Jersey

Broadcast media

multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

Internet country code

.je

Internet hosts

264 (2012) country comparison to the world: 194

Internet users

29,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182

Telephone system

general assessment: increasingly modern system, with broadband access domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 now implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

73,800 (2010) country comparison to the world: 156

Telephones - mobile cellular

108,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 191

Agriculture - products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Budget

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 50

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, 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.

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.6324 (31 December 2011) 0.624 (2011) 0.6472 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.1 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$57,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2006) country comparison to the world: 109

Labor force

53,560 (June 2006) country comparison to the world: 189

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

16.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 181

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - consumption

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Area

total: 116 sq km country comparison to the world: 225 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 elevation 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: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA (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: Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, 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 Sir John MCCOLL (since 26 September 2011) head of government: Chief Minister Ian GORST (18 December 2011); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) (For more information visit theWorld 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

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

Judicial branch

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff); Court of Appeal of Jersey

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; local statutes

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 53; note - starting with the 2014 elections, the number of Senators will be reduced to 8

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)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

National symbol(s)

Jersey cow

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)

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 or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 8,021/ female 7,469) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 32,474/ female 32,644) 65 years and over: 15.1% (male 6,120/ female 8,221) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

11.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Death rate

7.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

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: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 200 male: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.47 years country comparison to the world: 13 male: 79.05 years female: 84.04 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

NA

Median age

total: 40.1 years male: 38 years female: 41.4 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander

Net migration rate

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Population

94,949 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Population growth rate

0.826% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Religions

Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Urbanization

urban population: 31% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 227

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 14 (Gibraltar 1, India 2, Marshall Islands 11) (2010) country comparison to the world: 102

Ports and terminals

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Roadways

total: 576 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 191