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The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes the nearly uninhabited islands of the Minquiers, Écréhous, the Pierresde Lecq and other rocks and reefs. Together with the bailiwick of Guernsey it forms the grouping known as the Channel Islands. Jersey is an island measuring 118.2 square kilometers (46 sq mi), including reclaimed land and intertidal zone. It lies in the English Channel, approximately 12 nautical miles (14 mi) from the Cotent in Peninsula in Normandy, France, and approximately 87 nautical miles (161 km/100 mi) south of Great Britain. It is the largest and southern most of the Channel Islands. The climate is temperate with mild winters and cool summers. The average annual temperature, 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) is similar to the South Coast of England while the mean annual total sunshine of 1918 hours is higher than anywhere in the United Kingdom. The terrain consists of a plateau sloping from long sandy bays in the south to rugged cliffs in the north. The plateau is cut by valleys running generally north-south.

Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,  plus agriculture and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for over half the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly tothe 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 one-quarter 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.

Financial services contribute approximately sixty percent of the Island's economy, and the Island is recognized as one of the leading offshore banking centers. Aside from its banking and finance underpinnings (and the finance industries supporting industries) Jersey also depends on tourism. In 2006 there were 729,000 visitors (down 3% on the previous year) but total visitor spending rose 1% to £222m. Looking solely at funds domiciled onthe Island, the largest asset classes are property/real estate funds (with total net assets of US$69.4 billion, representing 41% of the total for domiciled funds’ assets) and private equity/venture capital funds (US$33.0billion). Jersey was named the best international finance centre at the International Investment Fund and Product Awards 2007. In winning the prestigious award, Jersey beat off competition from other international finance centers including Dublin , Gibraltar , Guernsey , the Isle of Man and Luxembourg , which were all short listed.