1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline
50 km
Comparative area
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Disputes
none
Environment
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land area
194 km2; includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; cultivated about 50%
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
People and Society
Birth rate
12 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
11 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
NA
Languages
English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
72 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Literacy
NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age 5 to 16
Nationality
noun - Channel Islander(s); adjective - Channel Islander
Net migration rate
5 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
NA
Population
57,949 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Total fertility rate
1.6 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Assembly of the States
last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (60 total, 33 elected), all independents
Capital
Saint Peter Port
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Diplomatic representation
none (British crown dependency)
Executive branch
British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff, deputy bailiff
Flag
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Head of Government
Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Michael WILKINS (since NA 1990); Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court
Legal system
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States
Long-form name
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Member of
none
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
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
Budget
revenues $208.9 million; expenditures $173.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1988)
Currency
Guernsey pound (plural - pounds); 1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
Economic aid
none
Electricity
173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,340 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)
Imports
$NA 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
Ports
Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK