1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 194 km2 land area: 194 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline
50 km
Environment
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
in the English Channel, 52 km west of France between UK and France
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
cropland
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
People and Society
Birth rate
13.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
10.08 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA
Languages
English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.96 years male: 75.27 years female: 80.68 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
7.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
63,075 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
1.02% (1993 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Total fertility rate
1.66 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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
Digraph
GK
Diplomatic representation in US
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 and Commander in Chief 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
Member of
none
Names
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
British crown dependency
US diplomatic representation
none (British crown dependency)
Economy
Agriculture
tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Budget
revenues $208.9 million; expenditures $173.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
Currency
1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
Economic aid
none
Electricity
173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,060 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); 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
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)
National product
GDP - $NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
9% (1987)
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
Airports
total: 2 useable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
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