The Channel Islands is the name of a group of islands found in the English Channel. These islands are located off the French Coast of Normandy, but are dependents of the British Crown. They comprise two different areas under the jurisdiction of bailiffs (otherwise known as bailiwicks) and have a total population of approximately 160,000. The two different bailiwicks are better known as the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. Their capitals of St. Peter Port and St. Helier have populations of 16,488 and 28,310 respectively.

Not all islands that are part of the Channel Islands are inhabited. The islands that are inhabitants include Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Brecqhou, Lihou, and the main islands of Herm. All of these islands except for Jersey comprise the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Jersey is instead joined by the islands of Minquiers, Ecrehous, Les Dirouilles, and Les Pierras de Lecq among other uninhabited group of islets as part of the Bailiwick of Jersey.

Tourism is the foremost industry and source of income in the smaller islands. Aside from that, there are some agricultural harvests at certain times of the year. Both Jersey and Guernsey have been dependent on financial services since the 1960s. Guernsey though, has horticultural and glasshouse activities and has maintained a light industry as a higher proportion of its economy as opposed to Jersey, while Jersey has been more reliant to finance since the 1980s.

Both the Jersey Bailiwick and the Guernsey Bailiwick issue their own banknotes and coins. These currencies circulate freely in all the islands, as well as in standard UK coinage and Bank of England and Scottish banknotes.