2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (British crown dependency)
Age structure
0-14 years: 17.77% (male 8,214; female 7,667) 15-64 years: 67.59% (male 30,065; female 30,331) 65 years and over: 14.64% (male 5,603; female 7,481) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) Jersey Military
Area
total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Jersey Geography
Birth rate
11.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $601 million expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.)
Capital
Saint Helier
Climate
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Coastline
70 km
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
Currency
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound
Currency code
GBP
Death rate
9.27 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
none
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Disputes - international
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 - imports
NA kWh note: electricity supplied by France
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
UK and Norman-French descent
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners
UK
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Jersey Communications
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 Jersey Economy
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%
Geographic coordinates
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Geography - note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier Jersey People
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 577 km (1995) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
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
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Infant mortality rate
5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.7% (1998)
Internet country code
.je
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
NA Jersey Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Labor force
57,050 (1996)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 66% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 34%
Languages
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
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 elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 52
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.63 years male: 76.21 years female: 81.23 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA Jersey Government
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
Merchant marine
none (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK Jersey Transnational Issues
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
arable land
Net migration rate
2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
89,361 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.48% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
NA
Railways
0 km
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables
Telephones - main lines in use
65,500 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4,400 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Total fertility rate
1.56 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
0.7% (1998 est.)
Waterways
none