992);
  • note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
41,850
(1983 est.)

Telephone system

domestic :
NA
international:
1 submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
1
total : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Highways

total:
NA km
paved:
NA km
unpaved:
NA km

Ports and harbors

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Airports

2 (1996 est.)

Military

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

1 field

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guernsey.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guernsey/1997.