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.
Location
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references
Europe
Area
total
78 sq km
land
78 sq km
water
0 sq km
note
includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
50 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
3 nm
exclusive fishing zone
12 nm
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources
cropland
Land use
arable land
NA%
permanent crops
NA%
other
NA%
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Geography - note
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Population
65,573 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
14.8% (male 4,914/female 4,784)
15-64 years
67.4% (male 21,897/female 22,298)
65 years and over
17.8% (male 4,955/female 6,725) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
41.7 years
male
40.7 years
female
42.6 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.239% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
8.65 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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.)
Infant mortality rate
total
4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male
5.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female
4.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
80.53 years
male
77.53 years
female
83.64 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.4 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
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%
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
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court
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
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
International organization participation
UPU
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 - 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP - real growth rate
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$44,600 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
3%
industry
10%
services
87% (2000)
Labor force
31,470 (March 2006)
Unemployment rate
0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.4% (June 2006)
Budget
revenues
$563.6 million
expenditures
$530.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
