1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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 8,308; female 7,663) 15-64 years: 68% (male 30,168; female 30,754) 65 years and over: 14% (male 5,348; female 7,480) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
11.85 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
UK and Norman-French descent
Infant mortality rate
2.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.83 years male: 76.08 years female: 81.87 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
89,721 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
0.63% (1999 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 total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Capital
Saint Helier
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 (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 monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
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 holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Economy
Agriculture--products
potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Budget
revenues: $666.9 million expenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of $128.4 million (1996 est.)
Currency
1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence
Debt--external
none
Economic aid--recipient
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 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. 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--consumption
467 million kWh (1995)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh
Electricity--imports
NA kWh; note?much electricity supplied by France
Electricity--production
NA kWh
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA
Exports--commodities
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports--partners
UK
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 5% industry: 2% services: 93% (1995)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$NA
Imports--commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports--partners
UK
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (1996)
Labor force
57,050 (1996)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
0.7% (1996)
Communications
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 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
1 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 577 km (1995) 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