1989 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1989 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline
SO km
Comparative area
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
large, deepwater harbor at St. Peter Port
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land boundaries
none
Land use
NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; about 50% cultivated
Natural resources
cropland
Note
52 km west of France
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
194 km2; land area: 194 km2; includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
People and Society
Birth rate
12 births/ 1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
11 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
6 deaths/ 1 ,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
NA
Language
English, French; NormanFrench dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Literacy
NA%, but universal education
Nationality
noun — Channel Islander(s); adjective — Channel Islander
Net migration rate
6 migrants/ 1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
NA
Population
57,227 (July 1990), growth rate 0.7% (1990)
Religion
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Total fertility rate
1 .6 children born/ woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Capital
St. Peter Port
Communists
none
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Diplomatic representation
none (British crown dependency)
Elections
States of Deliberation — last held NA (next to be held NA); resultspercent of vote NA; seats — (60 total, 33 elected), all independents
Executive branch
British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff, deputy bailiff
Flag
white with the red cross of St. George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court
Leaders
Chief of State — Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government — Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Alexander BOSWELL (since 1985); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982) Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Legal system
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch
States of Deliberation
Long-form name
Bailiwick of Guernsey
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
British crown dependency
Economy
Agriculture
tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle
Aid
none
Budget
revenues $145.0 million; expenditures $1 17.2 million, including capital expenditures of N A (1985)
Currency
Guernsey pound (plural — pounds); 1 Guernsey (£G) pound = 100 pence
Electricity
173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,340 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Guernsey pounds (£G) per US$1— 0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note— the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal yean calendar year
Exports
SNA; commodities — tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables; partners — UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt
SNA
GDP
SNA, per capita SNA; real growth rate 9% (1987)
Imports
SNA; commodities — coal, gasoline and oil; partners — UK (regarded as internal trade)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7% (1988)
Overview
Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic activity includes financial services, breeding the world-famous Guernsey cattle, and growing tomatoes and flowers for export.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airport
1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La Villiaze)
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Ports
St. Peter Port, St. Sampson
Telecommunications
stations — 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable Defense Forces