Jersey

Code: JE | Region: Europe

Introduction

Background

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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

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Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates

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49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map references

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Europe

Area

total

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116 sq km

land

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116 sq km

water

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0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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70 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

exclusive fishing zone

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12 nm

Climate

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temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain

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gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Elevation

highest point

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Les Platons 136 m

lowest point

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English Channel 0 m

Natural resources

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arable land

Land use

agricultural land

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43.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)

forest

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5.2% (2022 est.)

other

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51.6% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

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Population distribution

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fairly even distribution

Natural hazards

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very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

total

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103,944 (2025 est.)

male

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51,317

female

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52,627

Nationality

noun

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Channel Islander(s)

adjective

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Channel Islander

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)

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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

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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

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17% (male 9,082/female 8,530)

15-64 years

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64.6% (male 33,840/female 32,989)

65 years and over

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18.3% (2024 est.) (male 8,106/female 10,840)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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56 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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26.8 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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29.2 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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3.4 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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38.5 years (2025 est.)

male

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37 years

female

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39.7 years

Population growth rate

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0.51% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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11.97 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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fairly even distribution

Urbanization

urban population

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31.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

Major urban areas - population

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34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.75 male(s)/female

total population

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0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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83 years (2024 est.)

male

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80.6 years

female

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85.7 years

Total fertility rate

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1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.81 (2025 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 98.5% of population

Environment

Environmental issues

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

Climate

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temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Land use

agricultural land

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43.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)

forest

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5.2% (2022 est.)

other

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51.6% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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31.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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note: data include Guernsey and Jersey

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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178,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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28.4% (2016 est.)

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note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey.

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Bailiwick of Jersey

conventional short form

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Jersey

former

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Norman Isles

etymology

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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

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parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)

Dependency status

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British crown dependency

Capital

name

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Saint Helier

geographic coordinates

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49 11 N, 2 06 W

time difference

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UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time

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+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

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

Administrative divisions

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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

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

Constitution

history

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unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

amendment process

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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

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see United Kingdom

Suffrage

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16 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022)

head of government

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

cabinet

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Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states

election/appointment process

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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

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Assembly of the States of Jersey

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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54 (49 directly elected, 5 appointed)

term in office

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4 years

most recent election date

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6/22/2022

parties elected and seats per party

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BW (35); RJ (10); JLC (2); JA (1); PP (1)

percentage of women in chamber

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42.9%

expected date of next election

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2026

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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note: most deputies sit as independents

Diplomatic representation in the US

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none (British Crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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none (British Crown dependency)

International organization participation

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UPU

Independence

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none (British Crown dependency)

National holiday

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Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Flag

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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

National symbol(s)

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Jersey cow

National color(s)

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red, white

National anthem(s)

title

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"God Save the King"

lyrics/music

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unknown

history

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official anthem, as a British Crown dependency

Economy

Economic overview

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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

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$5.569 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

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$5.514 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

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$4.98 billion (2014 est.)

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note: data are in 2015 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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3.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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5.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

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9.9% (2021 est.)

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$12.508 billion (2023 est.)

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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0.6% (2023 est.)

industry

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8.2% (2023 est.)

services

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91.2% (2023 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries

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tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Industrial production growth rate

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1.3% (2023 est.)

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

Labor force

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82,400 (2024 est.)

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

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

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6.3% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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6.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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6.2% (2022 est.)

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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14.1% (2024 est.)

male

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14.2% (2024 est.)

female

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13.9% (2024 est.)

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

Exports - partners

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almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Exports - commodities

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

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top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

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almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)

Imports - commodities

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

Exchange rates

Currency

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Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar

Exchange rates 2024

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0.782 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

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0.805 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

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0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

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0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

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0.78 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

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100% (2022 est.)

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note: includes Guernsey and Jersey

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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48,223 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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47 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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129,368 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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125 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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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

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.je

Internet users

percent of population

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41% (2012 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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39,699 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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37 (2020 est.)

Transportation

Airports

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1 (2025)

Ports

total ports

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1 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Saint Helier Harbour

Military and Security

Military - note

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defense is the responsibility of the UK