British Crown Dependency
Self-governing dependency of the British Crown that does not form part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is responsible for its defense and international relations.
National Identity
- Official name
- Bailiwick of Guernsey
- Official name (in Guernésiais)
- Bailliage dé Guernési
- Name 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"
Sources:- Constitution of Guernsey ↗ - Constitution of Guernsey
- The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- God Save the KingThe national anthem of the United Kingdom.1:03
- Title
- God Save the King
- Lyrics
- English
1God save our gracious King, Long live our noble King, God save the King: Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: God save the King.
2O Lord, our God, arise, Scatter his enemies, And make them fall. Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all.
3Thy choicest gifts in store, On him be pleased to pour; Long may he reign: May he defend our laws, And ever give us cause With heart and voice to sing God save the King
Source: - Citizens
- Channel Islanders
- Official name:Constitution of Guernsey ↗ - Constitution of Guernsey
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
- Total area
- 78 km²
- Land area
- 78 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 50 km
- Terrain
Mostly flat with low hills in southwest - Highest point
- 114 mLe Moulin on Sark
- Lowest point
- 0 mEnglish Channel
- Climate
Temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast - Avg. temperature
- 12.2 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 11.4 to 13 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 956 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 9.8 8.8 7.8 110 February 9.1 8.2 7.2 84 March 9.6 8.7 7.9 67 April 10.6 9.8 9 56 May 12.5 11.7 11 49 June 14.6 14 13.3 47 July 16.5 15.9 15.3 40 August 17.4 16.8 16.2 56 September 17 16.2 15.5 65 October 15.3 14.4 13.6 118 November 12.8 11.8 10.9 133 December 10.8 9.8 8.8 133 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
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- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +0.21% per year+134 people/yearWorld Rank161stof 237
- Birth rate
- 8.1 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.6 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +3.0 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 44.5 yearsWorld Rank27thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years13.6%15-64 years63.7%65 years +22.7%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 22.7%
- Share aged under 18
- 16.8%
- Total dependency ratio
- 57
- Youth dependency ratio
- 21
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 36
- Sex ratio
- 0.98 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 2.6% 3.8% 70-79 4.7% 5.2% 60-69 6.8% 7.2% 50-59 6.9% 7.4% 40-49 6.3% 6.2% 30-39 6.5% 6.2% 20-29 5.8% 5.6% 10-19 5.4% 5.0% 0-9 4.3% 4.1% - 2026
- 0.73 below the replacement level for Guernsey ()1.37 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank199thof 237
- 0.66 daughters per woman0.34 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −1.5 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 1.5 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- +3.0 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 29.5% live in 19,081 urban residents
- Largest places2023
- St. Peter Port, St. AnneSource:
- States of Guernsey and States of Alderney (2023 register), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Ethnic groups2022
- Figures count country of birth, not ethnicity.Guernsey53.5%UK and Ireland23.8%Portugal2.1%Latvia1.4%Other Europe2.7%Other Crown Dependencies0.7%Other5.3%Unspecified10.5%
The native population is of British and Norman-French descent.
Source:- The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Religions
- Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
- Languages
- English, Guernésiais
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:States of Guernsey and States of Alderney (2023 register), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyShared with the United Kingdom: the British monarch is head of state.A dependency of the British Crown: the King is head of state, as successor to the Duke of Normandy, and the Lieutenant-Governor is his personal representative.
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe executive consists of committees elected by the States of Deliberation (parliament), led by the President of the Policy & Resources Committee; a carried no-confidence motion removes a whole committee, and the States may dissolve any committee (Rules 21, 37, 54).Source:
- Official websites
- Capital
- Saint Peter Port19,676 people(2023)
- National holidays
- 10 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- MonMay 4May Day Bank Holiday
- SatMay 9Liberation Day
- MonMay 25Spring Bank Holiday
- MonAug 31Summer Bank Holiday
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Boxing Day
- MonDec 28Boxing Day (substitute day)
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- Currency
- British Pound (GBP)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +44
- Internet TLD
- .gg
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- GG, GGY
- Infrastructure
- Heliports
- 1
- Aircraft registration prefix
- 2
Source:- The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Flag carrier
- AurignyState-owned
- Form of state, System of government:The Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees, as at 6th February 2025 ↗ - States of Guernsey
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
Economy
- Trade2022
- Source:
- The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
- Industries
- tourism, banking
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
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- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
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- Rent
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- Buying an apartment
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Society
- Official tourism site
- Official tourism site
Crime & Safety
- Prison population2022
- 127.1 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 81
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 83.7 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 5.5 per 1,000 live births
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
Environment
- 2024
- 6.2 µg/m³ of PM2.50.1 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted172ndof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- coastal erosion, coastal flooding
- declining biodiversity
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Guernsey - CIA