2021 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

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

66% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 66% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

34% (2018 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

16.63% (male 8,689/female 8,124)

15-24 years

12.98% (male 6,764/female 6,354)

25-54 years

40.12% (male 20,499/female 20,054)

55-64 years

13.22% (male 6,515/female 6,844)

65 years and over

17.05% (male 7,324/female 9,906) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

12.46 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

NA

Death rate

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

26.7

note

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey

potential support ratio

3.7 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

49

youth dependency ratio

22.3

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 94.2% of population

note

note: includes data for Guernsey

unimproved: total

total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

3.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other .9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)

note

note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001;  two thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.09 years (2021 est.)

male

79.92 years

total population

82.43 years

Major urban areas - population

34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

39.5 years (2020 est.)

male

36 years

total

37.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population

101,476 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

fairly even distribution; no notable trends

Population growth rate

0.67% (2021 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 98.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.5% of population (2017)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 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 (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

rate of urbanization

0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31% of total population (2021)

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

etymology

named after Saint Helier, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555

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

embassy

none (British Crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

none (British Crown dependency)

note

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 Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019)

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)

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 (as of October 2021) - men 35, women 14, percent of women 28.6%

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)

note

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

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]

note

note: most senators and deputies sit as independents

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agricultural 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

Economic 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

currency

Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar

Exchange rates 2011

0.6391 (2011 est.)

Exchange rates 2012

0.6542 (2012)

Exchange rates 2015

0.738 (2015)

Exchange rates 2016

0.738 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

0.7836 (2017 est.)

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.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013

0.3 (2013 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014

0.3 (2014 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2006

3.7% (2006)

Labor force

59,950 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

12%

services

85% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$4.98 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$5.514 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$5.569 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

10.7% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

1% (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2015

$49,500 (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$56,600 (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2005)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

4.6% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate 2015

4% (2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production

NA (2017)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

NA

total

NA

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

41.03% (2019 est.)

total

100,300 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

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

general assessment

good 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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

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

total

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2019)

total

1

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4 (registered in UK)

number of registered air carriers

1 (registered in UK) (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Roadways

total

576 km (2010)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Environment - current issues

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

Land use

agricultural land

66% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 66% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

34% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

rate of urbanization

0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

31% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

178,933 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

50,871 tons (2016 est.)

note

note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28.4% (2016 est.)