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Guernsey, See : Flags, Maps

Guernsey (Europe)

Introduction :: Guernsey

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.

Geography :: Guernsey

Geography
Location

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

49 28 N, 2 35 W

Map references

Europe
Area

total : 78 sq km

land: 78 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

comparison ranking: total 226
Area - comparative

about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries

total: 0 km
Coastline

50 km
Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate

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

mostly flat with low hills in southwest
Elevation

highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m

lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Natural resources

cropland
Irrigated land

NA
Natural hazards

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

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People and Society
Population

total: 67,787

male: 33,712

female: 34,075 (2024 est.)

comparison rankings: female 204; male 203; total 203
Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s)

adjective: Channel Islander
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: data represent population by country of birth; the native population is of British and Norman-French descent
Languages

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

Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
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)
2023 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.6

youth dependency ratio: 23.9

elderly dependency ratio: 24.6

potential support ratio: 4.1 (2021 est.)

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
Median age

total: 45 years (2024 est.)

male: 43.8 years

female: 46.2 years

comparison ranking: total 23
Population growth rate

0.21% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 176
Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 192
Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 54
Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 55
Urbanization

urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)

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

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population

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

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate

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

male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 197
Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.9 years

female: 86.4 years

comparison ranking: total population 11
Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 188
Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA
Drinking water source

improved: total: 94.2% of population

unimproved: total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)

note: includes data for Jersey
Current health expenditure

NA
Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 98% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 1.2% of population (2017)

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA
Education expenditures

NA
Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Environment
Environment - current issues

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

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

urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)

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

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)

note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
Government
Country name

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey

conventional short form: Guernsey

former: Norman Isles

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

parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
Dependency status

British crown dependency
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

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
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: 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
Independence

none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Legal system

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

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

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
Citizenship

see United Kingdom
Suffrage

16 years of age; universal
Executive branch

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

head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 13 December 2023)

cabinet: none

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)

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

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
Legislative branch

legislature name: States of Deliberation

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 40 (directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 10/7/2020

parties elected and seats per party: GPI (10); GP (6); independent (22); States of Alderney (2)

percentage of women in chamber: 20%

expected date of next election: June 2025

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

Alliance Party Guernsey or APG
Guernsey Partnership of Independents or GPI
Guernsey Party or GP
International organization participation

UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (British crown dependency)
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
National symbol(s)

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

name: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO

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

Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.465 billion (2015 est.)
$3.451 billion (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 195
Real GDP growth rate

3.72% (2023 est.)
5.34% (2022 est.)
15.46% (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 88
Real GDP per capita

$52,500 (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 40
GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.508 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

industry: 8.2% (2023 est.)

services: 91.2% (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 6; industry 204; agriculture 196
Agricultural products

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

tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate

1.26% (2023 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 125
Labor force

83,000 (2023 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 184
Unemployment rate

5.98% (2023 est.)
5.91% (2022 est.)
6.61% (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 122
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.5% (2023 est.)

male: 13.7% (2023 est.)

female: 13.2% (2023 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 105
Exports - partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities

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

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities

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

Guernsey pound per US dollar

Exchange rates:
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)

Energy
Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

note: includes Guernsey and Jersey
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 33,930 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 165
Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 71,485 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 197
Telecommunication systems

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)

domestic: fixed-line 53 per 100 and mobile-cellular 112 per 100 persons (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)
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 25,336 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: total 162
Transportation
National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in UK)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 (registered in UK)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

2
Airports

2 (2024)

comparison ranking: 207
Roadways

total: 260 km (2017)

comparison ranking: total 206
Ports