Jersey

Internet country code

.je

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables

Telephones - main lines in use

73,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

61,400 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $601 million expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code)

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound

Debt - external

none

Economic aid - recipient

none

Economy - overview

The Channel Island economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. 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. Tourism 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. Living standards come close to those of the UK.

Electricity - consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners

UK

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

UK

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.3% (2004)

Labor force

52,790 (2004)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

0.9% (2004 est.)

Area

total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Coastline

70 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

arable land

Terrain

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency)

Capital

Saint Helier

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Country name

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

Dependency status

British crown dependency

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

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 the three lions of England in yellow

Government type

NA

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Judicial branch

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Legal system

English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); 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 53

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.5% (male 8,222/female 7,658) 15-64 years: 67% (male 30,296/female 30,561) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 6,176/female 7,899) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.24 years male: 76.77 years female: 81.91 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 40.89 years male: 40.13 years female: 41.63 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Net migration rate

2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

90,812 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.32% (2005 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 577 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier