Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey

parliamentary democracyIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Guernsey as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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, UTC
Position49 28 N, 2 35 W
Area78 sq km
LocationWestern Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
2007

Every edition of Guernsey

Populationas each edition published it
65,573 people July 2007 est. · 57,227 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.239% 2007 est. · 1.02% in 1993
Median ageyears
41.7 years 2007 est. · 40.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
80.53 years 2007 est. · 77.96 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.4 children per woman 2007 est. · 1.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
4.59 deaths per 1,000 live births 2007 est. · 6 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$44,600 2005 · $18,100 in 2000
GDP real growth% a year
3% 2005 est. · 9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography

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

17 fields
Area
78sq km
land: 78 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islandsabout one-half the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
50km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 3 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 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%
other:
NA%

Geography - note

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2007 est.)

4,955
65 and over17.8%
6,725
21,897
15-6467.4%
22,298
4,914
0-1414.8%
4,784
MaleFemale
Population
65,573
(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 0.239% (2007 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2007 est.)

Birth
8.65Death
10.07Net migration
3.81

Male · female(2007 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years80.53
77.53 · 83.64Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births4.59
5.12 · 4.03
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years41.7
40.7 · 42.6
MaleFemale

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.027 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.982 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.737 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Channel Islander(s)
adjective:
Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries

Religions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

definition:
NA
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005); Chief Minister Michael W. TORODE (since 5 March 2007)

19 fields

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 including 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; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005)
head of government:
Chief Minister Michael W. TORODE (since 5 March 2007)
cabinet:
Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
elections:
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch;
  • chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation
election results:
Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA

Legislative branch

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments

elections:
last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 2008)
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 and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Economy

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and 32% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy.

30 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.742billion
(2005)official exchange rate: $2.742 billion (2005)
GDP per capita, PPP
$44,600
(2005)
Real growth rate
3%
(2005 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

GDP - composition by sector(2000)

agriculture 3%industry 10%services 87% (2000)

Budget

Revenues
$563.6 millionExpenditures
$530.9 million (2005)

Economy - overview

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and 32% 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. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

Labor force

31,470 (March 2006)

Unemployment rate

0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

tourism, banking

Exports - commodities

tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

Exports - partners

UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Imports - commodities

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners

UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)

Currency (code)

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound

Exchange rates

Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002) note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
43,800
(2004)
Internet users
2,734
(2007)
Fixed lines
45,100
(2005) · country code .gg

Telephone system

general assessment:
NA
domestic:
NA
international:
1 submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Internet users

36,000 (2005)

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

914 to 1,523 m
1under 914 m
1

Airports

2 (2007)

Roadways

total: NA

Ports and terminals

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Military

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

1 field

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guernsey.” The World Factbook 2007. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guernsey/2007.

How to cite ← 2006 edition 2008 edition →