LAST week research from Policy Centre Jersey hit the headlines when it was revealed that the number of births in the Island for the first quarter of 2025 had fallen to 151, down 13% on the same period the previous year. The number of deaths, on the other hand, stood at 256 – an increase of 15%.
The Policy Centre estimated that, for the full year in 2025, total births could fall 30% on the figure in 2021, and a huge 44% from the peak in 2012.
While the figures are stark, they cannot be described as unexpected – what we are seeing is the natural progression of demographic inevitability, as the “baby boomer” generation move into older age and the younger population (ie. those having babies) reduces.
A couple of weeks ago I also attended the 2025 IoD Jersey Debate on Jersey’s Economic Future. During an interesting discussion we heard of the relative resilience of our finance sector, moves to support tourism and agriculture, and the need for all industries to embrace technology and the impact of artificial intelligence.
The issue of our tax system was also raised – particularly the challenges posed by a falling working-age population and a system predicated on individual income tax receipts.
But I think the debate really kicked into life when someone asked whether Jersey was being complacent about the future. My personal response was yes, I do feel we have been too complacent. The thing is, I have been to countless similar events discussing strategic themes, and I’ve written previously in this column about our island’s habit of writing pretty strategies but struggling to move to action. And as I said, the ageing population can’t be described as a surprise to anyone.
I have also written previously about the need to pivot to innovation, to move at pace, and how I would support bold moves such as setting up a university – another popular topic at the IoD Debate – or enterprise hub to perhaps attract younger talent to either stay in the Island or move here from elsewhere.
Well, I am hopeful that some recent initiatives – some of which I am involved in – might prove to be a springboard to action.
Firstly, the Island of Longevity project. The brainchild of Islanders Joe Dickinson and Phil Romeril, the upcoming conference on 21 May will bring together experts in health, longevity, community building, economics and finance to discuss not just the downsides of an ageing population, but the huge opportunity that improving healthy longevity could bring to society.
As with nearly all advanced economies, our health, social security, and financial systems were designed at a time when retirement was expected to be short and sweet, and careers were mostly expected to be within a single industry if not even a single employer.
Our children today face a very different future than the one we grew up facing, and it’s going to take some big, bold, societal shifts to manage the impact. The good news, though, is that plenty of the challenges already have answers if we take the best models from around the world and implement them here. And for those that don’t have answers, there are real opportunities for Jersey to lead the way and to demonstrate our ability to innovate.
My own vision is that with the right momentum Jersey could be the happiest and healthiest place in the world to grow old. I hope the conference is a small step on that journey.
Next up is the non-profit organisation I currently chair, Lifestyle Medicine Jersey. As recently announced in this newspaper, we were lucky enough to receive a grant from the Impact Jersey programme to deliver our Hero of Health Jersey project – more details will be available soon but we will be rolling out a new digital app to support real-life community building and healthy living. It is evident that if Jersey is to be the happiest and healthiest place in the world to grow old then we need to build on our long-standing community roots and to make them even stronger. I can’t wait to see the impact, as I know our face-to-face Live Well courses, kindly supported by the Jersey Community Foundation, have already made a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of the participants.
Finally, I was delighted to see the website launch recently for the Jersey Research Foundation. As the site states: “Jersey’s history as an innovator can be traced back to Neanderthals producing unique flint tools in nearby Brittany, cod fisherman setting out to Newfoundland, and leading the production of hemp rope. We have an established and active philanthropic community and we provide a platform for Islanders to donate to innovative projects, and researchers to nurture and grow their ideas in a supported environment.”
The aims of the research foundation include 1) to empower local talent, 2) to honour the Jersey way, 3) to foster new ideas, and 4) to deliver tangible results. Sounds good to me.
I truly believe that if we can all get behind initiatives such as Island of Longevity, Lifestyle Medicine Jersey and the Jersey Research Foundation we can go a long way towards addressing the challenges of an ageing population, and the complacency discussed at the IoD Debate. And we don’t always need to look to government for the answers.
Now, back to that University of Jersey idea…
For more information on Island of Longevity, and to book your ticket for the inaugural conference being held at the Pomme D’Or Hotel on 21st May, go to longevity.je
For more information on Lifestyle Medicine Jersey, or to support our endeavours, see lifestylemedicine.je To find out about Jersey Research Foundation go to jrf.je
Dr Chris Edmond is the founder and medical director of WorkHealth (CI) Ltd, a dedicated Jersey-based occupational health provider. He is also founder and chair of Lifestyle Medicine Jersey, and adviser to the Jersey Community Foundation. He writes in a personal capacity.
