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Europe :: Guernsey
(British crown dependency)
page last updated on April 29, 2013
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Guernsey
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Introduction ::Guernsey
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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 or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
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Geography ::Guernsey
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Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
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49 28 N, 2 35 W
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Europe
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total: 78 sq km
country comparison to the world: 228
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
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about one-half the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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50 km
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
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temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
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mostly level with low hills in southwest
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m
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cropland
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arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
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People and Society ::Guernsey
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noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
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British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries
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English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
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Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
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65,605 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
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0-14 years: 14.7% (male 4,992/female 4,642)
15-24 years: 12.1% (male 4,023/female 3,901)
25-54 years: 42.3% (male 13,957/female 13,811)
55-64 years: 13% (male 4,252/female 4,266)
65 years and over: 17.9% (male 5,281/female 6,480) (2013 est.)
population pyramid:
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total: 42.8 years
male: 41.7 years
female: 43.9 years (2013 est.)
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0.38% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
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9.95 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
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8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
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urban population: 31% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
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total: 3.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
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total population: 82.32 years
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 79.65 years
female: 85.12 years (2013 est.)
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1.54 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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Government ::Guernsey
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conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
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British crown dependency
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parliamentary democracy
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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
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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
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none (British crown dependency)
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Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
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unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
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customary legal system based on Norman customary law, and includes elements of the French Civil Code and English common law
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16 years of age; universal
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD (since 1 May 2012); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012)
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation
election results: Peter HARWOOD elected chief minister, percent of vote NA
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unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; note - there are also 10 Douzaine representatives - one from each parish, 2 representatives from Alderney and the appointed attorney general and soliciter general); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments
elections: last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
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Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
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none; all independents
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Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]
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UPU
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none (British crown dependency)
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none (British crown dependency)
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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
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Guernsey cow; donkey
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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" remains official (see United Kingdom)
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Economy ::Guernsey
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Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% 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. In January 2013, Guernsey signed a tax agreement with Jersey and the Isle of Man, in order to enable the islands' authorities to end tax avoidance and evasion. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
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$2.742 billion (2005)
country comparison to the world: 184
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$2.742 billion (2005)
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3% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
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$44,600 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 17
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)
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31,470 (March 2006)
country comparison to the world: 205
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0.9% (March 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)
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20.6% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 157
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1.2% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 27
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3.4% (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 91
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tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
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tourism, banking
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NA%
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$NA
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tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
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$NA
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coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
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$NA
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Guernsey pound
0.63 (2012)
0.62 (2011)
0.65 (2010)
0.62 (2009)
0.53 (2008)
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calendar year
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Communications ::Guernsey
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45,100 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 165
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43,800 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 202
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domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2011)
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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 (2009)
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.gg
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239 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 197
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48,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
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Transportation ::Guernsey
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2 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 200
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total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
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Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
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Military ::Guernsey
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males age 16-49: 12,493
females age 16-49: 12,272 (2010 est.)
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male: 354
female: 342 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of the UK
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Transnational Issues ::Guernsey
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none
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