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 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.
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
lowest point: English Channel 0 m
67,642 (2023 est.)
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Guernsey 53.1%, UK and Ireland 23.9%, Portugal 2.2%, Latvia 1.5%, other Europe 2.8%, other 4.4%, unspecified 11.4% (2020 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
0-14 years: 14.38% (male 5,006/female 4,722)
15-64 years: 64.48% (male 22,005/female 21,611)
65 years and over: 21.14% (2023 est.) (male 6,646/female 7,652)
total dependency ratio: 48.6
youth dependency ratio: 23.9
elderly dependency ratio: 24.6
potential support ratio: 4.1 (2021 est.)
note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
total: 44.8 years (2023 est.)
male: 43.6 years
female: 46.1 years
0.22% (2023 est.)
9.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018)
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 (2023 est.)
total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 83.4 years (2023 est.)
male: 80.7 years
female: 86.2 years
1.59 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.77 (2023 est.)
NA
improved: total: 94.2% of population
unimproved: total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)
note: includes data for Jersey
NA
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 98% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 1.2% of population (2017)
note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
NA
NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity due to land abandonment and succession to scrub or woodland
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)
note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
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
$3.465 billion (2015 est.)
$3.451 billion (2014 est.)
$3.42 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 dollars
0.4% (2015 est.)
1.2% (2014 est.)
4.2% (2012 est.)
$52,500 (2014 est.)
$2.742 billion (2005 est.)
6.8% (2022 est.)
3.4% (June 2006 est.)
note: data represent Retail Price Index inflation rates
agriculture: 3% (2000)
industry: 10% (2000)
services: 87% (2000)comparison rankings:
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
tourism, banking
NA
86,800 (2021 est.)
7.37% (2021 est.)
7.69% (2020 est.)
6.41% (2019 est.)
total: 15.8% (2021 est.)
male: 15.9%
female: 15.6%
NA
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: $563.6 million (2005)
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005 est.)
1.2% (of GDP) (2005)
20.6% (of GDP) (2005)
calendar year
NA
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings, scientific instruments (2022)
NA
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)
NA
Guernsey pound per US dollar
Exchange rates:
0.7836 (2017 est.)
0.738 (2016 est.)
0.738 (2015)
0.6542 (2014)
0.607 (2013)
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in UK)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 (registered in UK)
2
2 (2021)
2
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
total: 260 km (2017)
major seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
manyapis