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.

Area
Total: 78 km²
Land: 78 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
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

Land use
Agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)
Arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
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: 67,787 (2024 est.)
Male: 33,712
Female: 34,075
Growth rate: 0.21% (2024 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: 55.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 22.3 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 33.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 45 years (2024 est.)
Male: 43.8 years
Female: 46.2 years

Population growth rate: 0.21% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 9.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Urbanization
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

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: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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 (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6.3% (2024 est.); 6.2% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

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
Note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed -- Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark

Legal system: customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law

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: 2,029
Note: the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government; the Policy and Resources Committee, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive; the 5 members all have equal voting rights

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: 2,030
Note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general

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

National anthem
Title: 'God Save the King'
Lyrics/music: unknown
History: official anthem, as a British crown dependency

Real gdp growth rate: 3.7% (2023 est.); 5.3% (2022 est.); 9.9% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Real gdp per capita: 3.7% (2023 est.); 5.3% (2022 est.); 9.9% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Industry: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Services: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: tourism, banking

Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Labor force: 82,400 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Unemployment rate: 6.3% (2024 est.); 6.2% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6.3% (2024 est.); 6.2% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Exports
Commodities: aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022); top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports
Commodities: ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)

Electricity
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access note: includes Guernsey and Jersey

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 33,930 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 71,485 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 86.6% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 25,336 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.)

Airports: 2 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)