2010 Edition

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 or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Area

land

78 sq km

total

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

highest point

unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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

other

NA

permanent crops

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.5% (male 4,799/female 4,673) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 22,056/female 22,410) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 5,009/female 6,537) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.25 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

British 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

female

3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.87 years (2010 est.)

male

79.43 years

total population

82.08 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

female

42.9 years (2010 est.)

male

40.9 years

total

41.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

2.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

64,775 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.466% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.049 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

31% of total population (2008)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

49 27 N, 2 32 W

name

Saint Peter Port

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

cabinet

Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005)

election results

Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation

head of government

Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008); Bailiff Sir Geoffrey ROWLAND (since June 2005)

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; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings

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 elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

elections

last held on 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

name

"Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

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

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle

Debt - external

$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

Exchange rates

Guernsey pound 0.6504 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006) note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

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

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.)

Broadcast media

multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet country code

.gg

Internet hosts

197 (2010)

Internet users

48,300 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 44; 1 submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use

45,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,800 (2004)

Airports

2 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,404 females age 16-49: 12,510 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

350 (2010 est.)

male

347

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================