1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Airfields
airport at Ronaldsway
Area
588 km2; smaller than New York City; extensive rural arable land and forests Water
Branches
the Tynwald (parliament) consists of the Lieutenant Governor, appointed by and representative of the Crown; the Legislative Council (upper house), which includes members indirectly elected by the House of Keys and certain ex officio members; and the elected 24-member House of Keys (lower house); an Executive Council carries out administrative actions; the Crown has ultimate responsibility for the island's "good" government
Budget
(FY 1984/85 est.) revenues, 108,214 million pounds; expenditures, 94,949 million pounds
Capital
Douglas
Communists
probably none Economy
Elections
every five years, next general election slated for November 1986 Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members sit as independents; affiliations — Manx Labor Party, Alan Clague, chairman; Manx National Party, Audrey Ainsworth, chairman; Mec Vannin (Sons of Man), Lewis Crellin, chairman
Electric power
61,000 kW capacity (1985); 185 million kWh produced (1985), 3,025 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
native Manx of NorseCeltic descent; British
Exports
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish meat
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
Fishing
8,300 metric tons with a value of 170,934 pounds sterling (1983)
GNP
195 million pounds (1983/4); financial services 21%, manufacturing 13.7%, tourism 10.8%, construction 10.4% (1984)
Government leader
Maj. Gen. Laurence NEW, Lieutenant Governor (since 1985) who is appointed by the Lord of Mann, Queen Elizabeth II, Head of State; J. C. NIVISON, President of the Legislative Council (since 1985)
Highways
640 km motorable roads
Imports
timber, fertilizers, fish
Labor force
25,864; manufacturing 3,467, construction 2,921, transport and communication 2,300, retail 2,687, professional and scientific services 3,737 (1981); unemployment 8% (1984)
Language
English, Manx Gaelic Literacy, compulsory education between ages of 5 and 15
Legal system
English law and local statute
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
3 nm (200 nm fishing) Coost/ine:113km People
Major industries
the Isle of Man is an important offshore financial center; financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Major trade partners
UK
Monetary conversion rate
1 Isle of Man pound (at par with the pound sterling)= US$1. 42 (November 1985)
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 June
Nationality
noun — Manxman, adjective — Manx
Natural resources
lead, iron
Official name
Isle of Man
Organized labor
22 labor unions patterned along British lines (1971) Government
Political subdivisions
6 sheadings and 7 constituencies
Population
65,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 1.2%
Ports
3 minor (Douglas, Ramsey, Peel)
Railroads
36 km electric track, 24 km steam track
Religion
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Suffrage
universal at age 21
Telecommunications
radio station; 24,435 telephones Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom
Type
self-governing British dependent territory