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 Delibertion
election results: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of
vote of the States of Deliberation NA

Legislative branch:
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by
popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have their
own parliaments
elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:
Royal Court

Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)

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 superimposed on the Saint George cross

Economy Guernsey

Economy - overview:
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account
for about 23% of employment and 32% 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$44,600 (2005)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)

Labor force:
31,470 (March 2006)

Unemployment rate:
0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (June 2006)

Budget:
revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)