1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 194 sq km land: 194 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area--comparative
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline
50 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Environment--current issues
NA
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Geography--note
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
cropland
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,012; female 5,875) 15-64 years: 66% (male 21,287; female 22,165) 65 years and over: 16% (male 4,069; female 5,978) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
14.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
8.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.72 years male: 75.78 years female: 81.77 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
65,386 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.27% (1999 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Capital
Saint Peter Port
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code
GK
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Sir Graham Martyn DOREY (since NA February 1992) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
Flag description
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Government type
NA
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Legal system
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats--33 elected by popular vote; members serve six-year terms) elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Budget
revenues: $277.9 million expenditures: $248.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Currency
1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$NA
Economy--overview
Financial services?banking, fund management, insurance, etc.--account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates.
Electricity--consumption
NA kWh
Electricity--exports
NA kWh
Electricity--imports
NA kWh
Electricity--production
NA kWh
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA
Exports--commodities
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports--partners
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
$NA
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
$NA
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$NA
Imports--commodities
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports--partners
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7% (1988)
Labor force
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
3%-4% (1994 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Telephones
41,850 (1983 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
2 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none