Europe
Page last updated: April 24, 2024
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency, which means that it is not part of the UK but is rather a self-governing possession of the British Crown. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Europe
Total: 116 km²
Land: 116 km²
Water: 0 km²
About two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Total: 0 km
70 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Highest point: Les Platons 136 m
Lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Arable land
Agricultural land: 66% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 66% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 34% (2018 est.)
NA
Fairly even distribution; no notable trends
Very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation
Largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
102,785 (2023 est.)
Noun: Channel Islander(s)
Adjective: Channel Islander
Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)
English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais)
(2001 est.)
Note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001; two thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over
Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian), Roman Catholic
0-14 years: 16.89% (male 8,958/female 8,405)
15-64 years: 65.19% (male 33,888/female 33,121)
65 years and over: 17.91% (2023 est.) (male 7,871/female 10,542)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 44.5
Youth dependency ratio: 21.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 23.2
Potential support ratio: 4.3 (2021 est.)
Note: data represent Guernsey and Jersey
Total: 38 years (2023 est.)
Male: 36.7 years
Female: 39.5 years
0.61% (2023 est.)
12.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Fairly even distribution; no notable trends
Urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 82.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 80.3 years
Female: 85.5 years
1.66 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.8 (2023 est.)
NA
Improved: total: 94.2% of population
Unimproved: total: 5.9% of population (2017 est.)
Note: includes data for Guernsey
NA
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 98.5% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 1.5% of population (2017)
NA
NA
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Habitat and species depletion due to human encroachment; water pollution; improper solid waste disposal
Temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Agricultural land: 66% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 66% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 34% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)
Note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
Conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
Conventional short form: Jersey
Former: Norman Isles
Etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"
Parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)
British crown dependency
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
Etymology: named after Saint HELIER, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555
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, Trinity
None (British Crown dependency)
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
History: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Amendments: proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval of the British monarch (Royal Assent)
The laws of the UK apply where applicable; includes local statutes
See United Kingdom
16 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022)
Head of government: Chief Minister Kristina MOORE (since 12 July 2022); Bailiff Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Description: unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (49 elected members; 8 senators to serve 4-year terms, and 29 deputies and 12 connetables, or heads of parishes, to serve 4-year terms; 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general)
Elections: last held on 22 June 2022 (next to be held in 2026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - BW 66.8%, RJ 12.3%, JA 2.0%, PP 2%, JLC 4.1%; seats by party - BW 35, RJ 10, JLC 2, JA 1, PP 1; composition as of April 2024 - men 28, women 21, percentage women 42.9%
Highest court(s): Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats, and is organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Samedi Divisions); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; bailiffs and judges appointed for "extent of good behavior;" Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; commissioners appointed by the bailiff; jurats appointed by the Electoral College; bailiffs and commissioners appointed for "extent of good behavior;" jurats appointed until retirement at age 72
Subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Youth Court; Petty Debts Court; Parish Hall Enquiries (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court)
Better Way or BW (group of independent candidates)
Jersey Alliance or JA [Mark BOLEAT]
Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC [Sir Philip BAILHACHE]
Progress Party or PP [Steve PALLETT]
Reform Jersey or RJ [Sam MEZEC]
Note: most deputies sit as independents
UPU
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
Jersey cow; national colors: red, white
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 King" is official (see United Kingdom)
British territorial island economy; strong offshore banking and finance sectors; low asset taxation; strong tourism sector prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; one of the most expensive places to live; minimal welfare system; historical cider industry
$5.569 billion (2016 est.)
$5.514 billion (2015 est.)
$4.98 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
8.65% (2021 est.)
-7.97% (2020 est.)
1.33% (2019 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
$56,600 (2016 est.)
$49,500 (2015 est.)
$11.736 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
Agriculture: 2% (2010)
Industry: 2% (2010)
Services: 96% (2010)
Comparison rankings: services 2; industry 223; agriculture 173
Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
25.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
86,000 (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
6.03% (2022 est.)
6.73% (2021 est.)
6.72% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
Total: 15.8% (2021 est.)
Male: 15.9%
Female: 15.6%
NA
0.3 (2014 est.)
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA
Revenues: $829 million (2005)
Expenditures: $851 million (2005)
-0.4% (of GDP) (2005)
1 April - 31 March
Almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)
Almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)
NA
Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
Exchange rates:
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)
0.75 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
450,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2012 est.)
Total subscriptions: 48,122 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 124,083 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2021 est.)
General assessment: the telecommunication services comprise of Internet, telephone, broadcasting and postal services, which allow islanders to contact people and receive information; Internet connectivity to the rest of the world is provided by undersea cables linked to Guernsey, the UK and France; (2021)
Domestic: fixed-line 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular 120 per 100 subscriptions (2021)
International: country code - 44; landing points for the INGRID, UK-Channel Islands-8, and Guernsey-Jersey-4, submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2019)
Multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating
.je
Total: 96,038 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 93% (2021 est.)
Total: 39,699 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in UK)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (registered in UK)
1 (2024)
Total: 576 km (2010)
Major seaport(s): Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Defense is the responsibility of the UK