1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 117 km2 land area: 117 km2 comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Coastline
70 km
Environment
about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
International disputes
none
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 57% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
Western Europe, 27 km from France in the English Channel
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
agricultural land
Note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
People and Society
Birth rate
12.79 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
10.23 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA
Languages
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.4 years male: 73.28 years female: 79.86 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
85,450 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
0.7% (1993 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Total fertility rate
1.42 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Assembly of the States
last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents
Capital
Saint Helier
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Digraph
JE
Diplomatic representation in US
none (British crown dependency)
Executive branch
British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff
Flag
white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
Head of Government
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); Bailiff Sir Peter J. CRILL (since NA)
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court
Legal system
English law and local statute
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States
Member of
none
Names
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Suffrage
universal adult at age NA
Type
British crown dependency
US diplomatic representation
none (British crown dependency)
Economy
Agriculture
potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming
Budget
revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)
Currency
1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence
Economic aid
none
Electricity
50,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by France
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles partners: UK
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Imports
$NA commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals partners: UK
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8% (1988 est.)
National product
GDP $NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
8% (1987 est.)
Overview
The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. 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 earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Ports
Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin
Telecommunications
63,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine cables
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK