2000 Edition

Background

The island of 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.

Area

land

116 sq km

total

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

highest point

unnamed location 143 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

34%

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

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

arable land

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 8,140; female 7,563) 15-64 years: 68% (male 30,036; female 30,329) 65 years and over: 14% (male 5,454; female 7,393) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

11.65 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

UK and Norman-French descent

Infant mortality rate

5.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.07 years (2000 est.)

male

76.07 years

total population

78.48 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

88,915 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.52% (2000 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.56 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch

cabinet

committees appointed by the Assembly of the States

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

head of government

Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995)

Flag description

white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag and in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield holding the three lions of England in yellow

Government type

NA

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Judicial branch

Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff

Legal system

English law and local statute

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators, 12 constables or heads of parishes, 29 deputies; all elected for six-year terms, half elected every third year; the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 52

elections

last held NA (next to be held NA)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Budget

expenditures

$618.5 million, including capital expenditures of $128.4 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$666.9 million

Currency

1 Jersey pound = 100 pence

Debt - external

none

Economic aid - recipient

none

Economy - overview

The economy is based largely on international 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 income 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 taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.

Electricity - consumption

467 million kWh (1995)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

201 million kWh (from France) (1995)

Electricity - production

266 million kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0%

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); 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 - $2.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5%

industry

2%

services

93% (1996)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.)

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)

4.7% (1998)

Labor force

57,050 (1996)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

0.7% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

3 submarine cables

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

NA

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

total

577 km (1995)

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

JOHNSTON ATOLL