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.
Location
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references
Europe
Area
total
116 sq km
land
116 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
70 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
3 nm
exclusive fishing zone
12 nm
Climate
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources
arable land
Land use
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
other
100% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Geography - note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
Population
91,321 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
16.9% (male 8,003/female 7,428)
15-64 years
67.3% (male 30,586/female 30,853)
65 years and over
15.8% (male 6,388/female 8,063) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
41.9 years
male
41.1 years
female
42.6 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.244% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
9.02 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
9.32 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.077 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.991 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.792 male(s)/female
total population
0.971 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male
5.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
79.51 years
male
77.02 years
female
82.2 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.58 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Channel Islander(s)
adjective
Channel Islander
Ethnic groups
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy
definition
NA
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
Country name
conventional long form
Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form
Jersey
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name
Saint Helier
geographic coordinates
49 12 N, 2 07 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
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 Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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 Frank WALKER (since December 2005); 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
Legislative branch
elections
last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held in 2008)
election results
percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders
two declared parties
Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note
all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (British crown dependency)
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
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 alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$57,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
1%
industry
2%
services
97% (2005)
Labor force
53,560 (June 2006)
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (December 2006)
Budget
revenues
$829 million
expenditures
$851 million; including capital expenditures of $78 million (2005 est.)
