2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.2% (male 8,139/female 7,552) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,407/female 30,691) 65 years and over: 15.7% (male 6,299/female 7,996) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Area

land

116 sq km

total

116 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Background

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 is a British crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for defense and international representation. Geography Jersey

Birth rate

9.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$588 million; including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.)

revenues

$601 million

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

49 12 N, 2 07 W

name

Saint Helier

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound

Currency code

GBP

Death rate

9.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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 This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

$0

Economy - overview

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for about 50% of the island's output. 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. Tourism accounts for one-quarter 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. Living standards come close to those of the UK.

Electricity - consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 143 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Ethnic groups

Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), note, the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet (since December 2005)

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006)

elections

ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

head of government

Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December 2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners

UK (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Jersey

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5%

industry

2%

services

93% (1996)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.6 billion (2003 est.)

Geographic coordinates

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

UK (2004)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Infant mortality rate

female

4.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

5.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.3% (2004)

Internet country code

.je

Internet hosts

1,240 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

27,000 (2005) Transportation Jersey

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Labor force

52,790 (2004)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Legal system

English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (55 voting members - 12 senators (elected for six-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for three-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for three-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and three 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 55

elections

last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held in 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.05 years (2006 est.)

male

76.89 years

total population

79.38 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA% Government Jersey

male

NA%

total population

NA%

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

Median age

female

42.1 years (2006 est.)

male

40.7 years

total

41.4 years

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Jersey

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

arable land

Net migration rate

2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Political parties and leaders

note

all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents

two declared parties

Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

91,084 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.28% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier Military Jersey

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Religions

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

Roadways

total

577 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

3 submarine cables

Telephones - main lines in use

73,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

83,900 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

NA

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Total fertility rate

1.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.9% (2004 est.)