| The World Factbook | ||
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Guernsey |
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| Introduction | Guernsey |
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Background:
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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. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. |
| Geography | Guernsey |
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Location:
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Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France |
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Geographic coordinates:
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49 28 N, 2 35 W |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands |
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Area - comparative:
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about one-half the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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50 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
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Climate:
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temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast |
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Terrain:
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mostly level with low hills in southwest |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m |
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Natural resources:
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cropland |
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Land use:
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arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA other: NA |
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port |
| People | Guernsey |
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Population:
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65,870 (July 2009 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.4% (male 4,793/female 4,668)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,058/female 22,433) 65 years and over: 18.1% (male 5,078/female 6,840) (2009 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 42.5 years
male: 41.4 years female: 43.4 years (2009 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.21% (2009 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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8.46 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.77 years
male: 77.76 years female: 83.88 years (2009 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries |
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Religions:
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Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist |
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Languages:
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English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts |
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Literacy:
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NA |
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Education expenditures:
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NA |
| Government | Guernsey |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey |
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Dependency status:
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British crown dependency |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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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 |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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National holiday:
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Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) |
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Constitution:
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unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
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Legal system:
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the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
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Suffrage:
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16 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments
elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents |
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Judicial branch:
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Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none; all independents |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE] |
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International organization participation:
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UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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Flag description:
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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 |
| Economy | Guernsey |
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$2.742 billion (2005) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$2.742 billion (2005) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$44,600 (2005) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 10% services: 87% (2000) |
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Labor force:
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31,470 (March 2006) |
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Unemployment rate:
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0.9% (March 2006 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.4% (June 2006) |
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Agriculture - products:
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tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA |
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Exports:
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$NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables |
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Imports:
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$NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Currency (code):
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Guernsey pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender |
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Currency code:
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GBP |
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Exchange rates:
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Guernsey pound 0.5302 (2008 est.), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound |
| Communications | Guernsey |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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45,100 (2005) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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43,800 (2004) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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NA |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.gg |
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Internet hosts:
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156 (2008) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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NA |
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Internet users:
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36,000 (2005) |
| Transportation | Guernsey |
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Airports:
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2 (2008) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2008) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson |
| Military | Guernsey |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 12,447
females age 16-49: 12,566 (2009 est.) |
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 362
female: 351 (2009 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Guernsey |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on 14 May, 2009 |