Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`49 15 N, 2 10 W`
Map references: |  |
`Europe`
Area: |  |
`total: 116 sq km country comparison to the world: 223 land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`70 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm`
Climate: |  |
`temperate; mild winters and cool summers`
Terrain: |  |
`gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`NA`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
Geography - note: |  |
`largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier`

People

Population: |  |
`94,161 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 16.5% (male 8,067/female 7,507) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 32,187/female 32,485) 65 years and over: 14.8% (male 5,953/female 7,962) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 40.1 years male: 38.3 years female: 41.3 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.841% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 130`
Birth rate: |  |
`10.9 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 176`
Death rate: |  |
`7.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 116`
Net migration rate: |  |
`5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 31% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 202 male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 81.38 years country comparison to the world: 11 male: 78.96 years female: 83.94 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)`
Religions: |  |
`Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian`
Languages: |  |
`English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`NA`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey`
Dependency status: |  |
`British crown dependency`
Government type: |  |
`parliamentary democracy`
Capital: |  |
`name: Saint Helier geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes: Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity`
Independence: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
National holiday: |  |
`Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)`
Constitution: |  |
`unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice`
Legal system: |  |
`the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; local statutes`
Suffrage: |  |
`16 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members include the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held on 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |

`
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support); Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association); Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress Jersey [Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building preservation)
`

Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
Flag description: |  |

`
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the ships of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement still resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home) lyrics/music: Gerard LE FEUVRE note: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey with the result that an electronics industry has developed, displacing more traditional industries. All raw material and energy requirements are imported as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$5.1 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 161`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$5.1 billion (2005 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$57,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 6`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005)`
Labor force: |  |
`53,560 (June 2006) country comparison to the world: 188`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`2.2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 17`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3.7% (2006) country comparison to the world: 105`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France`
Exports: |  |
`$NA`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers`
Imports: |  |
`$NA`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.6388 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008) 0.4993 (2007) 0.5418 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`73,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`83,900 (2004) country comparison to the world: 188`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: state-owned, partially-competitive market; increasingly modern, with some broadband access
domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and currently being implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.je`
Internet hosts: |  |
`237 (2010) country comparison to the world: 191`
Internet users: |  |
`29,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 181`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 221`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 576 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 190`
Merchant marine: |  |
`registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall Islands 9) (2010) country comparison to the world: 111`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier`

Military

Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 18,688 females age 16-49: 18,615 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 664 female: 590 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of the UK`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011