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| Introduction | Jersey |
|
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 | Jersey |
|
Location:
|
| Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
| 49 15 N, 2 10 W |
|
Map references:
|
| Europe |
|
Area:
|
|
total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
| about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
| 0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
| 70 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
|
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
|
Climate:
|
| temperate; mild winters and cool summers |
|
Terrain:
|
| gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
|
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
| arable land |
|
Land use:
|
|
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
| NA |
|
Natural hazards:
|
| NA |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
| NA |
|
Geography - note:
|
| largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier |
| People | Jersey |
|
Population:
|
| 91,533 (July 2008 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
Median age:
|
|
total: 42.3 years
male: 41.6 years female: 43.1 years (2008 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
| 0.221% (2008 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
| 8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
| 9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
| 2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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.) |
|
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.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
|
total population: 79.65 years
male: 77.15 years female: 82.35 years (2008 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
| 1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
| NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
| NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
| NA |
|
Nationality:
|
|
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
| Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census) |
|
Religions:
|
| Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian |
|
Languages:
|
| English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) |
|
Literacy:
|
| NA |
|
Education expenditures:
|
| NA |
| Government | Jersey |
|
Country name:
|
|
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey |
|
Dependency status:
|
| British crown dependency |
|
Government type:
|
| parliamentary democracy |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Independence:
|
| none (British crown dependency) |
|
National holiday:
|
| Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) |
|
Constitution:
|
| unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
|
Legal system:
|
| the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
|
Suffrage:
|
| 16 years of age; universal |
|
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 Frank WALKER (since December 2005); 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 |
|
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 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held on 15 October 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
| Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
|
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents |
|
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 Horitcultural 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) |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
| none (British crown dependency) |
|
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 |
| Economy | Jersey |
|
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. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
| $5.1 billion (2005 est.) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
| $5.1 billion (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
| NA% |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
| $57,000 (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
|
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2% services: 97% (2005) |
|
Labor force:
|
| 53,560 (June 2006) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
| 2.2% (2006 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
| NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
|
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
| 3.7% (December 2006) |
|
Budget:
|
|
revenues: $829 million
expenditures: $851 million (2005) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
| potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products |
|
Industries:
|
| tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
| NA% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
| 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
| NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France |
|
Exports:
|
| $NA |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
| light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles |
|
Exports - partners:
|
| UK (2006) |
|
Imports:
|
| $NA |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
| machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals |
|
Imports - partners:
|
| UK (2006) |
|
Debt - external:
|
| $NA |
|
Market value of publicly traded shares:
|
| $NA |
|
Currency (code):
|
|
Jersey pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender |
|
Exchange rates:
|
|
Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound |
|
Fiscal year:
|
| 1 April - 31 March |
| Communications | Jersey |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
| 73,900 (2001) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
| 83,900 (2004) |
|
Telephone system:
|
|
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
| AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
| 2 (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
| .je |
|
Internet hosts:
|
| 2,219 (2007) |
|
Internet users:
|
| 27,000 (2005) |
| Transportation | Jersey |
|
Airports:
|
| 1 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
|
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
|
Roadways:
|
| total: 358 km (2002) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
| Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier |
| Military | Jersey |
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
|
male: 587
female: 540 (2008 est.) |
|
Military - note:
|
| defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Jersey |
|
Disputes - international:
|
| none |
| Introduction | Guernsey |
|
Background:
|
| Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey 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 | Guernsey |
|
Location:
|
| Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
| 49 28 N, 2 35 W |
|
Map references:
|
| Europe |
|
Area:
|
|
total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands |
|
Area - comparative:
|
| about one-half the size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
| 0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
| 50 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
|
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
|
Climate:
|
| temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast |
|
Terrain:
|
| mostly level with low hills in southwest |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
|
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
| cropland |
|
Land use:
|
|
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA other: NA |
|
Irrigated land:
|
| NA |
|
Natural hazards:
|
| NA |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
| NA |
|
Geography - note:
|
| large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port |
| People | Guernsey |
|
Population:
|
| 65,726 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
|
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 4,849/female 4,727)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,013/female 22,380) 65 years and over: 17.9% (male 4,988/female 6,769) (2008 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
|
total: 42.1 years
male: 41 years female: 43 years (2008 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
| 0.228% (2008 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
| 8.57 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
| 10.09 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
| 3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
|
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
|
total: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
|
total population: 80.65 years
male: 77.64 years female: 83.76 years (2008 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
| 1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
| NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
| NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
| NA |
|
Nationality:
|
|
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
| UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries |
|
Religions:
|
| Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist |
|
Languages:
|
| English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts |
|
Literacy:
|
| NA |
|
Education expenditures:
|
| NA |
| Government | Guernsey |
|
Country name:
|
|
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey |
|
Dependency status:
|
| British crown dependency |
|
Government type:
|
| parliamentary democracy |
|
Capital:
|
|
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 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 |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
| none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale |
|
Independence:
|
| none (British crown dependency) |
|
National holiday:
|
| Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) |
|
Constitution:
|
| unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
|
Legal system:
|
| the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
|
Suffrage:
|
| 18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
|
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA |
|
Legislative branch:
|
|
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments
elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents |
|
Judicial branch:
|
| Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
| none; all independents |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
| Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE] |
|
International organization participation:
|
| UPU |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
| none (British crown dependency) |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
| none (British crown dependency) |
|
Flag description:
|
| white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross |
| Economy | Guernsey |
|
Economy - overview:
|
| Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
| $2.742 billion (2005) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
| $2.742 billion (2005) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
| 3% (2005 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
| $44,600 (2005) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
|
agriculture: 3%
industry: 10% services: 87% (2000) |
|
Labor force:
|
| 31,470 (March 2006) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
| 0.9% (March 2006 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
| NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
|
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
| 3.4% (June 2006) |
|
Budget:
|
|
revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million (2005) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
| tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle |
|
Industries:
|
| tourism, banking |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
| NA% |
|
Electricity - production:
|
| NA kWh |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
| NA kWh |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
| 0 kWh (2002) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
| 0 kWh (2002) |
|
Exports:
|
| $NA |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
| tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables |
|
Exports - partners:
|
| UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006) |
|
Imports:
|
| $NA |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
| coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment |
|
Imports - partners:
|
| UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
| $NA |
|
Debt - external:
|
| $NA |
|
Currency (code):
|
|
Guernsey pound
note: the British pound is also legal tender |
|
Exchange rates:
|
|
Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound |
|
Fiscal year:
|
| calendar year |
| Communications | Guernsey |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
| 45,100 (2005) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
| 43,800 (2004) |
|
Telephone system:
|
|
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
| AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
| 1 (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
| .gg |
|
Internet hosts:
|
| 2,734 (2007) |
|
Internet users:
|
| 36,000 (2005) |
| Transportation | Guernsey |
|
Airports:
|
| 2 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
|
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
| Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson |
| Military | Guernsey |
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
|
male: 379
female: 353 (2008 est.) |
|
Military - note:
|
| defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Guernsey |
|
Disputes - international:
|
| none |
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