Europe :: Isle of Man
(British crown dependency)
page last updated on May 25, 2011
Flag of Isle of Man
Location of Isle of Man
 
Map of Isle of Man
Introduction ::Isle of Man
Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Geography ::Isle of Man
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
54 15 N, 4 30 W
total: 572 sq km
country comparison to the world: 193
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
160 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
hills in north and south bisected by central valley
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m
none
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)
0 sq km
NA
waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary
People ::Isle of Man
84,655 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,362/female 6,664)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 27,752/female 27,466)
65 years and over: 18.2% (male 7,003/female 8,408) (2011 est.)
total: 42.6 years
male: 41.8 years
female: 43.3 years (2011 est.)
0.921% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
11.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
9.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
7.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
urban population: 51% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
DOUGLAS (capital) 26,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
total: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 194
male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
total population: 80.64 years
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 79.09 years
female: 82.32 years (2011 est.)
1.96 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
NA
NA
NA
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx
Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
NA
NA
NA
Government ::Isle of Man
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.
British crown dependency
parliamentary democracy
name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections
none (British crown dependency)
Tynwald Day, 5 July
unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution
the laws of the UK where applicable apply and include Manx statutes
16 years of age; universal
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Adam WOOD (since 7 April 2011)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; the chief minister elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term; election last held on 14 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief minister by the Tynwald
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats; members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held on 23 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2011)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Manx Labor Party 1, independents 21
High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)
Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter KARRAN]; Manx Labor Party; Manx Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin) [Bernard MOFFATT]
note: most members sit as independents
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog); Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state and environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to the Tynwald
UPU
none (British crown dependency)
none (British crown dependency)
red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat-of-arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-1265); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
name: "Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth)
lyrics/music: William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional
note: adopted 2003, in use since 1907; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) and is played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present
Economy ::Isle of Man
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers low taxes and other incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
5.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 67
$35,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
39,690 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 195
agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 3%
manufacturing: 11%
construction: 10%
transport and communication: 8%
wholesale and retail distribution: 11%
professional and scientific services: 18%
public administration: 6%
banking and finance: 18%
tourism: 2%
entertainment and catering: 3%
miscellaneous services: 10% (2001)
1.8% (October 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
1.5% (December 2006 est.)
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $965 million
expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)
3.1% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$NA
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
$NA
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
$NA
timber, fertilizers, fish
$NA
Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar -
0.6388 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)
0.4993 (2007)
0.5418 (2006)
Communications ::Isle of Man
51,000 (1999)
country comparison to the world: 161
general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable
national public radio broadcasts over 3 FM stations and 1 AM station; 2 commercial broadcasters operating with 1 having multiple FM stations; receives radio and TV services via relays from British TV and radio broadcasters (2008)
.im
765 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 173
Transportation ::Isle of Man
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 219
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
total: 63 km
country comparison to the world: 129
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified); 57 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified)
note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2008)
total: 500 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
total: 292
country comparison to the world: 31
by type: bulk carrier 45, cargo 49, chemical tanker 48, container 6, liquefied gas 41, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 91, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 200 (Bermuda 7, Chile 8, Denmark 26, Germany 56, Greece 57, Ireland 1, Japan 15, Norway 26, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, US 2) (2010)
Douglas, Ramsey
Military ::Isle of Man
males age 16-49: 15,206
females age 16-49: 15,127 (2010 est.)
male: 507
female: 494 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Isle of Man
none