1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Coastline
113 km
Comparative area
about three times the size of Washington, D. C.
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
strong westerly winds prevail
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land use
NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; extensive arable land and forests
Special notes
located in Irish Sea equidistant from England, Scotland, and Ireland
Terrain
coastal plains in north and south connected by valley bisecting hilly interior
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
- i10km Irish Sea lrish Sea
- 588 km?; land area: 588 km?
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
native Manx of NorseCeltic descent; British
Labor force
25,864; manufacturing 3,467, construction 2,921, transport and communications 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
Nationality
noun—Manxman, adjective— Manx
Organized labor
22 labor unions patterned along British lines
Population
64,934 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.01%
Religion
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Government
Administrative divisions
6 sheadings and 7 constituencies
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 24member House of Keys (lower house); an Executive Council carries out administrative actions; the Crown has ultimate responsibility for the island’s government
Capital
Douglas
Communists
probably none
Elections
every five years Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members sit as independents; affiliations—Manx Labor Party, Alan Clague, chairman; Manx Nationa] Party, Audrey Ainsworth, chairman; Mec Vannin (Sons of Man), Lewis Crellin, chairman
Government leaders
Maj. Gen. Laurence NEW, Lieutenant Governor (since 1985) who is appointed by the Lord of Mann, Queen Elizabeth 11, Head of State; J. C. NIVISON, President of the Legislative Council (since 1985)
Legal system
English law and local statute
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 June
Official name
Isle of Man
Suffrage
universal at age 21
Type
self-governing British dependent territory
Economy
Agriculture
cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Budget
revenues, 108,214 million pounds; expenditures, 94,949 million pounds (FY84/85 est.)
Electric power
61,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 2,850 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish meat
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
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)
Imports
timber, fertilizers, fish
Major industries
an important offshore financial center; financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Major trade partners
UK
Monetary conversion rate
.70 Isle of Man pound=.70 pound sterling)=US$1 (November 1986)
Natural resources
lead, iron
Communications
Airfields
2 total; 1 usable with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
640 km motorable roads
Ports
3 (Douglas, Ramsey, Peel)
Railroads
36 km electric track, 24 km steam track
Telecommunications
radio station; 24,435 telephones