1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Affiliation

(British crown dependency)

Agriculture

potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming

Airports

total: 1 usable: 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

Area

total area: 117 sq km land area: 117 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Assembly of the States

elections 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

Birth rate

12.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues: $308 million expenditures: $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985)

Capital

Saint Helier

Chief of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Coastline

70 km

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Currency

1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence

Death rate

10.1 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

JE

Diplomatic representation in US

none (British crown dependency)

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 50,000 kW standby production: power supplied by France consumption per capita: NA (1992)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); 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

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 L. CRILL (since NA) cabinet: committees; appointed by the States

Highways

total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

Imports

$NA commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals partners: UK

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Infant mortality rate

4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (1988 est.)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Royal Court

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 57% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Languages

English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Legal system

English law and local statute

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.64 years male: 73.54 years female: 80.09 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: 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

Member of

none

Names

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

8% (1987 est.)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Natural resources

agricultural land

Net migration rate

4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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 EU 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.

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Population

86,048 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.7% (1994 est.)

Ports

Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin

Religions

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA

Telecommunications

63,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine cables

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

British crown dependency

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)