Map of Jersey | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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

Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 116 km²
Land: 116 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 225
Comparative: about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 70 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 12
Note: nm

Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Elevation
Lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Highest point: Les Platons 136 m

Natural resources: arable land

Land use
Agricultural land: 66% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 34% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land
Note: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation

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


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Population
Distribution: fairly even distribution; no notable trends: 99,602 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 196
Growth rate: 0.76% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 134
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: Channel Islander(s)
Adjective: Channel Islander

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.)

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

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 16.37%
0-14 note: (male 8,430 /female 7,870)
15-24 years: 13.63%
15-24 note: (male 7,004 /female 6,572)
25-54 years: 40.71%
25-54 note: (male 20,392 /female 20,160)
55-64 years: 12.73%
55-64 note: (male 6,187 /female 6,497)
65 years and over: 16.56%
65 and over note: (male 7,015 /female 9,475) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47.1 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 21.6 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 25.4 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.9 (2015 est.) data represent the Guernsey and Jersey

Median age
Total: 37.7 years (2018 est.)
Male: 35.9 years
Female: 40.2 years
Rank: 65

Population growth rate: 0.76% (2018 est.)
Rank: 134

Birth rate: 12.5 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 154

Death rate: 7.8 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 96

Net migration rate: 2.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 40

Population distribution: fairly even distribution; no notable trends

Urbanization
Urban population: 30.9% of total population
Note:
Rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment; water pollution; improper solid waste disposal

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
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
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.7 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 3.9 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 194

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82 years (2018 est.)
Male: 79.5 years
Female: 84.7 years
Rank: 20

Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 176

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
Conventional short form: Jersey
Former: Norman Isles
Etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root Jer(s) is uncertain; the -ey ending means island

Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey); a crown dependency of the UK

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

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

Dependent areas

Independence: none (British crown dependency)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution
History: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
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)

Legal system: the laws of the UK apply where applicable; includes local statutes

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Stephen DALTON (since 13 March 2017)
Head of government: Chief Minister John LE FONDRE (since 8 June 2018); Bailiff William BAILHACHE (since 29 January 2015)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
Electionsappointments: 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

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)
Elections: last held on 16 May 2018 (next to be held on 16 May 2022)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 49; composition - men 36, women 13, percent of 26.5%

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: Magistrates 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)

Political parties and leaders: one registered party: Reform Jersey [Sam MEZEC]
Note: most senators and deputies sit as independents

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (British crown dependency)
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 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

National symbols: Jersey cow; national colors: red, white

National anthem
Name: Isle de Siez Nous (Island Home)
Lyrics and 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)

National heritage


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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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $5.569 billion (2016 est.)

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Date: (2010)

Agriculture products: potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Industrial production growth rate
Note: NA

Labor force: 59,950 (2017 est.)
Rank: 187
By occupation agriculture: 3%
By occupation industry: 12%
By occupation services: 85% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 52

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Note:

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 158

Budget
Revenues: 829 million (2005)
Expenditures: 851 million (2005)
Surplus or deficit: -0.4% (of GDP) (2005)
Surplus or deficit rank: 57

Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2005)
Rank: 179

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.7% (2006)
Rank: 146

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance

Exports: NA
Commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers

Imports: NA
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2016)
Production note: NA (2017)
Consumption: 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Consumption rank: 163

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 450,000 Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 185

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 55,938
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 157
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 122,668
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 189

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system with broadband access (2018)
Domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; fixed-line 58 per 100 and mobile-cellular 119 per 100 subscriptions (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)

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
Users total: 58,000
Users percent of population: 59.6% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 188

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Note: (registered in UK) (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 226
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 576 km (2010)
Rank: 186

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs