2019 Edition

Background

Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy 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. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British crown dependency, which means that it is not part of the UK but is rather a self-governing possession of the British crown. 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

Highest Point

Les Platons 136 m

Lowest Point

English Channel 0 m

Environment Current Issues

habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment; water pollution; improper solid waste disposal

Geographic Coordinates

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Geography Note

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

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

66% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

66% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0% (2011 est.)

Forest

0% (2011 est.)

Other

34% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

Exclusive Fishing Zone

12 nm

Territorial Sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation

Natural Resources

arable land

Population Distribution

fairly even distribution; no notable trends

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Age Structure

0 14 Years

16.37% (male 8,430 /female 7,870)

15 24 Years

13.63% (male 7,004 /female 6,572)

25 54 Years

40.71% (male 20,392 /female 20,160)

55 64 Years

12.73% (male 6,187 /female 6,497)

65 Years And Over

16.56% (male 7,015 /female 9,475) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

12.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

25.4 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

3.9 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

47.1 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

21.6 (2015 est.)

Ethnic Groups

Jersey 46.4%, British 32.7%, Portuguese/Madeiran 8.2%, Polish 3.3%, Irish, French, and other white 7.1%, other 2.4% (2011 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.7 years

Male

79.5 years

Total Population

82 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

40.2 years

Male

35.9 years

Total

37.7 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Channel Islander

Noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net Migration Rate

2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Population

99,602 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.76% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.07 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.07 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.74 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.66 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

0.46% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

30.9% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes; 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)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval of the British monarch (Royal Assent)

History

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Bailiwick of Jersey

Conventional Short Form

Jersey

Etymology

the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"

Former

Norman Isles

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

Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states

Chief Of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Stephen DALTON (since 13 March 2017)

Elections Appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

Head Of Government

Chief Minister John LE FONDRE (since 8 June 2018); Bailiff William BAILHACHE (since 29 January 2015)

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 (Assembly of the States of Jersey); a crown dependency of the UK

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

International Organization Participation

UPU

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats, and is organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Samedi Divisions); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; bailiffs and judges appointed for "extent of good behavior;" Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; commissioners appointed by the bailiff; jurats appointed by the Electoral College; bailiffs and commissioners appointed for "extent of good behavior;" jurats appointed until retirement at age 72

Subordinate Courts

Magistrate's Court; Youth Court; Petty Debts Court; Parish Hall Enquires (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court)

Legal System

the laws of the UK apply where applicable; includes local statutes

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (49 elected members; 8 senators to serve 4-year terms, and 29 deputies and 12 connetables, or heads of parishes, to serve 4-year terms; 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general)

Election Results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 49; composition - men 36, women 13, percent of 26.5%

Elections

last held on 16 May 2018 (next to be held on 16 May 2022)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Gerard LE FEUVRE

Name

"Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National Symbol S

Jersey cow; national colors: red, white

Political Parties And Leaders

one registered party: Reform Jersey [Sam MEZEC]

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Budget

Expenditures

851 million (2005)

Revenues

829 million (2005)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.4% (of GDP) (2005)

Debt External

NA

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2013

0.3

2014

0.3

Economy Overview

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2016, the financial services sector accounted for about 41% of the island's output. Agriculture represented about 1% of Jersey’s economy in 2016. Potatoes are an important export crop, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle originated on the island and is known worldwide. The dairy industry remains important to the island with approximately $8.8 million gallons of milk produced in 2015. Tourism accounts for a significant portion of Jersey’s economy, with more than 700,000 total visitors in 2015. Living standards come close to those of the UK. 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 offshore financial center. Jersey maintains its relationship with the EU through the UK. Therefore, in light of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, Jersey will also need to renegotiate its ties to the EU.

Exchange Rates

2011

0.6391

2012

0.6542

2015

0.738

2016

0.738

2017

0.7836

Currency

Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar

Exports

NA

Exports Commodities

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

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

2% (2010)

Industry

2% (2010)

Services

96% (2010)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$5.004 billion (2015 est.) (2015 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$49,500

2016

$56,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2014

$4.98 billion

2015

$5.514 billion

2016

$5.569 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

10.7%

2016

1%

Imports

NA

Imports Commodities

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

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2006

3.7%

Labor Force

59,950 (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

3%

Industry

12%

Services

85% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Taxes And Other Revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2005)

Unemployment Rate

2014

4.6%

2015

4%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

450,000 Mt (2012 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity Production

NA (2017)

Broadcast Media

multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating

Internet Country Code

.je

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

59.6% (July 2016 est.)

Total

58,000

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; fixed-line 58 per 100 and mobile-cellular 119 per 100 subscriptions (2018)

General Assessment

modern system with broadband access (2018)

International

country code - 44; landing points for the INGRID, UK-Channel Islands-8, and Guernsey-Jersey-4, submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

58 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

55,938

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

119 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

122,668

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2017)

Total

1 (2017)

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

11 (registered in UK) (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

2 (registered in UK) (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Roadways

576 km (2010)

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes International

none