2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography
Area
total: 78 sq km land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative
about one-half the size of 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
Geographic coordinates
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Geography - note
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA
Location
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
cropland
Terrain
mostly level with low hills in southwest
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 4,849/female 4,727) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,013/female 22,380) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 4,988/female 6,769) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
8.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.65 years male: 77.64 years female: 83.76 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
NA
Median age
total: 42.1 years male: 41 years female: 43 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
65,726 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.228% (2008 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Capital
name: Saint Peter Port geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005) head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Flag description
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
UPU
Judicial branch
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Budget
revenues: $563.6 million expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)
Currency (code)
Guernsey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender
Currency code
GBP
Debt - external
$NA
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Economy - overview
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exchange rates
Guernsey pound 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) 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; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$44,600 (2005)
GDP - real growth rate
3% (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.742 billion (2005)
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; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.4% (June 2006)
Labor force
31,470 (March 2006)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.gg
Internet hosts
156 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
36,000 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Telephones - main lines in use
45,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
43,800 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals
Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Military and Security
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 379 female: 353 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008