Europe :: Jersey
(British crown dependency)
page last updated on May 25, 2011
Flag of Jersey
Location of Jersey
 
Map of Jersey
Introduction ::Jersey
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.
Geography ::Jersey
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
49 15 N, 2 10 W
total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 223
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
0 km
70 km
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m
arable land
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
NA
NA
NA
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People ::Jersey
94,161 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 8,067/female 7,507)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 32,187/female 32,485)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 5,953/female 7,962) (2011 est.)
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 41.3 years (2011 est.)
0.841% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
10.9 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
7.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
urban population: 31% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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 (2011 est.)
total: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
total population: 81.38 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 78.96 years
female: 83.94 years (2011 est.)
1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
NA
NA
NA
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
NA
NA
NA
Government ::Jersey
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
British crown dependency
parliamentary democracy
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 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
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
none (British crown dependency)
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; local statutes
16 years of age; universal
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 Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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
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)
elections: last held on 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
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)
none (British crown dependency)
none (British crown dependency)
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
name: "Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)
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)
Economy ::Jersey
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.
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
NA%
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)
53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 188
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)
3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 105
$NA
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
NA%
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
$NA
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
$NA
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
$NA
Jersey pounds per US dollar
0.6388 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)
0.4993 (2007)
0.5418 (2006)
Communications ::Jersey
73,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
83,900 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 188
general assessment: state-owned, partially-competitive market; increasingly modern, with some broadband access
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
international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)
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)
.je
237 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 191
29,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Transportation ::Jersey
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 221
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall Islands 9) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military ::Jersey
males age 16-49: 18,688
females age 16-49: 18,615 (2010 est.)
male: 664
female: 590 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Jersey
none