Jersey Population: 99,602
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| History | |
| Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy 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. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British crown dependency, which means that it is not part of the UK but is rather a self-governing possession of the British crown. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. |
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| Geography | |
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| Location: | Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France |
| Geographic coordinates: | 49 15 N, 2 10 W |
| Area: | total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 70 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
| Climate: | temperate; mild winters and cool summers |
| Terrain: | gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast |
| Natural resources: | arable land |
| Land use: | agricultural land: 66% (2011 est.) arable land: 66% (2011 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) forest: 0% (2011 est.) other: 34% (2011 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | n/a |
| Natural hazards: | very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation |
| Current Environment Issues: | habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment; water pollution; improper solid waste disposal |
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| People | |
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| Nationality: | noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander |
| Ethnic groups: | 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.) |
| 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: | 99,602 (July 2018 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 16.37% (male 8,430 /female 7,870) 15-24 years: 13.63% (male 7,004 /female 6,572) 25-54 years: 40.71% (male 20,392 /female 20,160) 55-64 years: 12.73% (male 6,187 /female 6,497) 65 years and over: 16.56% (male 7,015 /female 9,475) (2018 est.) |
| Dependency ratios: | total dependency ratio: 47.1 (2015 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.6 (2015 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 25.4 (2015 est.) potential support ratio: 3.9 (2015 est.) note: data represent the Guernsey and Jersey |
| Median age: | total: 37.7 years male: 35.9 years female: 40.2 years (2018 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.76% (2018 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 12.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
| Urbanization: | urban population: 30.9% of total population (2018) rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey |
| Major urban areas - population: | 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 82 years male: 79.5 years female: 84.7 years (2018 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.66 children born/woman (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | n/a |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | n/a |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | n/a |
| Education expenditures: | n/a |
| Literacy: | |
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| Government | |
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| Country name: | conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island" |
| Government type: | parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey); a crown dependency of the UK |
| 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 etymology: named after Saint Helier, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555 |
| 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: | history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendments: proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, 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) |
| 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 Stephen DALTON (since 13 March 2017) head of government: Chief Minister John LE FONDRE (since 8 June 2018); 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 |
| Legislative branch: | description: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (49 elected members; 8 senators to serve 4-year terms, and 29 deputies and 12 connetables, or heads of parishes, to serve 4-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 16 May 2018 (next to be held on 16 May 2022) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 49; composition - men 36, women 13, percent of 26.5% |
| Judicial branch: | highest courts: Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats, and is organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Samedi Divisions); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London 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) |
| Political parties and leaders: | one registered party: Reform Jersey [Sam MEZEC] note: most senators and deputies sit as independents |
| International organization participation: | UPU |
| National symbol(s): | Jersey cow; national colors: red, white |
| 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) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (British crown dependency) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (British crown dependency) |
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| Economy | |
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2016, the financial services sector accounted for about 41% of the island's output. Agriculture represented about 1% of Jersey’s economy in 2016. Potatoes are an important export crop, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle originated on the island and is known worldwide. The dairy industry remains important to the island with approximately $8.8 million gallons of milk produced in 2015. Tourism accounts for a significant portion of Jersey’s economy, with more than 700,000 total visitors in 2015. Living standards come close to those of the UK. 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 offshore financial center. Jersey maintains its relationship with the EU through the UK. Therefore, in light of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, Jersey will also need to renegotiate its ties to the EU. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $5.569 billion (2016 est.) $5.514 billion (2015 est.) $4.98 billion (2014) note: data are in 2015 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $5.004 billion (2015 est.) (2015 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1% (2016 est.) 10.7% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $56,600 (2016 est.) $49,500 (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2010) industry: 2% (2010) services: 96% (2010) |
| Agriculture - products: | potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products |
| Industries: | tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics |
| Industrial production growth rate: | n/a |
| Labor force: | 59,950 (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 3% industry: 12% services: 85% (2014 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 4% (2015 est.) 4.6% (2014 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | n/a |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: n/a highest 10%: n/a |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 0.3 (2014 est.) 0.3 (2013 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: 829 million (2005) expenditures: 851 million (2005) |
| Taxes and other revenues: | 16.6% (of GDP) (2005) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.4% (of GDP) (2005) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 3.7% (2006) |
| Exports: | n/a |
| Exports - commodities: | light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers |
| Imports: | n/a |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals |
| Debt - external: | n/a |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | n/a |
| Exchange rates: | Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.738 (2016 est.) 0.738 (2015) 0.6542 (2012) 0.6391 (2011 est.) |
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| Energy | |
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| Electricity - production: | n/a (2017) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: | 450,000 Mt (2012 est.) |
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| Communications | |
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| Cellular Phones in use: | total subscriptions: 122,668 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (July 2016 est.) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: modern system with broadband access (2018) domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; fixed-line 58 per 100 and mobile-cellular 119 per 100 subscriptions (2018) international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France |
| Broadcast media: | multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating |
| Internet country code: | .je |
| Internet users: | total: 58,000 percent of population: 59.6% (July 2016 est.) |
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| Transportation | |
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| Airports: | 1 (2013) |
| Airports (paved runways): | total 1 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) |
| Roadways: | total 576 km (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | major seaport(s): Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier |
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| Military | |
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| Defense is the responsibility of the UK | |
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| Transnational Issues | |
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| Disputes - International: | none |
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