1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Coastline
70 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Geography-note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 66% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 34%
Location
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
agricultural land
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (male 8,160; female 7,567) 15-64 years: 68% (male 30,106; female 30,639) 65 years and over: 14% (male 5,243; female 7,421) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
12.27 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
9.12 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
2.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.67 years male: 75.93 years female: 81.71 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
89,136 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.68% (1998 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
Data code
JE
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the queen
Flag description
white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
Government type
NA
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Legal system
English law and local statute
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States (57 seats, 53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected triennially) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 52
National capital
Saint Helier
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Economy
Agriculture-products
potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; meat, dairy products
Budget
revenues: $643.7 million expenditures: $597.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Currency
1 Jersey pound (£J) = 100 pence
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
none
Economy-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. Light tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.
Electricity-capacity
50,000 kW standby note: electricity supplied by France
Electricity-consumption per capita
NA kWh (1992)
Electricity-production
NA kWh note: electricity supplied by France
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds (£J) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles partners: UK
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
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 price index
NA%
Labor force
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables
Telephones
61,447 (1983 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1
Televisions
NA
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none (territory of the US)