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. However, the UK
Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.
Geography
Guernsey
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
total: 42.1 years
male: 41 years female: 43 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.228% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
8.57 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
10.09 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64
years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74
male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.53 deaths/1,000
live births male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.65
years male: 77.64 years female: 83.76 years (2008
est.)
UK and Norman-French descent
with small percentages from other European countries
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic,
Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Languages:
English, French, Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy:
NA
Government
Guernsey
Country name:
conventional long form:
Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
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
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown
dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest,
Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint
Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes,
partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where
applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor
Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005) head of government:
Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy
Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the
monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief
minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results:
Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of
Deliberation NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral States of
Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four
years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments elections:
last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election
results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by
an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
Economy
Guernsey
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. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations
is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
tomatoes, flowers and ferns,
sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports - partners:
UK; note - regarded as internal
trade (2006)
Imports:
Imports - commodities:
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery
and equipment
Imports - partners:
UK; note - regarded as internal
trade (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Debt - external:
Currency (code):
Guernsey pound note:
the British pound is also legal tender
Currency code:
GBP
Exchange rates:
Guernsey pounds per US dollar -
0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Guernsey
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,800 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
