Jersey

British crown dependencyIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Jersey as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSaint Helier
Area117 km2
1990

Every edition of Jersey

Populationas each edition published it
83,609 people July 1990 · 103,944 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 0.7% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 39.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 76.4 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.3 children per woman 1990 · 1.66 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 3.7 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $24,800 in 2000
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 8% in 1993

Geography

13 fields
Total area
117km2
land area: 117 km2Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
70km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 3 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Natural resources

agricultural land

Land use

  • NA% arable land;
  • NA% permanent crops;
  • NA% meadows and pastures;
  • NA% forest and woodland;
  • NA% other;
  • about 58% of land under cultivation

Environment

about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Note

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km from France

People

14 fields
Population
83,609
(July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
12Death
10Net migration
7

Infant mortality rate

6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 78 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Channel Islander(s); adjective--Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Religion

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Language

English and French (official), with the Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy

NA%, but probably high

Government

British crown dependency

16 fields

Long-form name

Bailiwick of Jersey

Type

British crown dependency

Capital

Saint Helier

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch

British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch

Royal Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government--Lieutenant Governor Adm. Sir William PILLAR (since NA 1985); Bailiff Peter CRILL (since NA)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

  • universal adult at age NA Assembly of the States--last held NA (next to be held NA);
  • results--percent of vote NA;
  • seats--(56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents

Communists

probably none

Diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)

Flag

white with the diagonal red cross of St. Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

Economy

The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism.

16 fields

Budget

Revenues
$308.0 millionExpenditures
$284.4 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Overview

The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. 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 earner.

Milk products go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. 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.

GDP

$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 8% (1987 est.)

Exports

  • $NA;
  • commodities--light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles;
  • partners--UK

Imports

  • $NA;
  • commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals;
  • partners--UK

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

50,000 kW standby capacity (1989); power supplied by France

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Agriculture

potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming

Aid

none

Currency

Jersey pound (plural--pounds); 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence

Exchange rates

  • Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1--0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985);
  • the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Communications

3 fields

Ports

Saint Helier, Gorey, St. Aubin

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (St. Peter)

Telecommunications

  • 63,700 telephones;
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Central Intelligence Agency. “Jersey.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jersey/1990.

How to cite 1991 edition →