World Factbook
Guernsey
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
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 meaning: 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
Capital
name
Saint Peter Port
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
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
geographic coordinates
49 27 N, 2 32 W
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
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
Country name
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"
conventional long form
Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form
Guernsey
Independence
none (British Crown dependency)
Legal system
customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
Government type
parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
Judicial branch
note
note: appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
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)
subordinate courts
Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas
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
Executive branch
note
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
cabinet
none
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)
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
head of government
Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
most recent election date
7/1/2025
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
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Dependency status
British crown dependency
National color(s)
red, white, yellow
Political parties
Forward Guernsey
Legislative branch
note
note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general
term in office
4 years
number of seats
38 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
States of Deliberation
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
7/1/2025
expected date of next election
2030
percentage of women in chamber
20%
parties elected and seats per party
independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3)
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
official anthem, as a British crown dependency
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
Guernsey cow, donkey
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
UPU