Jersey

British crown dependency

Jersey 

 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

70 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

None

Climate

Temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain

Gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: 143 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

Note: Largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

PEOPLE

Population

87,848 (July 1996 est.)
86,649 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

17% (male 7,787; female 7,284) (July 1996 est.)
17% (male 7,450; female 7,029) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

69% (male 29,928; female 30,395) (July 1996 est.)
69% (male 29,916; female 30,156) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

14% (male 5,107; female 7,347) (July 1996 est.)
14% (male 4,896; female 7,202) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.77% (1996 est.)
0.7% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

12.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
12.83 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

9.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
9.97 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

2.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

1.5 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.44 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

NA

Labor Force

NA

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

JE

Type

British crown dependency

Capital

Saint Helier

Administrative Divisions

None (British crown dependency)

Independence

None (British crown dependency)

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution

Unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal System

English law and local statute

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive Branch

Chief of State

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

Head of Government

Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995) were appointed by the queen

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Assembly of the States

Elections 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

Judicial Branch

Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff

Political Parties and Leaders

None; all independents

Member of

None

Diplomatic Representation in U.S.

None (British crown dependency)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

None (British crown dependency)

Flag

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

ECONOMY

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 EU 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.

National Product

GDP NA

National Product Real Growth Rate

8% (1987 est.)

National Product Per Capita

NA

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

8% (1988 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

NA

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

NA

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

NA

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming

Economic Aid

None

Currency

1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence

Exchange Rates

Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Ports

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

61,447 telephones (1983 est.)

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

last updated: 20 november 1997