Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N 2 10 W

Area
Rank: 225
Comparative: about two-thirds the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 70 km

Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers

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

Natural resources: arable land

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 94,949 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 196
Growth rate: 0.826% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 132
Below poverty line: NA%

Ethnic groups: Jersey 51.1% Britons 34.8% Irish French and other white 6.6% Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4% other 1.1% (2001 census)

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

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

Population growth rate: 0.826% (2011 est.)
Rank: 132

Birth rate: 11.12 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 172

Death rate: 7.56 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 113

Net migration rate: 4.7 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 21

Environment
Current issues: NA

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 200

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 13

Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 174

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy: NA

Government type: parliamentary democracy

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

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; local statutes

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 53 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 5 non-voting members include the bailiff and the deputy bailiff the Dean of Jersey the Attorney General and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)

Judicial branch: Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff); Court of Appeal of Jersey

Political parties and leaders: two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance

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

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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $5.1 billion (2005 est.)
Rank: 167

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $57,000 (2005 est.)
Rank: 7

Agriculture products: potatoes cauliflower tomatoes; beef dairy products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 53,560 (June 2006)
Rank: 189

Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2006 est.)
Rank: 18

Population below poverty line: NA%

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -0.4% of GDP (2005)
Surplus or deficit rank: 50

Taxes and other revenues: 16.3% of GDP (2005)
Rank: 181

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.7% (2006)
Rank: 109

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Exports: $N/A
Commodities: light industrial and electrical goods dairy cattle foodstuffs textiles flowers

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment manufactured goods foodstuffs mineral fuels chemicals

Debt external: $N/A

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Consumption: 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Consumption rank: 164

Telephones
Main lines in use: 73,800 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 156
Mobile cellular: 108,000 (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 191

Broadcast media: multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet
Country code: .je
Hosts: 264 (2011)
Hosts rank: 194
Users: 29,500 (2009)
Users rank: 182

Airports: 1 (2011)
Rank: 227

Roadways
Rank: 191

Merchant marine
Rank: 102

Ports and terminals: Gorey Saint Aubin Saint Helier

Disputes international: none