2009 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2009 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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 its defense and international representation.
Geography
Area
total: 116 sq km country comparison to the world: 224 land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about two-thirds 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
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
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
arable land
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 7,623/female 7,087) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 30,914/female 31,081) 65 years and over: 16.3% (male 6,614/female 8,307) (2009 est.)
Birth rate
8.63 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
Death rate
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 197 male: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Languages
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.75 years country comparison to the world: 25 male: 77.23 years female: 82.46 years (2009 est.)
Literacy
NA
Median age
total: 42.9 years male: 42.1 years female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Population
91,626 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Population growth rate
0.211% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.57 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Urbanization
urban population: 31% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Government
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 Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Capital
name: Saint Helier geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) 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
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
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
Judicial branch
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch) elections: last held 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support); Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association); Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress Jersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building preservation)
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Budget
revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005)
Debt - external
$NA
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, displacing more traditional industries. 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.) country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - imports
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.5302 (2008 est.), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$57,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
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
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (December 2006) country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force
53,560 (June 2006) country comparison to the world: 181
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Communications
Internet country code
.je
Internet hosts
219 (2009) country comparison to the world: 187
Internet users
29,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 181
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (UK radio broadcasts carried via local relays) (2008)
Telephone system
general assessment: state owned, partially-competitive market; increasingly modern, with some broadband access domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and currently being implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds 100 per 100 persons international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)
Telephones - main lines in use
74,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 154
Telephones - mobile cellular
83,900 (2004) country comparison to the world: 185
Television broadcast stations
2 (UK television carried by local relays with a switch to digital broadcasts scheduled for 2010) (2008)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 224
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Roadways
total: 358 km (2002) country comparison to the world: 199
Military and Security
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 16,920 females age 16-49: 16,826 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 586 female: 541 (2009 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none page last updated on October 28, 2009