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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.gg

Internet users [time series]

total: 55,050 | percent of population: 83.3% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available | international: country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 36,547 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 71,249 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $563.6 million | expenditures: $530.9 million (2005 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

1.2% of GDP (2005) | country comparison to the world: 20

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Financial services account for about 40% 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 October 2014, Guernsey signed an OECD agreement to automatically exchange some financial account information to limit tax avoidance and evasion.

Exchange rates [time series]

Guernsey pound per US dollar | 0.738 (2016) | 0.738 (2015) | 0.6542 (2014) | 0.607 (2013) | 0.63 (2012)

Exports [time series]

$NA

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.742 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$3.465 billion (2015 est.) | $3.451 billion (2014 est.) | $3.42 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 dollars | country comparison to the world: 181

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 3% | industry: 10% | services: 87% (2000)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$52,500 (2014 est.) | $52,500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

0.4% (2015 est.) | 1.2% (2014 est.) | 4.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$NA

Imports - commodities [time series]

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery, and equipment

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.4% (June 2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Labor force [time series]

31,470 (March 2006) | country comparison to the world: 204

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

20.6% of GDP (2005) | country comparison to the world: 147

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Energy

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 78 sq km | land: 78 sq km | water: 0 sq km | note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands | country comparison to the world: 228

Area - comparative [time series]

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

50 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: English Channel 0 m | highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

49 28 N, 2 35 W

Geography - note [time series]

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 3 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

cropland

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat with low hills in southwest

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 - the parish of Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and the parish of Saint Peter on the island of Sark - but they are generally not included in the enumeration of parishes

Capital [time series]

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

Citizenship [time series]

see United Kingdom

Constitution [time series]

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 (2016)

Country name [time series]

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"

Dependency status [time series]

British crown dependency

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Vice Admiral Ian CORDER (since 14 March 2016) | head of government: Chief Minister Gavin ST.PIER (since 6 May 2016); Bailiff Sir Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012); 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 | 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 6 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Gavin ST.PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation); a Crown dependency of the UK

Independence [time series]

none (British crown dependency)

International organization participation [time series]

UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

highest resident 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; Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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); note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general | elections: last held on 27 April 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 38

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National symbol(s) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none; all independents

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the EU. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. 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.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.51% (male 4,984/female 4,665) | 15-24 years: 11.13% (male 3,780/female 3,620) | 25-54 years: 41.67% (male 13,995/female 13,719) | 55-64 years: 13.11% (male 4,332/female 4,387) | 65 years and over: 19.58% (male 5,929/female 7,091) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Death rate [time series]

9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 47.1 | youth dependency ratio: 21.6 | elderly dependency ratio: 25.4 | potential support ratio: 3.9 | note: data represent the Guernsey and Jersey (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 82.6 years | male: 79.9 years | female: 85.4 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Median age [time series]

total: 43.8 years | male: 42.5 years | female: 45.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Nationality [time series]

noun: Channel Islander(s) | adjective: Channel Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Population [time series]

66,502 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Population growth rate [time series]

0.3% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.56 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 31.7% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | note: data are for Guernsey and Jersey

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 200

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 2 (registered in UK) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 (registered in UK) (2015)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port