Jersey

Airports

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

Ports

Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin

Telecommunications

63,700 telephones; broadcast 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

Budget

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

Currency

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

Economic aid

none

Electricity

50,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by France

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986); 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

Disputes

none

Environment

about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Land area

117 km2

Land boundaries

none

Land use

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

Maritime claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm

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

Total area

117 km2

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Capital

Saint Helier

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Diplomatic representation

none (British crown dependency)

Elections

Assembly of the States: last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents

Executive branch

British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff

Flag

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

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Judicial branch

Royal Court

Leaders

Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); 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

Member of

none

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA

Type

British crown dependency

Birth rate

12 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Ethnic divisions

UK and Norman-French descent

Infant mortality rate

6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Labor force

NA

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 78 years female (1992)

Literacy

NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

6 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

none

Population

85,026 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (1992)