Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom 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. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

mostly level with low hills in southwest

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

65,484 (July 2010 est.)

8.55 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

10.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

3.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.42 children born/woman (2010 est.)

British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist

English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

British crown dependency

parliamentary democracy

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale

none (British crown dependency)

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

the laws of the UK where applicable apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court

16 years of age; universal

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

none; all independents

Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]

none (British crown dependency)

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 superimposed on the Saint George cross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

$2.742 billion (2005)

0.9% (March 2006 est.)

tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle

tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Guernsey pound 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005)

multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

defense is the responsibility of the UK