Jersey

Bailiwick of Jersey

NAIndependence none (British crown dependency)

Jersey as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 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

Position49 15 N, 2 10 W

Area116 sq km

LocationWestern Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Populationas each edition published it

88,915 people July 2000 est. · 83,609 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.52% 2000 est. · 0.7% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 39.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.48 years 2000 est. · 76.4 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.56 children per woman 2000 est. · 1.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.71 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$24,800 1999 est. · $56,600 in 2024

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The island of 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.

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 116 sq km

arable land 66%forests and woodland 0%other 34%permanent crops 0% in all · permanent pastures 0% in all

Area

116sq km

land: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

70km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm

Highest point

143m

unnamed locationlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map references

Europe

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 sq km

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

88,915

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.52% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

11.65Death

9.26Net migration

2.81

Age structure

0-14 years:: 18% (male 8,140; female 7,563)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 30,036; female 30,329)
65 years and over:: 14% (male 5,454; female 7,393) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.48 years
male:: 76.07 years
female:: 81.07 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.56 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Channel Islander(s)
adjective:: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

UK and Norman-French descent

Religions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

definition:: NA
total:: NA
male:: NA
female:: NA

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995)

18 fields

Legislature, 52 seats, elected NAone dot, one seat

independents 52

Country name

conventional long form:: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form:: Jersey

Data code

Dependency status

British crown dependency

Government type

Capital

Saint Helier

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system

English law and local statute

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995)
cabinet:: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators, 12 constables or heads of parishes, 29 deputies; all elected for six-year terms, half elected every third year; the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch

elections:: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results:: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 52

Judicial branch

Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

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 and in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield holding the three lions of England in yellow

Economy

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

30 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

4.7%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

0.7%

(1998 est.)

Labor force

57,050

(1996)

GDP - composition by sector(1996)

agriculture 5%industry 2%services 93% (1996)

Budget

Revenues

$666.9 millionExpenditures

$618.5 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $128.4 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

266 millionElectricity consumption

467 million (1995)Electricity imports

201 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The economy is based largely on international 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 income earner.

Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% 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.

Jersey pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995);
the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound