Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey

parliamentary democracyIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Guernsey as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 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
Populationas each edition published it
64,775 people July 2010 est. · 57,227 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.466% 2010 est. · 1.02% in 1993
Median ageyears
41.9 years 2010 est. · 40.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
82.08 years 2010 est. · 77.96 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.53 children per woman 2010 est. · 1.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.58 deaths per 1,000 live births 2010 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 or of the European Union. 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
country comparison to the world: 227land: 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 elevation 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

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)

5,009
65 and over17.6%
6,537
22,056
15-6467.9%
22,410
4,799
0-1414.5%
4,673
MaleFemale
Population
64,775
(July 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 204growth rate: 0.466% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 156

Per 1,000 population

Birth
10.25 (2010 est.)Death
8.35 (July 2010 est.)Net migration
2.76 (2010 est.)

Male · female(2010 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years82.08
79.43 · 84.87Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births3.58
3.9 · 3.24
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years41.9
40.9 · 42.9
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 6 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 210
Urban population
31%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.049 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.77 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Nationality

noun:
Channel Islander(s)
adjective:
Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

British 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

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005); Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008)

20 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

16 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 Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008); Bailiff Sir Geoffrey ROWLAND (since June 2005)
cabinet:
Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
  • the monarchy is hereditary;
  • lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch;
  • chief minister elected by States of Deliberation
election results:
Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA

Legislative branch

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments

elections:
last held on 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Judicial branch

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]

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 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

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.

24 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.742billion
(2005)country comparison to the world: 178official exchange rate: $2.742 billion (2005)
GDP per capita, PPP
$44,600
(2005)country comparison to the world: 13
Real growth rate
3%
(2005 est.)country comparison to the world: 121industrial production growth: NA%
Inflation, consumer prices
3.4%
(June 2006)country comparison to the world: 102

GDP - composition by sector(2000)

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

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. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

Labor force

31,470 (March 2006) country comparison to the world: 203

Unemployment rate

0.9% (March 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

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

Imports - commodities

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Exchange rates

Guernsey pound 0.6504 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006) note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
43,800
(2004)
Fixed lines
45,100
(2009) · country code .gg

Telephone system

general assessment:
NA
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

Broadcast media

  • multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010;
  • satellite packages are available;
  • BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet users

48,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Transportation

3 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
1

Airports

2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 209

Ports and terminals

Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port

Military

3 fields

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
12,404
females age 16-49:
12,510 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

1 field

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guernsey.” The World Factbook 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guernsey/2010.