Guernsey
Introduction
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
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
Area - comparative
about one-half the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Coastline
50 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
12 nm
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain
mostly flat with low hills in southwest
Elevation
highest point
Le Moulin on Sark 114 m
lowest point
English Channel 0 m
Natural resources
cropland
Land use
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.)
forest
5.2% (2022 est.)
other
51.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous
Geography - note
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People and Society
Population
total
67,923 (2025 est.)
male
33,760
female
34,163
Nationality
noun
Channel Islander(s)
adjective
Channel Islander
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.)
Languages
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Religions
Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
56.8 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
22.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
34.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
45.1 years (2025 est.)
male
43.8 years
female
46.2 years
Population growth rate
0.19% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
9.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018)
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
65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female
2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
83.6 years (2024 est.)
male
80.9 years
female
86.4 years
Total fertility rate
1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.78 (2025 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity
Climate
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Land use
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.)
forest
5.2% (2022 est.)
other
51.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
178,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28.4% (2016 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form
Guernsey
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"
Government type
parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
Dependency status
British crown dependency
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
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
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
Legal system
customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
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
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)
head of government
Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
cabinet
none
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
most recent election date
7/1/2025
election results
<em>2025:</em> Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister<em><br><br>2020: </em>Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5%<em><br><br>2016:</em> Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister
expected date of next election
2029
Legislative branch
legislature name
States of Deliberation
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
38 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
4 years
most recent election date
7/1/2025
parties elected and seats per party
independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3)
percentage of women in chamber
20%
expected date of next election
2030
Judicial branch
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)
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
Political parties
Forward Guernsey
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
UPU
Independence
none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the red cross represents Guernsey's status as a British Crown dependency <br><br><strong>history:</strong> the gold cross is a replica of the one William the Conqueror carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
National symbol(s)
Guernsey cow, donkey
National color(s)
red, white, yellow
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
lyrics/music
unknown
history
official anthem, as a British crown dependency
Economy
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
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
9.9% (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$12.508 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
0.6% (2023 est.)
industry
8.2% (2023 est.)
services
91.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Industries
tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate
1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force
82,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
6.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
14.1% (2024 est.)
male
14.2% (2024 est.)
female
13.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities
aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022)
Imports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities
ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)
Exchange rates
Currency
Guernsey pound per US dollar
Exchange rates 2024
0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.78 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Communications
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.)
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
Internet users
percent of population
86.6% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
25,336 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
40 (2020 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
2
Airports
2 (2025)
Heliports
1 (2025)
Ports
total ports
3 (2024)
large
0
medium
0
small
1
very small
2
ports with oil terminals
2
key ports
Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK