Jersey
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers Map references: Europe Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W Natural resources: arable land Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast Geography - note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier Area: total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France Coastline: 70 km Area - comparative: about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: NA Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm Natural hazards: NA Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.65 years male: 77.15 years female: 82.35 years (2008 est.) Literacy: NA Net migration rate: 2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census) Median age: total: 42.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 43.1 years (2008 est.) Population: 91,533 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: NA Population growth rate: 0.221% (2008 est.) Languages: English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) Death rate: 9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,851/female 7,298) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 30,744/female 30,997) 65 years and over: 16% (male 6,499/female 8,144) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency) National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Government type: parliamentary democracy 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 [Darius J. PEARCE, 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) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency) Dependency status: British crown dependency Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 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 bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch) elections: last held 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November 2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55 Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court 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 the three lions of England in yellow Independence: none (British crown dependency) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey Political parties and leaders: two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents 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 Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December 2008); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity Judicial branch: Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France Debt - external: $NA Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2006 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $57,000 (2005 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $5.1 billion (2005 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $5.1 billion (2005 est.) Exchange rates: Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.5302 (2008 est.), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound GDP - real growth rate: NA% Labor force: 53,560 (June 2006) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (December 2006) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005) Exports: $NA Currency (code): Jersey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender 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 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. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK. Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics Population below poverty line: NA% Imports: $NA Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA Currency code: GBP Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles Budget: revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 27,000 (2005) Telephones - main lines in use: 73,900 (2001) Televisions: NA Internet country code: .je Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: NA Telephones - mobile cellular: 83,900 (2004) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA Internet hosts: 190 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) Roadways: total: 358 km (2002) Airports: 1 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 587 female: 540 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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