Guernsey (2001) | Jersey (2003) | |
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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 St. Peter Port, St. Sampson, Vale, Castel, St. Saviour, St. Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, St. Martin, St. Andrew | none (British crown dependency) |
Age structure | 0-14 years:
16.22% (male 5,285; female 5,151) 15-64 years: 66.67% (male 21,264; female 21,630) 65 years and over: 17.11% (male 4,546; female 6,466) (2001 est.) |
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 8,292; female 7,744)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 30,178; female 30,410) 65 years and over: 15% (male 5,858; female 7,674) (2003 est.) |
Agriculture - products | tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle | potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products |
Airports | 2 (2000 est.) | 1 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
Area | total:
194 sq km land: 194 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands |
total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly larger than Washington, DC | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | The island of 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 island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. |
Birth rate | 9.9 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) | 10.44 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Budget | revenues:
$381.3 million expenditures: $368.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.) |
Capital | Saint Peter Port | Saint Helier |
Climate | temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast | temperate; mild winters and cool summers |
Coastline | 50 km | 70 km |
Constitution | unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice | unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
Country name | conventional long form:
Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey |
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey |
Currency | British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound | British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound |
Death rate | 9.87 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) | 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Debt - external | $NA | none |
Dependency status | British crown dependency | British crown dependency |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (British crown dependency) | none (British crown dependency) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (British crown dependency) | none (British crown dependency) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | $NA | none |
Economy - overview | Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates. | The economy is based largely on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | - |
Electricity - exports | NA kWh | - |
Electricity - imports | NA kWh | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France |
Electricity - production | NA kWh | - |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
- |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Ethnic groups | UK and Norman-French descent | UK and Norman-French descent |
Exchange rates | Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound | Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound |
Executive branch | chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Sir John FOLEY (since NA 2000) and Bailiff De Vic G. CAREY (since NA) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch |
Exports | $NA | $NA |
Exports - commodities | tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables | light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles |
Exports - partners | UK (regarded as internal trade) | UK |
Fiscal year | calendar year | 1 April - 31 March |
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 | white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag and in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield holding the three lions of England in yellow |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.) | purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1999 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000) |
agriculture: 5%
industry: 2% services: 93% (1996) |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.) | purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate | 5.7% (1999 est.) | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 49 28 N, 2 35 W | 49 15 N, 2 10 W |
Geography - note | large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port | largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier |
Highways | total:
NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
total: 577 km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Imports | $NA | $NA |
Imports - commodities | coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals |
Imports - partners | UK (regarded as internal trade) | UK |
Independence | none (British crown dependency) | none (British crown dependency) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | tourism, banking | tourism, banking and finance, dairy |
Infant mortality rate | 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) | total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.99% (2000 est.) | 4.7% (1998) |
International organization participation | none | - |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | NA | NA |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | Royal Court | Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) |
Labor force | 31,322 (2000) | 57,050 (1996) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% |
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
Languages | English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts | English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts |
Legal system | English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court | English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
Legislative branch | unicameral Assembly of the States; consists of the Bailiff, 10 Douzaine (parish council) representatives, 45 People's Deputies elected by popular franchise, 2 Alderney representatives, HM Procureur (Attorney General), HM Comptroller (Solicitor General) and HM Greffier (Court Recorder and Registrar General)
elections: last held 12 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents |
unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 52 |
Life expectancy at birth | total population:
79.78 years male: 76.78 years female: 82.88 years (2001 est.) |
total population: 78.93 years
male: 76.48 years female: 81.57 years (2003 est.) |
Literacy | definition:
NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
Location | Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France | Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France |
Map references | Europe | Europe |
Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone:
12 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
Merchant marine | none (2000 est.) | none (2002 est.) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the UK | defense is the responsibility of the UK |
National holiday | Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) | Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) |
Nationality | noun:
Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander |
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | cropland | arable land |
Net migration rate | 3.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) | 2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Political parties and leaders | none; all independents | none; all independents |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | none |
Population | 64,342 (July 2001 est.) | 90,156 (July 2003 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | 0.39% (2001 est.) | 0.4% (2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson | Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
Radios | NA | - |
Railways | 0 km | 0 km |
Religions | Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist | Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian |
Sex ratio | at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | NA years of age; universal adult |
Telephone system | general assessment:
NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable |
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables |
Telephones - main lines in use | 44,000 (1996) | 65,500 (1997) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 12,000 (1997) | 4,400 (1997) |
Television broadcast stations | 1 (1997) | 2 (1997) |
Terrain | mostly level with low hills in southwest | gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast |
Total fertility rate | 1.36 children born/woman (2001 est.) | 1.57 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 0.5% (1999 est.) | 0.7% (1998 est.) |
Waterways | none | none |