Guernsey

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) country comparison to the world: 196

Internet users

48,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 175

Telephone system

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) country comparison to the world: 165

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,800 (2004) country comparison to the world: 203

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.2% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 33

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 0.63 (2012) 0.62 (2011) 0.65 (2010) 0.62 (2009) 0.53 (2008)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.742 billion (2005) country comparison to the world: 184

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$44,600 (2005) country comparison to the world: 16

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

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) country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force

31,470 (March 2006) country comparison to the world: 205

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

20.6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 162

Unemployment rate

0.9% (March 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Area

total: 78 sq km country comparison to the world: 228 land: 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation on Sark 114 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 permanent crops: NA other: NA

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

cropland

Terrain

mostly level with low hills in southwest

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

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

Constitution

unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and 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

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011) head of government: Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD (since 1 May 2012); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation election results: Peter HARWOOD elected chief minister, percent of vote NA

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

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 elections: last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

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 Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

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

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.

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,493 females age 16-49: 12,272 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 354 female: 342 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 4,992/female 4,642) 15-24 years: 12.1% (male 4,023/female 3,901) 25-54 years: 42.3% (male 13,957/female 13,811) 55-64 years: 13% (male 4,252/female 4,266) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 5,281/female 6,480) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

9.95 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Death rate

8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 46 % youth dependency ratio: 21.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 24.2 % potential support ratio: 4.1 note: data represents the Channel Islands (2013)

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

total: 3.49 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 209 male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.32 years country comparison to the world: 7 male: 79.65 years female: 85.12 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

NA

Median age

total: 42.8 years male: 41.7 years female: 43.9 years (2013 est.)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Net migration rate

2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Population

65,605 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Population growth rate

0.38% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Urbanization

urban population: 31% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

2 (2013) country comparison to the world: 200

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

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