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Europe :: Jersey
(British crown dependency)
page last updated on December 5, 2011
Flag of Jersey
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Jersey
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Map of Jersey
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Introduction ::Jersey
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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.
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Geography ::Jersey
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Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
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49 15 N, 2 10 W
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total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 224
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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70 km
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
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temperate; mild winters and cool summers
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gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m
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arable land
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
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People and Society ::Jersey
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noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
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Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
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English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
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Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic
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94,161 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
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0-14 years: 16.5% (male 8,067/female 7,507)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 32,187/female 32,485)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 5,953/female 7,962) (2011 est.)
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total: 40.1 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 41.3 years (2011 est.)
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0.841% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
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10.9 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
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7.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
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urban population: 31% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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total: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 81.38 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 78.96 years
female: 83.94 years (2011 est.)
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1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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Government ::Jersey
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conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
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British crown dependency
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parliamentary democracy
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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
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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
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none (British crown dependency)
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Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
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unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
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the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; local statutes
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16 years of age; universal
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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 the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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
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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 51; note - starting with the 2014 elections, the number of Senators will be reduced to 8
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Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff); Court of Appeal of Jersey
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two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
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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)
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none (British crown dependency)
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none (British crown dependency)
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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
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Jersey cow
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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)
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Economy ::Jersey
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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.
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$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
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$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
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NA%
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$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)
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53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
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2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005)
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16.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 180
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-0.4% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 50
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3.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 122
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$NA
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potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
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tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
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NA%
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630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
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NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
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$NA
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light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles, flowers
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$NA
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
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$NA
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Jersey pounds per US dollar
0.6388 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)
0.4993 (2007)
0.5418 (2006)
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Communications ::Jersey
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73,800 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 154
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83,900 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 193
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general assessment: state-owned, partially-competitive market; increasingly modern, with some broadband access
domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and currently being 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 (2008)
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multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney - will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November 2010; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)
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.je
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237 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 191
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29,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
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Transportation ::Jersey
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1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 222
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
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total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
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registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall Islands 9) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
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Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
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Military ::Jersey
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males age 16-49: 18,688
females age 16-49: 18,615 (2010 est.)
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male: 664
female: 590 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of the UK
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Transnational Issues ::Jersey
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none
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