Guernsey
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Guernsey⌘K
Overview
- Background
- Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. 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. The Bailiwick is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 78 sq km
- Note
- note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
- Water
- 0 sq km
- Total
- 78 sq km
- Climate
- temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
- Terrain
- mostly flat with low hills in southwest
Land Use
- Other
- 51.6% (2022 est.)
- Forest
- 5.2% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 43.3% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
- Location
- Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
- Coastline
- 50 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- English Channel 0 m
- Highest point
- Le Moulin on Sark 114 m
- Irrigated land
- NA
- Map references
- Europe
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 0 km
Maritime Claims
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Exclusive fishing zone
- 12 nm
- Natural hazards
- very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous
- Geography note
- large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
- Natural resources
- cropland
- Area comparative
- about one-half the size of Washington, D.C.
- Geographic coordinates
- 49 28 N, 2 35 W
People & Society
- Languages
- English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
- Religions
- Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 9.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 43.8 years
- Total
- 45.1 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 46.2 years
Population
- Male
- 33,760
- Total
- 67,923 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 34,163
Nationality
- Noun
- Channel Islander(s)
- Adjective
- Channel Islander
Urbanization
- Note
- note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
- Urban population
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age Structure
- 0 14 years
- 14.3% (male 4,999/female 4,717)
- 15 64 years
- 64.1% (male 21,937/female 21,547)
- 65 years and over
- 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 6,776/female 7,811)
- Ethnic groups
- Guernsey 53.5%, UK and Ireland 23.8%, Portugal 2.1%, Latvia 1.4%, other Europe 2.7%, other Crown Dependencies 0.7%, other 5.3%, unspecified 10.5% (2022 est.)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 56.8 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 22.4 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 2.9 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 34.4 (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- 1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 0.19% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.78 (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 80.9 years
- Female
- 86.4 years
- Total population
- 83.6 years (2024 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018)
Government
- 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 on top of the Saint George cross
meaning: the red cross represents Guernsey's status as a British Crown dependency
history: the gold cross is a replica of the one William the Conqueror carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Capital
- Name
- Saint Peter Port
- Etymology
- named for the patron saint of fishermen; "port" distinguishes it from the Saint Peter (sometimes called Saint Peter in the Wood) on the other side of the island
- 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
- Geographic coordinates
- 49 27 N, 2 32 W
- Suffrage
- 16 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- see United Kingdom
Constitution
- History
- unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice
- Amendment process
- new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote
Country Name
- Former
- Norman Isles
- Etymology
- the name is of Old Norse origin; the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is unclear but may refer to a person's name, Grani, or to the color green; the "-ey" ending means "island"
- Conventional long form
- Bailiwick of Guernsey
- Conventional short form
- Guernsey
- Independence
- none (British Crown dependency)
- Legal system
- customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
- 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 1 judge and 4 jurats)
- Subordinate courts
- Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas
- 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
Executive Branch
- Note
- 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
- Chief of state
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)
- Election results
- 2025: Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister
2020: Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5%
2016: Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister - Head of government
- Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
- Most recent election date
- 7/1/2025
- Election/appointment process
- 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
- Expected date of next election
- 2029
- National holiday
- Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
- Dependency status
- British crown dependency
- National color(s)
- red, white, yellow
- Political parties
- Forward Guernsey
Legislative Branch
- Note
- note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Number of seats
- 38 (directly elected)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Legislature name
- States of Deliberation
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 7/1/2025
- Expected date of next election
- 2030
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 20%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "God Save the King"
- History
- official anthem, as a British crown dependency
- Lyrics/music
- unknown
- National symbol(s)
- Guernsey cow, donkey
- Administrative divisions
- no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- none (British crown dependency)
- International organisations
- UPU
Economy
- Industries
- tourism, banking
- Labor force
- 82,400 (2024 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Guernsey pound per US dollar
- Exchange rates 2020
- 0.78 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 0.727 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 0.811 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 0.805 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 0.782 (2024 est.)
- Economic overview
- high-income English Channel island economy; strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions; manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover; stable inflation; maintains independent taxation authority
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 6.3% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 6.2% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 6.2% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 6.3% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
- Imports partners
- almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
- Real GDP growth rate 2021
- 9.9% (2021 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 5.3% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 3.7% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural products
- tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
- Exports commodities
- aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022)
- Imports commodities
- ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $12.508 billion (2023 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 1.3% (2023 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 14.2% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 14.1% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 13.9% (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 8.2% (2023 est.)
- Services
- 91.2% (2023 est.)
- Agriculture
- 0.6% (2023 est.)
Energy
Electricity Access
- Note
- note: includes Guernsey and Jersey
- Electrification total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 86.6% (2021 est.)
- 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
- Internet country code
- .gg
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 32,637 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 51 (2023 est.)
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 75,126 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 117 (2023 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 25,336 (2020 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 40 (2020 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 1
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
- Very small
- 2
- Total ports
- 3 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 2
- Airports
- 2 (2025)
- Heliports
- 1 (2025)
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 2
Environment
- Climate
- temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Land Use
- Other
- 51.6% (2022 est.)
- Forest
- 5.2% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 43.3% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
- Note
- note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
- Urban population
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Note
- note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 28.4% (2016 est.)
- Environmental issues
- coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity
Military & Security
- Military note
- defense is the responsibility of the UK
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Guernsey — vintage 2026-Q1: Guernsey factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/guernsey
Sources: CIA World Factbook