Guernsey Island

Background: The island of 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.
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France. Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W. Map references: Europe. Area: Total: 194 sq km. land: 194 sq km. water: 0 sq km. Note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands. Area - comparative: Slightly larger than Washington, DC. Coastline: 50 km.
Climate and Terrain: Temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast. Mostly level with low hills in southwest. Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m. Highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m. Natural resources: Cropland Geography - note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People: Population: 64,342.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.22% (male 5,285; female 5,151) 15-64 years: 66.67% (male 21,264; female 21,630) 65 years and over: 17.11% (male 4,546; female 6,466).
Population growth rate: 0.39%.
Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 79.78 years, male: 76.78 years, female: 82.88 years.
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent.
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist.
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts.
Government: Capital: Saint Peter Port.
British crown dependency.
Economy overview: Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates. GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87%. Industries: tourism, banking. Agriculture - products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 44,000. Telephones - mobile cellular: 12,000. Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1. Television broadcast stations: 1. Railways: 0 km. Airports - with paved runways: Total: 2.