A Modern Economy
With a GDP of more than £3.4bn in 2023, and a per capita GDP of £54,500, Guernsey’s economy is centred on financial services, tourism, agriculture, and light industry. The island is fiscally autonomous and has its own system of tax. As well as financial services, Guernsey preserves the unique character of the Bailiwick with a focus on traditional industries, which still play an important role in the local economy.
History and Culture
Although Guernsey is geographically closer to France, the Bailiwick has been loyal to the British Crown since the time of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy. English is now the predominant language, but Guernsey still has its own dialect, Guernesiais, and maintains its distinct and unique culture. Guernsey’s rich history can be observed not only through the many heritage sites that dot the island, from 6,000 year old neolithic tombs to Nazi bunkers, but also in the island’s rich local folklore tradition.
Guernsey was famously the island home of writer Victor Hugo, who began, completed, or published the majority of the works for which he is best known while living here, notably ‘Les Misérables’ (1862), ‘Les Travailleurs de la mer’ (1866), and ‘L’Homme qui rit’ (1869). Hugo himself described the Channel Islands as “fragments of France which fell into the sea and were gathered up by England”.
