Guernsey Country Information
Travel Advice with Country Information from the CIA.
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Introduction
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 occupied by German troops in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. 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.
Geography
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Europe
total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
country comparison to the world: 227
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
total: 0 km
50 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
mostly flat with low hills in southwest
highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m
lowest point: English Channel 0 m
cropland
NA
very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People and Society
67,334 (July 2021 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Guernsey 52.9%, UK and Ireland 23.9%, Portugal 2.2%, Latvia 1.5%, other Europe 2.9%, other 4.6%, unspecified 12% (2019 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth; the native population is of British and Norman-French descent
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
Government
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
former: Norman Isles
etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"
parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
British crown dependency
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
etymology: Saint Peter Port is the name of the town and its surrounding parish; the "port" distinguishes this parish from that of Saint Peter on the other side of the island
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
note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed - Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark - but they are generally not included in the enumeration of parishes
none (British Crown dependency)
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
history: unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice
amendments: new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote; many laws have been passed; in 2019, 60 laws were passed
customary legal system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
see United Kingdom
16 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Vice Admiral Ian CORDER (since 14 March 2016)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter FERBRACHE (since 16 October 2020); Bailiff Richard MCMAHON (since 11 May 2020); 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
elections/appointments: 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; last held on 6 May 2016 (next to be held in June 2020)
election results: Gavin ST PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister
description: unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general
elections: last held on 27 April 2016 (next to be held in June 2020)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 38; composition - men 27, women 13, percent of women 32.5%
highest courts: 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); 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 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
subordinate courts: Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas
none; all independents
International organization participation
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: none (British crown dependency)
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 in 1066
Guernsey cow, donkey; national colors: red, white, yellow
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" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Financial services accounted for about 21% of employment and about 32% of total income in 2016 in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Construction, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, professional services, tourism, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular offshore financial center.
Communications
total subscriptions: 36,547
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
total subscriptions: 71,249
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
general assessment: high performance global connections with quality service; connections to major cities around the world to rival and attract future investment and future needs of islanders and businesses (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular 113 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 44; landing points for Guernsey-Jersey, HUGO, INGRID, Channel Islands -9 Liberty and UK-Channel Islands-7 submarine cable to UK and France (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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
.gg
total: 55,050
percent of population: 83.3% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Transportation
number of registered air carriers: 1 (registered in UK) (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 (registered in UK)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
2
total: 2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 198
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2019)
total: 260 km (2017)
country comparison to the world: 204
major seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
Military and Security
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
none
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