Jersey

Internet country code

.je

Internet hosts

190 (2008)

Internet users

27,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK

Telephones - main lines in use

73,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

83,900 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005)

Currency (code)

Jersey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for about 50% 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 one-quarter 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 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners

UK (2006)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$57,000 (2005 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 (2006)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (December 2006)

Labor force

53,560 (June 2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2006 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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

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); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

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

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); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December 2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; 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

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch) elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held on 15 October 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Political parties and leaders

two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support); Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association); Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress Jersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building preservation)

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Background

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. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 587 female: 540 (2008 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,851/female 7,298) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 30,744/female 30,997) 65 years and over: 16% (male 6,499/female 8,144) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Jersey 51.1%, Britons 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: 5.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.65 years male: 77.15 years female: 82.35 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

NA

Median age

total: 42.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 43.1 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Net migration rate

2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

91,533 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.221% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Ports and terminals

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Roadways

total: 358 km (2002)