Guernsey

noun:

Channel Islander(s)

adjective:

Channel Islander

total:

44.8 years (2023 est.)

male:

43.6 years

female:

46.1 years

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 (2023 est.)

total:

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male:

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

83.4 years (2023 est.)

male:

80.7 years

female:

86.2 years

improved:

total: 94.2% of population

unimproved:

total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)

note : includes data for Jersey

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

total:

15.8% (2021 est.)

male:

15.9%

female:

15.6%

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

municipal solid waste generated annually:

178,933 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

50,871 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

28.4% (2016 est.)

note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.

conventional long form:

Bailiwick of Guernsey

conventional short form:

Guernsey

former:

Norman Isles

etymology:

the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"

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:

• Saint Peter Port is the name of the town and its surrounding parish;
• the "port" distinguishes this parish from that of Saint Peter on the other side of the island

history:

unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice

amendments:

• new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation;
• passage requires majority vote;
• many laws have been passed;
• in 2019, 60 laws were passed

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 Peter FERBRACHE (since 16 October 2020);
• Bailiff Richard McMAHON (since 11 May 2020);
• 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

cabinet:

none

elections/appointments:

• 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;
• last held on 7 October 2020 (next to be held in 2024)

election results:

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

description:

• unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms);
• note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general

elections:

last held on 7 October 2020 (next to be held in June 2025)

election results:

• percent of vote - independents 62.6%, GPI 24.0%, GP 10.0%, APG 3.4%;
• seats - independents 22, GPI 10, GP 6;
• composition - men 32, women 8, percent of women 20%

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);
• note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

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

• Alliance Party Guernsey or APG [Barry WEIR]
• Guernsey Partnership of Independents or GPI [Gavin ST PIER]
• Guernsey Party or GP [Mark HEYLAR]

• 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 William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

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 King" is official (see United Kingdom)

• 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

total:

15.8% (2021 est.)

male:

15.9%

female:

15.6%

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

• 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 operating