The Jersey cow is a national symbol of the Isle of Jersey, a small British crown dependency in the English Channel near France. Jerseys, one of the oldest breeds of cattle, were brought to England in the 1740s and then to the US in the 1850s.
The Jersey cow is a national symbol of the Isle of Jersey, a small British crown dependency in the English Channel near France. Jerseys, one of the oldest breeds of cattle, were brought to England in the 1740s and then to the US in the 1850s.
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Jersey Factbook Data
Dependency status
British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: none (British Crown dependency)
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)
This is the population pyramid for Jersey. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
49 15 N, 2 10 W
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.)
Natural hazards
very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation
Area - comparative
about two-thirds the size of Washington, D.C.
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.
Environmental issues
habitat and species loss; water pollution; improper solid-waste disposal
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)
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
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
Independence
none (British Crown dependency)
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
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)
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
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.)
Legal system
the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes
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
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
International organization participation
UPU
National holiday
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Nationality
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Natural resources
arable land
Geography - note
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
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
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
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Terrain
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
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"
Location
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references
Europe
Irrigated land
NA
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (British Crown dependency)
Internet users
percent of population: 41% (2012 est.)
Internet country code
.je
GDP (official exchange rate)
$12.508 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
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
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
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
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
note: includes Guernsey and Jersey
Ethnic groups
Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 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.)
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
Elevation
highest point: Les Platons 136 m
lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Sanitation facility access
improved:
total: 98.5% of population
Imports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)
note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.
Gross reproduction rate
0.81 (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Saint Helier Harbour
National color(s)
red, white
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
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
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey
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
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
Population growth rate
0.56% (2024 est.)
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