We’re unlikely to know what Guernsey’s population is for another few months at least, as the problems with the States’ multi-million pound IT systems continues to wreak havoc with data collection.

The population has been estimated using figures collated by the Revenue Service and others since 2014 when the process known as the Rolling Electronic Census was introduced.

An actual census hasn’t been held since 2001.

The Quarterly Population, Employment and Earnings Bulletin which contains information about the island’s residents, their ages, gender, the jobs they do, and how much they earn, has been published four times a year in arrears for just over a decade. The last published Bulletin in October 2024 related to data that was up to date in June 2024.

A delay was announced earlier this year after the States data analysis team realised that previously published data relating to the island’s population was wrong.

A spokesperson for the States revealed that in the past, the number of people leaving Guernsey had been recorded as lower than the actual figures due to problems with the IT systems used by the Revenue Service.

The extent of wider problems with States IT infrastructure was confirmed last week with P&R admitting that the island has wasted £42million on two systems that don’t work.

The extent of the impact of those problems is still being realised across the States, with the data analysis team now saying it can’t give any future release dates for information around population, employment, earnings, or GDP, household incomes, and indicators of poverty.

They’ve confirmed the 2026 publication dates for other statistics including inflation, greenhouse gases, and travel and visitor information.

The data compiled annually is used to plan policies for island development, including housing, infrastructure investment, environmental schemes, and more.

A spokesperson for the States said the missing statistical publications will not be included in the 2026 calendar yet – but will be added once it’s known that they are ready for release.

The following statistics were not released during 2025 and have not yet got release dates for 2026:

  • Annual Electronic Census Report March 2024
  • Quarterly Population, Employment and Earnings Bulletin June 2024
  • Quarterly Population, Employment and Earnings Bulletin September 2024
  • Annual Gross Value Added and Gross Domestic Product Bulletin 2024
  • Quarterly Population, Employment and Earnings Bulletin December 2024
  • Annual Household Income Report 2023
  • Annual Indicators of Poverty Report 2024