Jersey (2003) | Cook Islands (2001) | |
Administrative divisions | none (British crown dependency) | none |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 17.8% (male 8,292; female 7,744)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 30,178; female 30,410) 65 years and over: 15% (male 5,858; female 7,674) (2003 est.) |
0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
Agriculture - products | potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products | copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry |
Airports | 1 (2002) | 7 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total:
6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
Area | total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC | 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | 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. | Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems. |
Birth rate | 10.44 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) | - |
Budget | revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.) |
revenues:
$25 million expenditures: $23 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00) |
Capital | Saint Helier | Avarua |
Climate | temperate; mild winters and cool summers | tropical; moderated by trade winds |
Coastline | 70 km | 120 km |
Constitution | unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice | 4 August 1965 |
Country name | conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey |
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands |
Currency | British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
Death rate | 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) | - |
Debt - external | none | $141 million (1996 est.) |
Dependency status | British crown dependency | self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (British crown dependency) | none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (British crown dependency) | none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | none | $13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part |
Economy - overview | The economy is based largely on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. 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. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, 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. | Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth. |
Electricity - consumption | - | 19.5 million kWh (1999) |
Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh (1999) |
Electricity - imports | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France | 0 kWh (1999) |
Electricity - production | - | 21 million kWh (1999) |
Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel:
100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Environment - international agreements | - | party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
Ethnic groups | UK and Norman-French descent | Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9% |
Exchange rates | Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound | New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996) |
Executive branch | 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 |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister |
Exports | $NA | $3 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) |
Exports - commodities | light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles | copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing |
Exports - partners | UK | Japan 42%, New Zealand 25%, US 9%, Australia 9% (1999) |
Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March | 1 April - 31 March |
Flag description | white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag and in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield holding the three lions of England in yellow | blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1999 est.) | purchasing power parity - $100 million (1999 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 5%
industry: 2% services: 93% (1996) |
agriculture:
18% industry: 9% services: 73% (1995) |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.) | purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 49 15 N, 2 10 W | 21 14 S, 159 46 W |
Geography - note | largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier | - |
Highways | total: 577 km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
total:
320 km (1992) paved: NA unpaved: NA |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
Imports | $NA | $85 million (c.i.f., 1994) |
Imports - commodities | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals | foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods |
Imports - partners | UK | NZ 70%, Australia 8% (1999) |
Independence | none (British crown dependency) | none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | tourism, banking and finance, dairy | fruit processing, tourism, fishing |
Infant mortality rate | total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) |
- |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 4.7% (1998) | 1.6% (1999 est.) |
International organization participation | - | ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | NA | 3 (2000) |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff) | High Court |
Labor force | 57,050 (1996) | 6,601 (1993) |
Labor force - by occupation | - | agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) note - shortage of skilled labor |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
arable land:
9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 78% (1993 est.) |
Languages | English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts | English (official), Maori |
Legal system | English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court | based on New Zealand law and English common law |
Legislative branch | 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 52 |
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1 note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 78.93 years
male: 76.48 years female: 81.57 years (2003 est.) |
- |
Literacy | definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
definition:
NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA% |
Location | Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France | Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
Map references | Europe | Oceania |
Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
Merchant marine | none (2002 est.) | total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the UK | defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request |
National holiday | Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) | Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) |
Nationality | noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander |
noun:
Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander |
Natural hazards | NA | typhoons (November to March) |
Natural resources | arable land | NEGL |
Net migration rate | 2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) | - |
Political parties and leaders | none; all independents | Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE] |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | NA |
Population | 90,156 (July 2003 est.) | 20,611 (July 2001 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | 0.4% (2003 est.) | - |
Ports and harbors | Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier | Avarua, Avatiu |
Radio broadcast stations | AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) |
Radios | - | 14,000 (1997) |
Railways | 0 km | 0 km |
Religions | Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian | Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church) |
Sex ratio | 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
- |
Suffrage | NA years of age; universal adult | NA years of age; universal adult |
Telephone system | general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables |
general assessment:
NA domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
Telephones - main lines in use | 65,500 (1997) | 5,000 (1997) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 4,400 (1997) | 0 (1994) |
Television broadcast stations | 2 (1997) | 2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) |
Terrain | gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast | low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south |
Total fertility rate | 1.57 children born/woman (2003 est.) | - |
Unemployment rate | 0.7% (1998 est.) | NA% |
Waterways | none | none |