Jersey
Jersey
Introduction
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 or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography
Location
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references
Europe
Area
total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 224 land:116 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
70 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone:12 nm
Climate
temperate
mild winters and cool summers
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:unnamed elevation 143 m
Natural resources
arable land
Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment – current issues
NA
Geography – note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands
about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective:Channel Islander
Ethnic groups
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Languages
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Religions
Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic
Population
94,161 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 8,067/female 7,507)
15-64 years:68.7% (male 32,187/female 32,485)
65 years and over:14.8% (male 5,953/female 7,962) (2011 est.)
Median age
total: 40.1 years
male:38.3 years
female:41.3 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
0.841% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate
10.9 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Death rate
7.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Net migration rate
5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Urbanization
urban population: 31% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.8 male(s)/female
total population:0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 202 male:4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 81.38 years
country comparison to the world: 11 male:78.96 years
female:83.94 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
NA
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form:Jersey
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Government type
parliamentary democracy
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
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
unwritten
partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
local statutes
Suffrage
16 years of age
universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John MCCOLL (since 26 September 2011)
head of government:Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008)
Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet:Cabinet (since December 2005)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States
the monarchy is hereditary
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats
53 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 5 non-voting members include the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)
elections:last held on 27 April 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:percent of vote – NA
seats – independents 51
note – starting with the 2014 elections, the number of Senators will be reduced to 8
Judicial branch
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Court of Appeal of Jersey
Political parties and leaders
two declared parties: Centre Party
Jersey Democratic Alliance
note:all senators and deputies elected in 2008 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 [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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US
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 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
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, displacing more traditional industries. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP – real growth rate
NA%
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
GDP – composition by sector
agriculture: 1%
industry:2%
services:97% (2005)
Labor force
53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%
Budget
revenues: $829 million
expenditures:$851 million (2005)
Taxes and other revenues
16.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 180
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-0.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 50
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 122
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture – products
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes
beef, dairy products
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity – consumption
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity – imports
NA kWh
note – electricity supplied by France
Exports
$NA
Exports – commodities
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
Imports
$NA
Imports – commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Debt – external
$NA
Exchange rates
Jersey pounds per US dollar
0.6388 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)
0.4993 (2007)
0.5418 (2006)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:223
Airports – with paved runways
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)
Roadways
total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall Islands 9) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
Ports and terminals
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 18,688
females age 16-49:18,615 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 664
female:590 (2010 est.)
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
none