THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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

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.)

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.)

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 minister2020: 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 crossmeaning: 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

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.)

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

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.)

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 - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Guernsey