| Introduction | Jersey |
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Background:
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The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. |
| Geography | Jersey |
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Location:
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Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France |
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Geographic coordinates:
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49 15 N, 2 10 W |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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70 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm |
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Climate:
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temperate; mild winters and cool summers |
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Terrain:
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gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier |
| People | Jersey |
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Population:
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90,812 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.5% (male 8,222/female 7,658)
15-64 years: 67% (male 30,296/female 30,561) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 6,176/female 7,899) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 40.89 years
male: 40.13 years female: 41.63 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.32% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.24 years
male: 76.77 years female: 81.91 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census) |
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Religions:
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Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian |
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Languages:
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English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Government | Jersey |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey |
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Dependency status:
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British crown dependency |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Saint Helier |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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Independence:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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National holiday:
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Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) |
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Constitution:
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unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice |
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Legal system:
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English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court |
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Suffrage:
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NA years of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995) cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 53 |
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Judicial branch:
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Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none; all independents |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (British crown dependency) |
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Flag description:
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white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow |
| Economy | Jersey |
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Economy - overview:
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The Channel Island economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$3.6 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 2% services: 93% (1996) |
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Labor force:
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52,790 (2004) |
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Unemployment rate:
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0.9% (2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5.3% (2004) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking and finance, dairy |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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630.1 million kWh (2004 est.) |
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Electricity - imports:
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NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France |
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Exports:
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$NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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UK |
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Imports:
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$NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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UK |
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Debt - external:
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none |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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none |
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Currency (code):
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British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound |
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Currency code:
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GBP |
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Exchange rates:
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Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |
| Communications | Jersey |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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73,900 (2001) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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61,400 (2001) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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NA |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.je |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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NA |
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Internet users:
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NA |
| Transportation | Jersey |
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Highways:
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total: 577 km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
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Ports and harbors:
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Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier |
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Airports:
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1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Jersey |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Jersey |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
Sources: The CIA World Fact Book and other public domain Internet sites
