2010 Edition

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 or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Area

land

116 sq km

total

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

highest point

unnamed elevation 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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

permanent crops

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: 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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

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

female

3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.02 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.83 years (2010 est.)

male

78.88 years

total population

81.28 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

female

41.2 years (2010 est.)

male

38.5 years

total

40.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

93,363 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.86% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

31% of total population (2008)

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

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

49 11 N, 2 06 W

name

Saint Helier

time difference

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

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

cabinet

Cabinet (since December 2005) (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

head of government

Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)

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 three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the ships of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement still resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added

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 include the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55

elections

last held on 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gerard LE FEUVRE note: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

name

"Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)

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 [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

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

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.)

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.6504 (2010), 0.6389 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

2%

services

97% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$57,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

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)

Labor force

53,560 (June 2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2006 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet country code

.je

Internet hosts

237 (2010)

Internet users

29,500 (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

state-owned, partially-competitive market; increasingly modern, with some broadband access

international

country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

73,900 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

83,900 (2004)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall Islands 9) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Roadways

total

576 km (2010)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 16,853 females age 16-49: 16,737 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

555 (2010 est.)

male

594

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================