Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Europe Saint Peter Port

Population

67.9K

Area

78 km²

GDP

$12.51B

GDP Per Capita

N/A

Pop. Density

871/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

£British pound(GBP)

Calling Code

+44

Timezone

UTC+00:00

Languages

English, French, Guernésiais

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Channel Islander

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.

Geography16

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

Natural hazards

very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous

Geography - note

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People & Society19

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.)

Government22

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

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

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

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

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

Economy15

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.)

Energy1

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Communications6

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.)