1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Affiliation

(British crown dependency)

Agriculture

tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle

Airports

total: 2 usable: 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

Area

total area: 194 sq km land area: 194 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

Assembly of the States

elections 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

Birth rate

13.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues: $208.9 million expenditures: $173.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Capital

Saint Peter Port

Climate

temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Coastline

50 km

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Currency

1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence

Death rate

9.97 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

GK

Diplomatic representation in US

none (British crown dependency)

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 173,000 kW production: 525 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,060 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Exchange rates

Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) 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) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees); appointed by the States

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

Flag

white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag

Highways

total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

Imports

$NA commodities: coal, gasoline, and oil partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, banking

Infant mortality rate

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (1988)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Royal Court

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Languages

English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Legal system

English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.15 years male: 75.45 years female: 80.88 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Western Europe, 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

Member of

none

Names

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

9% (1987)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Natural resources

cropland

Net migration rate

6.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Overview

Financial services account from more than 50% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major income generators.

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Population

63,719 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.01% (1994 est.)

Ports

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Religions

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable

Terrain

mostly level with low hills in southwest

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

British crown dependency

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)