Jersey

Jersey ( JUR-zee; Jèrriais: Jèrri [ʒɛri]), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is an autonomous and self-governing British Crown Dependency in Northwestern Europe 14 miles (23 km) off the Cotentin Peninsula of north-west France. At 45 square miles (120 km2), the main island, Jersey, is the largest of the Channel Islands. Although not a sovereign state, Jersey has its own legal, fiscal and governmental systems; on that basis, it is regarded as a small nation or island country. Jersey's territory also includes some surrounding uninhabited islands and rocks. As of 2021, the island had a population of 103,267. Historically part of the Duchy of Normandy, Jersey remained loyal to the English Crown when the English kings lost mainland Normandy, but it never became part of the Kingdom of England. From then until the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Jersey was at the frontline of Anglo-French Wars and was invaded a number of times, leading to the construction of fortifications such as Mont Orgueil Castle and to a thriving smuggling industry. The island was invaded and occupied by Nazi German forces during the Second World War until 9 May 1945, now celebrated as the island's national day. Jersey is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with its own financial, legal and judicial systems, and the power of self-determination. The Bailiff is the civil head of the island, the Chief Minister leads the island's government, and the Lieutenant Governor represents the British monarch, who is the head of state. The island is not part of the United Kingdom and has a separate international identity, but the UK government manages its defence, international representation and certain policy areas, such as nationality law. The island has a large financial services industry, as well as agriculture and tourism. Its currency is the Pound sterling with a local issue of banknotes and coins. British cultural influence on the island is evident in its use of English as the main language and its participation in British sporting leagues, but the island also has a strong Norman-French culture, reflected by its historic dialect of the Norman language, Jèrriais.

Infobox

Sovereign state responsible for Jersey

United Kingdom

Separation from the Duchy of Normandy

1204

Capitaland largest parish[c]

St Helier[b].mw- 49°11.4′N 2°6.6′W / 49.1900°N 2.1100°W / 49.1900; -2.1100

Official languages

mw- EnglishJèrriaisJersey Legal French[d]

Ethnic groups (2021)

mw- li 95.8% White 44.4% Jersey 30.5% British 9.4% Portuguese 3.0% Polish 2.1% Irish 1.4% Romanians 5% other European 1.9% Asian0.9% African1.3% Multiracial

Religion (2015)

52.3% Christianity 23% Anglican 22.5% Catholicism 6.8% other Christian 39% no religion3% other religion

Demonym(s)

Islanders, Jerseyman, Jerseywoman, Jersey bean, Jersey crapaud, Jèrriais(e)

Government

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

• Sovereign

Charles III

• Lieutenant governor

Sir Jerry Kyd

• Bailiff

Robert MacRae

• Chief minister

Lyndon Farnham

Legislature

States Assembly

• Minister

Baroness Levitt

• Total

£4.885 billion (US$6.17 billion)

• Water (%)

Highest elevation

143 m (469 ft)

• 2021 census

103,267

• Density

859/km2 (2,224.8/sq mi)

GDP (PPP)

2015 estimate

• Per capita

£45,783

GDP (nominal)

estimate

Gini (2014)

0.3 } }low

HDI (2011)

0.985very high

Currency

Pound sterlingJersey pound (£) (GBP)

Time zone

UTC±00:00 (GMT)

• Summer (DST)

UTC 01:00 (BST)

Date format

dd/mm/yyyy

Mains electricity

230 V–50 Hz

Driving side

Left

Calling code

UK postcode

JE1 – JE5

ISO 3166 code

Internet TLD