Jersey

Airports

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

Ports

Saint Helier, Gorey, St. Aubin

Telecommunications

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

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming

Aid

none

Budget

revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Currency

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

Electricity

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

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

Exports

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

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

GDP

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

Imports

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

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (1988 est.)

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.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Coastline

70 km

Comparative area

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment

about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

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

Natural resources

agricultural land

Note

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km from France

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Territorial sea

3 nm

Total area

117 km2; land area: 117 km2

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Capital

Saint Helier

Communists

probably none

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch

British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff

Flag

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

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

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)

Legal system

English law and local statute

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States

Long-form name

Bailiwick of Jersey

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

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

Type

British crown dependency

Birth rate

12 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

10 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Infant mortality rate

6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

NA

Language

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

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 78 years female (1990)

Literacy

NA%, but probably high

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

none

Population

83,609 (July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)

Religion

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

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (1990)