At a glance
- Established
- 1565
- Population
- 250–1,000 residents
- Climate
- Oceanic
- Languages
- English, French
- Industries
- Tourism & Hospitality, Agriculture & Fishing, Remote Work
- Coordinates
- 49.43° N, 2.36° W
- Who it’s for
- Individuals and families looking for a simpler lifestyle
About the project
A formerly feudal possession of the British Crown, this self-governing island is a haven of localized freedom
Sark is one of the Channel Islands, lying in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. Part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, it is a self-governing possession of the British Crown rather than a part of the United Kingdom, and it keeps its own parliament and its own body of law.
For centuries Sark was governed under a feudal system, making it one of the last places in Europe to retain such an arrangement before reforming into a more conventional representative government. Its parliament, the Chief Pleas, holds genuine legislative autonomy: laws cannot be imposed on the island without its consent, and Sark sets its own taxes and budget independently of Guernsey.
The island levies no income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or VAT. That, together with its small scale and unhurried, car-free way of life, has long made it appealing to people seeking a simpler existence and a lighter bureaucratic burden. Unlike the privately run Free City projects, Sark is governed by a traditional local council rather than by a company.
Articles
Blog6 min read
Honduras Election, Grokipedia, Sark & What’s Ahead
As we approach the end of 2025, we bring you an update on the long-anticipated Honduran general election results, Grokipedia’s newly published deep dive into Free Cities, developments on Sark, and more…
Natalie Danelishen
News4 min read
Free Cities News & Updates – December 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year defined by both exciting progress and notable challenges. From the establishment of new Free City projects to the continued growth of our conference, the momentum has been inspiring.
Free Cities Foundation Team
Blog29 min read
Sark: A Small Island with Huge Potential
Videos
Liberty in Our Lifetime 2023
Liberty in Our Lifetime 2021
Free Cities Foundation
Podcast episodes
Podcast Episode 161
Swen Lorenz: Demography is Destiny
Swen Lorenz on the troubled state of the island of Sark, a failed rescue bid, and what it reveals about confidence in small jurisdictions.
Podcast Episode 83
Swen Lorenz: Major Sark Announcement
Swen Lorenz of the Sark Property Company on its cash bid for the Sark estate and what the deal means for the island's future.
Podcast Episode 54
Christopher Beaumont & Swen Lorenz: Sark. Past, Present & Future
Seigneur Christopher Beaumont and Swen Lorenz on the past, present and future of Sark, the self-governing Channel Island near Normandy.
Worth a watch
Videos and articles from around the web, made by others rather than the Free Cities Foundation. Each one plays here, and the pill on it opens the original.
ARTE.tv
Sark: A Modern Day Feudal Island
A short documentary on the Channel Island where feudal tenures survived into the modern era and cars are still not allowed.
60 Minutes Australia
Journey to Sark: The ‘time warp’ town stuck in the Middle Ages
A news crew spends time on the island without cars or income tax, and asks residents what daily life there actually looks like.
People
In the press
Sark – what's next for the little island?
Undervalued Shares
Sark – it's not a big deal
Undervalued Shares
A tiny, tranquil but crumbling island populated by 500 people – how does a £30m investment in Sark make any sense?
Bailiwick Express
Putting the Spark Back in Sark – Swen Lorenz's Big Plans for Europe's Tiniest Tax Haven
IMI Daily
Sark bid – decision time
Undervalued Shares
Sark – bidding for the Barclay estate and going public
Undervalued Shares
Sark – a small island with huge potential
Undervalued Shares
£100m dream for a Sark "utopia"
Bailiwick Express
The Man Who Grew Sark's Population 20% by Wooing Digital Business-Owners With Political Freedom
IMI Daily
Sark population grows by 100 due to one man
Guernsey Press
Questions
Where is Sark?
In the English Channel off the coast of Normandy, as one of the Channel Islands and part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Is Sark part of the United Kingdom?
No. Sark is a self-governing possession of the British Crown rather than part of the UK. Its parliament, the Chief Pleas, holds genuine legislative autonomy: laws cannot be imposed on the island without its consent, and it sets its own taxes and budget independently of Guernsey.
Does Sark charge income tax?
No. The island levies no income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and no VAT. Public spending is funded through other, simpler local charges.
How many people live on Sark?
Between roughly 250 and 1,000, on an island small enough to have no cars. That scale, and the unhurried life that comes with it, is much of what draws people to it.