Introduction

Background: |  |

`
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

Location: |  |
`Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`54 15 N, 4 30 W`
Map references: |  |
`Europe`
Area: |  |
`total: 572 sq km country comparison to the world: 193 land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`160 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm`
Climate: |  |
`temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time`
Terrain: |  |
`hills in north and south bisected by central valley`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 621 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`none`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 9% permanent crops: 0% other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`0 sq km`
Natural hazards: |  |
`NA`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution`
Geography - note: |  |
`one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary`

People

Population: |  |
`84,655 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 198`
Age structure: |  |
`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.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 42.6 years male: 41.8 years female: 43.3 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.921% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Birth rate: |  |
`11.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 169`
Death rate: |  |
`9.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 57`
Net migration rate: |  |
`7.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 51% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`DOUGLAS (capital) 26,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`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.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`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.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 80.64 years country comparison to the world: 22 male: 79.09 years female: 82.32 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.96 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women) adjective: Manx`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons`
Religions: |  |
`Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends`
Languages: |  |
`English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)`
Literacy: |  |
`NA`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man abbreviation: I.O.M.`
Dependency status: |  |
`British crown dependency`
Government type: |  |
`parliamentary democracy`
Capital: |  |
`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`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`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`
Independence: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
National holiday: |  |
`Tynwald Day, 5 July`
Constitution: |  |
`unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution`
Legal system: |  |
`the laws of the UK where applicable apply and include Manx statutes`
Suffrage: |  |
`16 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
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
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
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
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`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`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`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`
International organization participation: |  |
`UPU`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`none (British crown dependency)`
Flag description: |  |
`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`
National anthem: |  |
`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

Economy - overview: |  |

`
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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$2.719 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 180`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$2.719 billion (2005 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`5.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 67`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$35,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 36`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2000 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`39,690 (2001) country comparison to the world: 195`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`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)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`1.8% (October 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 1.5% (December 2006 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $965 million expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3.1% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 86`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry`
Industries: |  |
`financial services, light manufacturing, tourism`
Exports: |  |
`$NA`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb`
Imports: |  |
`$NA`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`timber, fertilizers, fish`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.6388 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008) 0.4993 (2007) 0.5418 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`51,000 (1999) country comparison to the world: 161`
Telephone system: |  |
`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`
Broadcast media: |  |
`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)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.im`
Internet hosts: |  |
`765 (2010) country comparison to the world: 173`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 219`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`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)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 500 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 193`
Merchant marine: |  |
`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)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Douglas, Ramsey`

Military

Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 15,206 females age 16-49: 15,127 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 507 female: 494 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of the UK`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011