Guernsey
(British crown dependency)
_Guernsey.jpg)
See regional map V
Geography
Total area: 194 km²; land area: 194 km²;
includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark,
and some other smaller islands
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims:
- Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
- Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Natural resources: cropland
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; about 50% cultivated
Environment: large, deepwater harbor at St. Peter Port
Note: 52 km west of France
People
Population: 57,227 (July 1990), growth
rate 0.7% (1990)
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Channel Islander(s); adjective—Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Language: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: NA%, but universal education
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA
Government
Long-form name: Bailiwick of Guernsey
Type: British crown dependency
Capital: St. Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff, deputy bailiff
Legislative branch: States of Deliberation
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Head of Government—Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Alexander BOSWELL (since 1985); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982)
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: States of Deliberation—last held NA (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(60 total, 33 elected), all independents
Communists: none
Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
Flag: white with the red cross of St. George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Economy
Overview: Tourism is a major source of
revenue. Other economic activity includes
financial services, breeding the
world-famous Guernsey cattle, and growing
tomatoes and flowers for export.
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $145.0 million; expenditures $117.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)
Exports: $NA; commodities—tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables; partners—UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA; commodities—coal, gasoline and oil; partners UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,340 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism, banking
Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle
Aid: none
Currency: Guernsey pound (plural pounds); 1 Guernsey (£G) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (£G) per US$1—0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note—the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Ports: St. Peter Port, St. Sampson
Airport: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La Villiaze)
Telecommunications: stations—1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK