Jersey
Bailiwick of Jersey
parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)Independence none (British Crown dependency)
Jersey as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
17 fieldsLand useshare of 116 sq km
Geography - note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People and Society
28 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)
Male · female
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 (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other .9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)
note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001; two thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over
Religions
Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.02 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 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source
- improved:
- total: 94.2% of population
- unimproved:
- total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)
note : includes data for Guernsey
Sanitation facility access
- improved:
- total: 98.5% of population
- unimproved:
- total: 1.5% of population (2017)
Environment
5 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment;
- water pollution;
- improper solid waste disposal
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 31% of total population (2021)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 178,933 tons (2016 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 50,871 tons (2016 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 28.4% (2016 est.)
note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
Government
Parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey); Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Chief Minister John LE FONDRE (since 8 June 2018)
21 fieldsLegislature, 49 seats, elected 16 May 2018one dot, one seat
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"
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
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)
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 Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
- elections/appointments:
- 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 (as of October 2021) - men 35, women 14, percent of women 28.6%
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:
- Magistrate's 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: none (British Crown dependency); 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 anthem
- 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's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism.
26 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2010)
Budget(2005)
Economic 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.
Exports - commodities
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar 0.7836 (2017 est.) · 0.738 (2016 est.) · 0.738 (2015) · 0.6542 (2012) · 0.6391 (2011 est.)
Energy
3 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2020)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2016–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- good 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)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure;
progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (registered in UK) (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (registered in UK)
Military and Security
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Jersey.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jersey/2021.