Page last updated on January 14, 2014
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.
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
total: 572 sq km
country comparison to the world: 194
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
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
arable land: 43.86%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 56.14% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2011)
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
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx
Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons
English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends), Roman Catholic
86,159 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 7,456/female 6,692)
15-24 years: 11.9% (male 5,298/female 4,983)
25-54 years: 39.7% (male 17,055/female 17,186)
55-64 years: 12.8% (male 5,574/female 5,478)
65 years and over: 19.1% (male 7,597/female 8,840) (2013 est.)
total: 43.1 years
male: 42.4 years
female: 43.8 years (2013 est.)
0.84% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
11.27 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
7.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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
0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 80.87 years
country comparison to the world: 24
male: 79.25 years
female: 82.61 years (2013 est.)
1.95 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
total: 7.2%
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 9.5%
female: 5.1% (2006)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.
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)
several previous; latest announced 16 October 2006 (Isle of Man Constitution Act 2006) (2006)
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 Allan BELL (since 11 October 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
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 11 October 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)
election results: House of Keys speaker Allan BELL elected chief minister by the Tynwald with 27 votes out of 30
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 29 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2016)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 3, independents 21
highest court(s): Isle of Man High Courts of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges called "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; magistrate's Court; specialized courts
Alliance for Progressive Government
note:
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog)
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. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
triskelion (a motif of three legs)
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
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. In January 2013, the Isle of Man signed a tax agreement with Guernsey and Jersey, in order to enable the islands' authorities to end tax avoidance and evasion. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
$4.076 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
$4.076 billion (2007 est.)
5.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 58
$53,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
agriculture: 1%
industry: 11%
services: 88% (FY08/09 est.)
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
41,790 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 195
agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 2%
manufacturing: 5%
construction: 8%
gas, electricity, and water: 1%
transport and communication: 9%
wholesale and retail distribution: 11%
professional and scientific services: 20%
public administration: 7%
banking and finance: 23%
tourism: 1%
entertainment and catering: 5%
miscellaneous services: 8% (2006)
2% (April 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $965 million
expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)
23.7% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
0.5% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
timber, fertilizers, fish
Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar -
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)
895 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 174
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 219
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 63 km
country comparison to the world: 128
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: 195
total: 321
country comparison to the world: 30
by type: bulk carrier 59, cargo 55, chemical tanker 52, container 7, liquefied gas 43, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 93, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 223 (Bermuda 7, Chile 9, Denmark 30, Germany 56, Greece 62, Ireland 1, Japan 19, Malaysia 6, Norway 30, South Africa 2, US 1) (2010)
major seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey
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