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