Guernsey (2007) | Guernsey (2002) | |
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 | 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 |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 4,914/female 4,784)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 21,897/female 22,298) 65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,955/female 6,725) (2007 est.) |
0-14 years: 16% (male 5,250; female 5,101)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 21,356; female 21,728) 65 years and over: 17.3% (male 4,622; female 6,530) (2002 est.) |
Airports | 2 (2007) | 2 (2001) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
Area - comparative | about one-half the size of Washington, DC | slightly larger than Washington, DC |
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. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. | 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. |
Birth rate | 8.65 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) | 9.69 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
Budget | revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005) |
revenues: $381.3 million
expenditures: $368.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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 |
St. Peter Port |
Currency | - | British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound |
Death rate | 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) | 9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
Economy - overview | Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and 32% 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. | 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. |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2002) | NA kWh |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2002) | NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
Ethnic groups | UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries | UK and Norman-French descent |
Exchange rates | Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound |
Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.6944 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound |
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 Michael W. TORODE (since 5 March 2007) 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: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA |
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 |
Exports - partners | UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006) | UK (regarded as internal trade) |
GDP | - | purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.) |
GDP - per capita | - | purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate | 3% (2005 est.) | 5.7% (1999 est.) |
Highways | - | total: NA km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
Imports - partners | UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006) | UK (regarded as internal trade) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.4% (June 2006) | 3.99% (2000 est.) |
International organization participation | UPU | none |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | NA |
Irrigated land | NA | NA sq km |
Labor force | 31,470 (March 2006) | 31,322 (2000) |
Land use | arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA% other: NA% |
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA% other: NA% (1998 est.) |
Legal system | the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court | English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
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 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents |
unicameral Assembly of the States; consists of the bailiff, 10 Douzaine (parish council) representatives, 45 people's deputies elected by popular vote, 2 representatives from Alderney, Her Majesty's Procureur (Attorney General), Her Majesty's Comptroller (Solicitor General) and Her Majesty's Greffier (Court Recorder and Registrar General); note - Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments
elections: last held 12 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 80.53 years
male: 77.53 years female: 83.64 years (2007 est.) |
total population: 79.9 years
male: 76.91 years female: 83.01 years (2002 est.) |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
Merchant marine | - | none (2002 est.) |
Net migration rate | 3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) | 3.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
Population | 65,573 (July 2007 est.) | 64,587 (July 2002 est.) |
Population growth rate | 0.239% (2007 est.) | 0.37% (2002 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | St. Peter Port, Saint Sampson |
Radios | - | NA |
Railways | - | 5 km |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.027 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.982 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.737 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
Telephones - main lines in use | 45,100 (2005) | 44,000 (1996) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 43,800 (2004) | 12,000 (1997) |
Total fertility rate | 1.4 children born/woman (2007 est.) | 1.36 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 0.9% (March 2006 est.) | 0.5% (1999 est.) |
Waterways | - | none |