2024 Edition Primary

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 that Germany occupied 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

17% (male 9,082/female 8,530)

15-64 years

64.6% (male 33,840/female 32,989)

65 years and over

18.3% (2024 est.) (male 8,106/female 10,840)

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

23.2

note

note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey

potential support ratio

4.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.5

youth dependency ratio

21.3

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 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.81 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

85.7 years

male

80.6 years

total population

83 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

39.7 years

male

37 years

total

38.2 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Channel Islander

noun

Channel Islander(s)

Net migration rate

1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

NA

Population

female

52,359 (2024 est.)

male

51,028

total

103,387

Population distribution

fairly even distribution; no notable trends

Population growth rate

0.56% (2024 est.)

Religions

Christian 85.2%, Baha'i 0.3%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish 0.1%, Muslim 0.1%, atheist 1.1%, agnostic 13.1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 98.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 1.5% of population (2017)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

note

note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

31.2% of total population (2023)

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, 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

none (British Crown dependency)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022)

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 Lyndon FARNHAM (since 25 January 2024); 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 court(s)

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 Enquiries (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

election results

percent of vote by party - BW 66.8%, RJ 12.3%, JA 2.0%, PP 2%, JLC 4.1%; seats by party - BW 35, RJ 10, JLC 2, JA 1, PP 1; composition - men 28, women 21, percentage women 42.9%

elections

last held on 22 June 2022 (next to be held in 2026)

note

note: 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general

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 King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National symbol(s)

Jersey cow; national colors: red, white

Political parties

Better Way or BW (group of independent candidates)Jersey Alliance or JA Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC Progress Party or PP Reform Jersey or RJ

note

note: most deputies sit as independents

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Economic overview

British territorial island economy; strong offshore banking and finance sectors; low asset taxation; strong tourism sector prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; one of the most expensive places to live; minimal welfare system; historical cider industry

Exchange rates

Currency

Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar

Exchange rates 2019

0.783 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.78 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.805 (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)

Exports - partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.8% (2022 est.)

industry

8.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

92% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.228 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014

0.3 (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)

Imports - partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Industrial production growth rate

1.64% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Labor force

86,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 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

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-8.47% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

15.46% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.81% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2015

$49,500 (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$56,600 (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

Unemployment rate 2021

6.61% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.91% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.98% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

13.2% (2023 est.)

male

13.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

13.5% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

450,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2012 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

note

note: includes Guernsey and Jersey

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2020 est.)

total

39,699 (2020 est.)

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

93% (2021 est.)

total

96,038 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular 120 per 100 subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

the telecommunication services comprise of Internet, telephone, broadcasting and postal services, which allow islanders to contact people and receive information; Internet connectivity to the rest of the world is provided by undersea cables linked to Guernsey, the UK and France; (2021)

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

47 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

48,122 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

124,083 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2024)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

4 (registered in UK)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020) (registered in UK)

Ports

key ports

Saint Helier Harbour

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

1 (2024)

Roadways

total

576 km (2010)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

31.2% of total population (2023)

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.)