Introduction :: JERSEY
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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 EU. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography :: JERSEY
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Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Europe
total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 225
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
0 km
70 km
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m
arable land
agricultural land: 66%
arable land 66%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 0%
other: 34% (2011 est.)
NA
fairly even distribution; no notable trends
NA
NA
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People and Society :: JERSEY
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98,069 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Jersey 46.4%, British 32.7%, Portuguese/Madeiran 8.2%, Polish 3.3%, Irish, French, and other white 7.1%, other 2.4% (2011 est.)
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 8,169/female 7,616)
15-24 years: 14.23% (male 7,187/female 6,768)
25-54 years: 41.18% (male 20,215/female 20,170)
55-64 years: 12.38% (male 5,931/female 6,209)
65 years and over: 16.12% (male 6,731/female 9,073) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Europe
::JERSEY
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 47%
youth dependency ratio: 21.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 25.4%
potential support ratio: 3.9%
note: data represent the Channel Islands (2015 est.)
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 41.2 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
0.79% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
12.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
fairly even distribution; no notable trends
urban population: 31.4% of total population (2014)
rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
note: data are for the Channel Islands
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
total population: 81.9 years
male: 79.4 years
female: 84.5 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
1.66 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
NA
NA
NA
Government :: JERSEY
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conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"
British crown dependency
parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey); a Crown dependency of the UK
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
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
none (British crown dependency)
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
amendments: proposals introduced to the Assembly of the States of Jersey by a government minister, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval by the British monarch (Royal Assent) (2016)
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; local statutes
see United Kingdom
16 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor (currently vacant); Sir Stephen DALTON will take office in Marach 2017
head of government: Chief Minister Ian GORST (since 18 November 2011); Bailiff William BAILHACHE (since 29 January 2015)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers including the chief minister indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
description: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (49 elected members; 8 senators to serve 6-year terms, and 29 deputies and 12 connetables, or heads of parishes, to serve 3-year terms; 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general)
elections: last held on 15 October 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 49
highest court(s): Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges and organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Civil and Criminal Divisions); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats)
judge selection and term of office: Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; bailiffs and judges appointed for extent of good behavior; Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; commissioners appointed by the bailiff; jurats appointed by the Electoral College; bailiffs and commissioners appointed for extent of good behavior; jurats appointed until retirement at age 72
subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Youth Court; Petty Debts Court; Parish Hall Enquires (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court)
one registered party:
Reform Jersey [Sam MEZEC]
note: most senators and deputies sit as independents
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support)
Jersey Hospitality Association [Ian BARNES] (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)
none (British Crown dependency)
none (British Crown dependency)
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
Jersey cow; national colors: red, white
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 :: JERSEY
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Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2010, the financial services 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. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. Living standards come close to those of the UK. 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. In October 2014, Jersey signed an OECD agreement to automatically exchange some financial account information to limit tax avoidance and evasion.
$5.771 billion (FY12/13 est.)
$5.786 billion (FY11/12)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 171
$5.771 billion (FY 2012/13 est.)
-0.3% (FY12/13 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
agriculture: 2%
industry: 2%
services: 96% (2010)
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
NA%
53,380 (June 2012)
country comparison to the world: 189
1.7% (2012 est.)
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)
14.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 194
-0.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 37
1 April - 31 March
3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 155
$NA
$NA
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
$NA
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
$NA
Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
0.607 (2014)
0.607 (2013)
0.6542 (2012)
0.6391 (2011 est.)
Economy :: JERSEY
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Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2010, the financial services 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. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. Living standards come close to those of the UK. 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. In October 2014, Jersey signed an OECD agreement to automatically exchange some financial account information to limit tax avoidance and evasion.
$5.771 billion (FY12/13 est.)
$5.786 billion (FY11/12)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 171
$5.771 billion (FY 2012/13 est.)
-0.3% (FY12/13 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
agriculture: 2%
industry: 2%
services: 96% (2010)
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
NA%
53,380 (June 2012)
country comparison to the world: 189
1.7% (2012 est.)
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)
14.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 194
-0.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 37
1 April - 31 March
3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 155
$NA
$NA
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
$NA
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
$NA
Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
0.607 (2014)
0.607 (2013)
0.6542 (2012)
0.6391 (2011 est.)
Energy :: JERSEY
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630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Communications :: JERSEY
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total subscriptions: 73,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
total: 112,400
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
general assessment: modern system with broadband access
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available
international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2015)
multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)
.je
total: 58,000
percent of population: 59.6% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Transportation :: JERSEY
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number of registered air carriers: 2 (registered in UK)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 (registered in UK) (2015)
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 223
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 193
registered in other countries: 14 (Gibraltar 1, India 2, Marshall Islands 11) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 102
major seaport(s): Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military and Security :: JERSEY
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defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues :: JERSEY
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none
