Introduction

The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency located in the English Channel (Maps) and has a population of 85,000. The economy is based on agriculture and cattle breeding, so much so that the importation of cattle is prohibited (to protect the purity of their world famous cows).

Jersey's right to independent government was established over 700 years ago. Originally the Island was part of Normandy which, following William's conquest, was ruled by England for the next 200 years. But then King John lost Normandy to France in 1204 and Islanders had to choose: stay with Normandy or remain loyal to the English crown. They choose the later, and gained rights and privileges which to this day are subject not to the British Parliament but only to the Queen - or King - in Council.

Geography

Total area:

117 square km

Land area:

117 square km

Comparative area:

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

none

Coastline:

70 km

Maritime claims:

• Exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm

  Territorial sea:

  3 nm

  Disputes:

  none

Climate:

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain:

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast Natural resources:

agricultural land

Land use:

• arable land NA%
• permanent crops NA%
• meadows and pastures NA%
• forest and woodland NA%
• other NA%
• about 58% of land under cultivation

Environment:

about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Note:

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km from France

People

Population:

85,026 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)

Birth rate:

12 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate:

10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Net migration rate:

6 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Infant mortality rate:

6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth:

72 years male, 78 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate:

1.3 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality:

• noun - Channel Islander(s)
• adjective - Channel Islander

Ethnic divisions:

UK and Norman-French descent

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages:

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

Literacy:

NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age 5 to 16

Labor force:

NA

Organized labor:

none

Government

Long-form name:

Bailiwick of Jersey

Type:

British crown dependency

Capital:

Saint Helier

Administrative divisions:

none (British crown dependency)

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

English law and local statute

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Executive branch:

• British monarch
• lieutenant governor
• bailiff

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the States

Judicial branch:

Royal Court

Leaders:

Chief of State:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

Head of Government:

• Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990)
• Bailiff Peter CRILL (since NA)

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Suffrage:

universal adult at age NA

Elections:

Assembly of the States: 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

Member of:

none

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 EC 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.

GDP:

$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 8% (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Budget:

revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1985)

Exports:

$NA

commodities:

• light industrial and electrical goods
• foodstuffs
• textiles

partners:

UK

Imports:

$NA

commodities:

• machinery and transport equipment
• manufactured goods
• foodstuffs
• mineral fuels
• chemicals

partners:

UK

External debt:

$NA

Industrial production:

growth rate NA%

Electricity:

50,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by France

Industries:

• tourism
• banking and finance
• dairy

Agriculture:

• potatoes
• cauliflowers
• tomatoes
• dairy and cattle farming

Economic aid:

none

Currency:

• Jersey pound (plural - pounds)
• 1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence

Exchange rates:

• Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986); the
• Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Ports:

• Saint Helier
• Gorey
• Saint Aubin

Airports:

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (Saint Peter)

Telecommunications:

• 63,700 telephones
• broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV
• 3 submarine cables

Defense Forces

Note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK