Overview
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
- Total Area
- 116 sq km
- Climate
- temperate; mild winters and cool summers
- Terrain
- gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
- Natural Resources
- arable land
- Coastline
- 70 km
- Land Borders
- 0 km
People & Society
- Population
- 103,944 (2025 est.)
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)
- Life Expectancy
- 83 years (2024 est.)
- Urbanization
- 31.2% of total population (2023)
Government
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)
- Capital
- Saint Helier
- Independence
- none (British Crown dependency)
- Constitution
- unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
- Legal System
- the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes
- Executive Branch
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022)
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
- GDP (Official Rate)
- $12.508 billion (2023 est.)
- Major Industries
- tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics