2024 Edition Primary

Background

Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the main island of Guernsey and a number of smaller islands, including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou. The Bailiwick is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Area

land

78 sq km

note

note: 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

highest point

Le Moulin on Sark 114 m

lowest point

English Channel 0 m

Geographic coordinates

49 28 N, 2 35 W

Geography - note

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous

Natural resources

cropland

Terrain

mostly flat with low hills in southwest

Age structure

0-14 years

14.3% (male 4,999/female 4,717)

15-64 years

64.1% (male 21,937/female 21,547)

65 years and over

21.5% (2024 est.) (male 6,776/female 7,811)

Birth rate

9.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

24.6

note

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey

potential support ratio

4.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.6

youth dependency ratio

23.9

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 94.2% of population

note

note: includes data for Jersey

unimproved: total

total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Guernsey 53.5%, UK and Ireland 23.8%, Portugal 2.1%, Latvia 1.4%, other Europe 2.7%, other Crown Dependencies 0.7%, other 5.3%, unspecified 10.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: data represent population by country of birth; the native population is of British and Norman-French descent

Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

86.4 years

male

80.9 years

total population

83.6 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

46.2 years

male

43.8 years

total

45 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population

female

34,075 (2024 est.)

male

33,712

total

67,787

Population growth rate

0.21% (2024 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 98% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

note

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 1.2% of population (2017)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

rate of urbanization

0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31.2% of total population (2023)

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

note

note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed - Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark - but they are generally not included in the enumeration of parishes

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

Saint Peter Port is the name of the town and its surrounding parish; the "port" distinguishes this parish from that of Saint Peter on the other side of the island

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)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

amendments

new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote; many laws have been passed; in 2019, 60 laws were passed

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Bailiwick of Guernsey

conventional short form

Guernsey

etymology

the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"

former

Norman Isles

Dependency status

British crown dependency

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch

cabinet

none

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)

election results

2020: Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5%2016: Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term; last held on 7 October 2020 (next to be held in 2024)

head of government

Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 13 December 2023)

note

note: the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government; the Policy and Resources Committee, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive; the 5 members all have equal voting rights

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 William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

Government type

parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)

Independence

none (British Crown dependency)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

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 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 Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, 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 Bailiff and a number of jurats

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

customary legal system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - GPI 24.0%, GP 10%, APG 3.4%, independent 62.6%; seats - GPI 10, GP 6, independent 22, States of Alderney 2; composition - men 32, women 8, percentage women 20%

elections

last held on 7 October 2020 (next to be held in June 2025)

note

note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general

National anthem

lyrics/music

George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO

name

"Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

note

note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National symbol(s)

Guernsey cow, donkey; national colors: red, white, yellow

Political parties

Alliance Party Guernsey or APG Guernsey Partnership of Independents or GPI Guernsey Party or GP 

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Economic overview

high-income English Channel island economy; strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions; manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover; stable inflation; maintains independent taxation authority

Exchange rates

Currency

Guernsey pound per US dollar

Exchange rates 2019

0.783 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.78 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.805 (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings, scientific instruments (2022)

Exports - partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.8% (2022 est.)

industry

8.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

92% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.228 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Imports - commodities

ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)

Imports - partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Industrial production growth rate

1.64% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Industries

tourism, banking

Labor force

86,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$3.451 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$3.465 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-8.47% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

15.46% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.81% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$52,500 (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Unemployment rate 2021

6.61% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.91% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.98% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

13.2% (2023 est.)

male

13.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

13.5% (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

note

note: includes Guernsey and Jersey

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

40 (2020 est.)

total

25,336 (2020 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

Internet country code

.gg

Internet users

percent of population

86.6% (2021 est.)

total

55,069 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 53 per 100 and mobile-cellular 112 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

fixed network broadband services are those delivered over physical copper connections, fiber connections and fixed wireless communications links (e.g. WiMax); they do not include services delivered over 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks (2021)

international

country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

33,930 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

112 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

71,485 (2021 est.)

Airports

2 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

2

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

9 (registered in UK)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020) (registered in UK)

Ports

key ports

Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

ports with oil terminals

2

small

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Roadways

total

260 km (2017)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Illicit drugs

NA

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity due to land abandonment and succession to scrub or woodland

Urbanization

note

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

rate of urbanization

0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31.2% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

178,933 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

50,871 tons (2016 est.)

note

note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28.4% (2016 est.)