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.

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, UTC
Position49 15 N, 2 10 W
Area116 sq km
LocationWestern Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Populationas each edition published it
101,476 people July 2021 est. · 83,609 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.67% 2021 est. · 0.7% in 1993
Median ageyears
37.5 years 2020 est. · 39.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
82.43 years 2021 est. · 76.4 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.66 children per woman 2021 est. · 1.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.94 deaths per 1,000 live births 2021 est. · 6 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$56,600 2016 est. · $24,800 in 2000
GDP real growth% a year
1% 2016 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 116 sq km

arable land 66% (2018 est.)forest 0% (2018 est.)other 34% (2018 est.)agricultural land 66% (2018 est.) in all · permanent crops 0% (2018 est.) in all · permanent pasture 0% (2018 est.) in all
Area
116sq km
land: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
70km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Highest point
136m
Les Platonslowest point: English Channel 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Population distribution

fairly even distribution; no notable trends

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

People and Society

28 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)

7,324
65 and over17.05%
9,906
6,515
55-6413.22%
6,844
20,499
25-5440.12%
20,054
6,764
15-2412.98%
6,354
8,689
0-1416.63%
8,124
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49 · youth dependency ratio: 22.3 · elderly dependency ratio: 26.7 · potential support ratio: 3.7 (2020 est.) note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
Population
101,476
(July 2021 est.)growth rate: 0.67% (2021 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)

Birth
12.46Death
7.76Net migration
2.03

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2021 est.)82.43
79.92 · 85.09Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)3.94
4.39 · 3.46
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2020 est.)37.5
36 · 39.5
MaleFemale
Urban population
31%of total population
(2021)rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)note: data include Guernsey and JerseyMajor urban areas - population: 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

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 (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

Population distribution

fairly even distribution; no notable trends

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2021 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 fields

Land use(2018 est.)

arable land 66% (2018 est.)forest 0% (2018 est.)other 34% (2018 est.)agricultural land 66% (2018 est.) in all · permanent crops 0% (2018 est.) in all · permanent pasture 0% (2018 est.) in all

Environment - current issues

  • habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment;
  • water pollution;
  • improper solid waste disposal

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

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 fields

Legislature, 49 seats, elected 16 May 2018one dot, one seat

independents 49

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)

Dependency status

British crown dependency

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

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)

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 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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: 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 symbol(s)

Jersey cow; national colors: red, white

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 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$5.569billion
(2016 est.) · $5.514 billion (2015 est.) · $4.98 billion (2014 est.)note: data are in 2015 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $5.004 billion (2015 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$56,600
(2016 est.) · $49,500 (2015 est.)
Real growth rate
1%
(2016 est.) · 10.7% (2015 est.)industrial production growth: NA

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2010)

agriculture 2% (2010)industry 2% (2010)services 96% (2010)

Budget(2005)

Revenues
829 millionExpenditures
851 million

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.

Agricultural products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Labor force

59,950 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
3%
industry:
12%
services:
85% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2015 est.) · 4.6% (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2005)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

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 fields

Electrification% of population · (2020)

100%Total

Electricity - consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Communications

7 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2016–21 est.)

119Mobile cellular
41.03%Internet users, % of population
58Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
122,668
(July 2016 est.)
Internet users
100,300
(2021 est.)
Fixed lines
55,938
(July 2016 est.) · country code .je

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

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total:
NA
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
NA

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m
1

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)

Airports

total: 1 (2013)

Roadways

total: 576 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Military and Security

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

1 field

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Jersey.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jersey/2021.