Jersey
Introduction
Background
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.
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
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.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
forest
5.2% (2022 est.)
other
51.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
NA
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
103,944 (2025 est.)
male
51,317
female
52,627
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
<p>English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais)</p> (2001 est.)
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
56 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
26.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
29.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3.4 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
38.5 years (2025 est.)
male
37 years
female
39.7 years
Population growth rate
0.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
11.97 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
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 (2025 est.)
male
4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female
3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
83 years (2024 est.)
male
80.6 years
female
85.7 years
Total fertility rate
1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.81 (2025 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
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
agricultural land
43.3% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
forest
5.2% (2022 est.)
other
51.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
178,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28.4% (2016 est.)
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 -<em>ey</em> 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
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
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)<br>Jersey Alliance or JA <br>Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC <br>Progress Party or PP <br>Reform Jersey or RJ
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
<strong>description:</strong> 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 triangle, with a yellow crown above<br><br><strong>history:</strong> according to tradition, Jersey ships differentiated themselves from English ships that flew the horizontal cross of St. George by rotating their own cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; this arrangement resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, so the Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added
National symbol(s)
Jersey cow
National color(s)
red, white
National anthem(s)
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)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$5.569 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$5.514 billion (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$4.98 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
9.9% (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$12.508 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
0.6% (2023 est.)
industry
8.2% (2023 est.)
services
91.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate
1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force
82,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
6.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
14.1% (2024 est.)
male
14.2% (2024 est.)
female
13.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)
Imports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities
artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)
Exchange rates
Currency
Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
Exchange rates 2024
0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.78 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
48,223 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
47 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
129,368 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
125 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating
Internet country code
.je
Internet users
percent of population
41% (2012 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
39,699 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
37 (2020 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2025)
Ports
total ports
1 (2024)
large
0
medium
0
small
1
very small
0
ports with oil terminals
1
key ports
Saint Helier Harbour
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK