Jersey

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

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

comparison ranking: total 223

Area – comparative

about two-thirds the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

70 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 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

highest point: Les Platons 136 m

lowest point: English Channel 0 m

Natural resources

arable land

Land use

agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)

forest: 5.2% (2022 est.)

other: 51.6% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

Population distribution

fairly even distribution

Natural hazards

very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation

Geography – note

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

People and Society

Population

total: 103,387 (2024 est.)

male: 51,028

female: 52,359

comparison rankings: total 193; female 193; male 193

Nationality

noun: Channel Islander(s)

adjective: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)

Languages

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

Religions

Christian 85.2%, Baha’i 0.3%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish 0.1%, Muslim 0.1%, atheist 1.1%, agnostic 13.1% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 9,082/female 8,530)

15-64 years: 64.6% (male 33,840/female 32,989)

65 years and over: 18.3% (2024 est.) (male 8,106/female 10,840)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 28.3 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.5 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 38.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 37 years

female: 39.7 years

comparison ranking: total 76

Population growth rate

0.56% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 146

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 143

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 93

Net migration rate

1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 61

Population distribution

fairly even distribution

Urbanization

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

Major urban areas – population

34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 192

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.6 years

female: 85.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 17

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 170

Gross reproduction rate

0.81 (2024 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

total: 98.5% of population

Environment

Environmental issues

habitat and species loss; water pollution; improper solid-waste disposal

Climate

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Land use

Urbanization

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

Waste and recycling

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.

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey

conventional short form: Jersey

former: Norman Isles

etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, with –ey meaning “island;” “Jer(s)” may derive from a person with the Scandinavian name Geirr, meaning “spear”

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)

Dependency status

British crown dependency

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

etymology: named after Saint HELIER, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555

Administrative divisions

none (British crown dependency); no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 12 parishes; Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, Trinity

Legal system

the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes

Constitution

history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

amendment process: 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)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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 Lyndon FARNHAM (since 25 January 2024); Bailiff Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states

election/appointment process: 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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Assembly of the States of Jersey

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 54 (49 directly elected, 5 appointed)

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 6/22/2022

parties elected and seats per party: BW (35); RJ (10); JLC (2); JA (1); PP (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 42.9%

expected date of next election: 2026

note: 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general

Judicial branch

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)

Political parties

Better Way or BW (group of independent candidates)
Jersey Alliance or JA
Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC
Progress Party or PP
Reform Jersey or RJ

note: most deputies sit as independents

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British Crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (British Crown dependency)

International organization participation

UPU

Independence

none (British Crown dependency)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Flag description

white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; a red shield with three lions in yellow is in the upper quadrant, with a yellow crown above; according to tradition, the ships of Jersey differentiated themselves from English ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George by rotating the cross to the “X” (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added

National symbol(s)

Jersey cow

National color(s)

red, white

National anthem(s)

title: “Isle de Siez Nous” (Island Home)

lyrics/music: Gerard LE FEUVRE

history: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem
_____

title: “God Save the King”

lyrics/music: unknown

history: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.569 billion (2016 est.)
$5.514 billion (2015 est.)
$4.98 billion (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 181

Real GDP growth rate

3.7% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)
9.9% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

comparison ranking: 91

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.508 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

industry: 8.2% (2023 est.)

services: 91.2% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 5; industry 195; agriculture 184

Agricultural products

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Industrial production growth rate

1.3% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

comparison ranking: 110

Labor force

82,400 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

comparison ranking: 184

Unemployment rate

6.3% (2024 est.)
6.2% (2023 est.)
6.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey

comparison ranking: 116

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 14.1% (2024 est.)

male: 14.2% (2024 est.)

female: 13.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 83

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

0.3 (2013 est.)

comparison ranking: 157

Exports – partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Exports – commodities

refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)

top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports – partners

almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Imports – commodities

artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)

Exchange rates

Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar

Exchange rates:
0.782 (2024 est.)
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

note: includes Guernsey and Jersey

Transportation

Airports

1 (2025)

comparison ranking: 234

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Saint Helier Harbour