Jersey
Jersey⌘K
Overview
- 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
Area
- Land
- 116 sq km
- Water
- 0 sq km
- Total
- 116 sq km
- Climate
- temperate; mild winters and cool summers
- Terrain
- gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Land Use
- Other
- 51.6% (2022 est.)
- Forest
- 5.2% (2022 est.)
- 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.)
- Location
- Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
- Coastline
- 70 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- English Channel 0 m
- Highest point
- Les Platons 136 m
- Irrigated land
- NA
- Map references
- Europe
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 0 km
Maritime Claims
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Exclusive fishing zone
- 12 nm
- 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
- Natural resources
- arable land
- Area comparative
- about two-thirds the size of Washington, D.C.
- Geographic coordinates
- 49 15 N, 2 10 W
- Population distribution
- fairly even distribution
People & Society
- Languages
- English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais)
(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.)
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
- Total population
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 11.97 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 37 years
- Total
- 38.5 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 39.7 years
Population
- Male
- 51,317
- Total
- 103,944 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 52,627
Nationality
- Noun
- Channel Islander(s)
- Adjective
- Channel Islander
Urbanization
- Note
- note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
- Urban population
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
- Ethnic groups
- Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 56 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 26.8 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 3.4 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 29.2 (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 0.51% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.81 (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- fairly even distribution
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 80.6 years
- Female
- 85.7 years
- Total population
- 83 years (2024 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: total
- total: 98.5% of population
- Major urban areas population
- 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)
Government
- 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 triangle, with a yellow crown above
history: 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
Capital
- Name
- Saint Helier
- Etymology
- named after Saint HELIER, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555
- 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
- Geographic coordinates
- 49 11 N, 2 06 W
- Suffrage
- 16 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- see United Kingdom
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)
Country Name
- 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"
- Conventional long form
- Bailiwick of Jersey
- Conventional short form
- Jersey
- Independence
- none (British Crown dependency)
- Legal system
- the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)
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)
- 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)
- 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
Executive Branch
- Cabinet
- Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
- 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)
- 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
- National holiday
- Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
- Dependency status
- British crown dependency
- National color(s)
- red, white
- 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
Legislative Branch
- Note
- note: 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Number of seats
- 54 (49 directly elected, 5 appointed)
- Legislature name
- Assembly of the States of Jersey
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 6/22/2022
- Expected date of next election
- 2026
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 42.9%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- BW (35); RJ (10); JLC (2); JA (1); PP (1)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "God Save the King"
- History
- official anthem, as a British Crown dependency
- Lyrics/music
- unknown
- National symbol(s)
- Jersey cow
- 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
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (British Crown dependency)
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- none (British Crown dependency)
- International organisations
- UPU
Economy
- Industries
- tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
- Labor force
- 82,400 (2024 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
- Exchange rates 2020
- 0.78 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 0.727 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 0.811 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 0.805 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 0.782 (2024 est.)
- 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
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 6.3% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 6.2% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 6.2% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 6.3% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
- Imports partners
- almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
- Real GDP growth rate 2021
- 9.9% (2021 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 5.3% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 3.7% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural products
- potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
- Exports commodities
- refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)
- Imports commodities
- artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $12.508 billion (2023 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 1.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $5.569 billion (2016 est.)
- Note
- note: data are in 2015 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
- $4.98 billion (2014 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
- $5.514 billion (2015 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
- $5.569 billion (2016 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 14.2% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 14.1% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 13.9% (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 8.2% (2023 est.)
- Services
- 91.2% (2023 est.)
- Agriculture
- 0.6% (2023 est.)
Energy
Electricity Access
- Note
- note: includes Guernsey and Jersey
- Electrification total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 41% (2012 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
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.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 39,699 (2020 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 37 (2020 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 1
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Saint Helier Harbour
- Very small
- 0
- Total ports
- 1 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 1
- Airports
- 1 (2025)
Environment
- Climate
- temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Land Use
- Other
- 51.6% (2022 est.)
- Forest
- 5.2% (2022 est.)
- 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.)
Urbanization
- Note
- note: data include Guernsey and Jersey
- Urban population
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Note
- note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 28.4% (2016 est.)
- Environmental issues
- habitat and species loss; water pollution; improper solid-waste disposal
Military & Security
- Military note
- defense is the responsibility of the UK
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Jersey — vintage 2026-Q1: Jersey factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/jersey
Sources: CIA World Factbook