2014 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

78 sq km 78 sq km 0 sq km includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

total

78 sq km

water

0 sq km

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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m

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

NA NA NA

arable land

NA

other

NA

permanent crops

NA

Location

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

3 nm 12 nm

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

14.6% (male 4,967/female 4,629) 11.9% (male 3,993/female 3,854) 42.2% (male 13,991/female 13,800) 12.9% (male 4,229/female 4,249) 17.9% (male 5,469/female 6,668) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

14.6% (male 4,967/female 4,629)

15-24 years

11.9% (male 3,993/female 3,854)

25-54 years

42.2% (male 13,991/female 13,800)

55-64 years

12.9% (male 4,229/female 4,249)

65 years and over

17.9% (male 5,469/female 6,668) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

9.89 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate

8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

46.4 % 21.7 % 24.7 % data represents the Channel Islands (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

24.7 %

potential support ratio

4

total dependency ratio

46.4 %

youth dependency ratio

21.7 %

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

3.47 deaths/1,000 live births 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

3.47 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

82.39 years 79.72 years 85.2 years (2014 est.)

female

85.2 years (2014 est.)

total population

82.39 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

43.1 years 41.9 years 44.2 years (2014 est.)

female

44.2 years (2014 est.)

male

41.9 years

total

43.1 years

Nationality

Channel Islander(s) Channel Islander

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Population

65,849 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.36% (2014 est.)

Religions

Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.55 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Urbanization

31.2% of total population (2011) 0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

31.2% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes

Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale

Capital

Saint Peter Port 49 27 N, 2 32 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice

Country name

Bailiwick of Guernsey Guernsey

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

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011) Chief Minister Jonathan LE TOCQ (since 12 March 2014); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012) note - Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD resigned 25 February 2014 Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation Peter HARWOOD elected chief minister, percent of vote NA

cabinet

Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011)

election results

Peter HARWOOD elected chief minister, percent of vote NA

elections

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

head of government

Chief Minister Jonathan LE TOCQ (since 12 March 2014); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012) note - Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD resigned 25 February 2014

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

Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with a 1 judge and 4 jurats); note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) Royal Court Balliff, Deputy Balliff and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Balliff and a number of jurats Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas

highest court(s)

Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with a 1 judge and 4 jurats); note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office

Royal Court Balliff, Deputy Balliff and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Balliff and a number of jurats

subordinate courts

Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas

Legal system

customary legal system based on Norman customary law, and includes elements of the French Civil Code and English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; note - there are also 10 Douzaine representatives - one from each parish, 2 representatives from Alderney and the appointed attorney general and soliciter general); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016) percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

elections

last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

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

lyrics/music

George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO

name

"Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National symbol(s)

Guernsey cow; donkey

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

Budget

$563.6 million $530.9 million (2005)

expenditures

$530.9 million (2005)

revenues

$563.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.2% of GDP (2005)

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. In January 2013, Guernsey signed a tax agreement with Jersey and the Isle of Man, in order to enable the islands' authorities to end tax avoidance and evasion. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

Exchange rates

Guernsey pound per US dollar 0.6307 (2014) 0.6391 (2013) 0.6472 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

3% 10% 87% (2000)

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 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.742 billion (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 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%

Taxes and other revenues

20.6% of GDP (2005)

Unemployment rate

0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet country code

.gg

Internet hosts

239 (2012)

Internet users

48,300 (2009)

Telephone system

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2011)

domestic

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

international

country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

45,100 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,800 (2004)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port

major seaport(s)

Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port

Manpower fit for military service

12,493 12,272 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

12,272 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

12,493

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

342 (2010 est.)

female

342 (2010 est.)

male

354

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none