2011 Edition

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.

Area

572 sq km 572 sq km 0 sq km

total

572 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time

Coastline

160 km

Elevation extremes

Irish Sea 0 m Snaefell 621 m

highest point

Snaefell 621 m

lowest point

Irish Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geographic coordinates

54 15 N, 4 30 W

Geography - note

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

9% 0% 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

arable land

9%

other

91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Terrain

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Age structure

16.6% (male 7,362/female 6,664) 65.2% (male 27,752/female 27,466) 18.2% (male 7,003/female 8,408) (2011 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

11.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

9.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

4.32 deaths/1,000 live births 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

4.32 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)

Life expectancy at birth

80.64 years 79.09 years 82.32 years (2011 est.)

female

82.32 years (2011 est.)

total population

80.64 years

Literacy

NA

Major cities - population

DOUGLAS (capital) 26,000 (2009)

Median age

42.6 years 41.8 years 43.3 years (2011 est.)

female

43.3 years (2011 est.)

male

41.8 years

total

42.6 years

Nationality

Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women) Manx

adjective

Manx

noun

Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)

Net migration rate

7.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

84,655 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.921% (2011 est.)

Religions

Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends), Roman Catholic

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Sex ratio

1.08 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

7.2% 9.5% 5.1% (2006)

female

5.1% (2006)

total

7.2%

Urbanization

51% of total population (2010) 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

51% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Douglas 54 09 N, 4 29 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

54 09 N, 4 29 W

name

Douglas

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Country name

none Isle of Man I.O.M.

abbreviation

I.O.M.

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Isle of Man

Dependency status

British crown dependency

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (British crown dependency)

Executive branch

Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Adam WOOD (since 7 April 2011) Chief Minister Allan BELL (since 11 October 2011) Council of Ministers 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) House of Keys speaker Allan BELL elected chief minister by the Tynwald

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Adam WOOD (since 7 April 2011)

election results

House of Keys speaker Allan BELL elected chief minister by the Tynwald

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)

head of government

Chief Minister Allan BELL (since 11 October 2011)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)

Legal system

the laws of the UK where applicable apply and include Manx statutes

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) House of Keys - last held on 29 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2016) House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 3, independents 21

election results

House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 3, independents 21

elections

House of Keys - last held on 29 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2016)

National anthem

"Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth) William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional 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

lyrics/music

William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional

name

"Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth)

National holiday

Tynwald Day, 5 July

National symbol(s)

triskelion (a motif of three legs)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter KARRAN]; Manx Labor Party; Manx Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin) [Bernard MOFFATT] 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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Budget

$965 million $943 million (FY05/06 est.)

expenditures

$943 million (FY05/06 est.)

revenues

$965 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.8% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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.

Exchange rates

Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.6388 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008) 0.4993 (2007) 0.5418 (2006)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

GDP - composition by sector

1% 13% 86% (2000 est.)

agriculture

1%

industry

13%

services

86% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$35,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.2% (2005)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

timber, fertilizers, fish

Industries

financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force

39,690 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

3% 11% 10% 8% 11% 18% 6% 18% 2% 3% 10% (2001)

agriculture, forestry, and fishing

3%

banking and finance

18%

construction

10%

entertainment and catering

3%

manufacturing

11%

miscellaneous services

10% (2001)

professional and scientific services

18%

public administration

6%

tourism

2%

transport and communication

8%

wholesale and retail distribution

11%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

35.5% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.8% (October 2010 est.) 1.5% (December 2006 est.)

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)

Telephone system

NA landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

domestic

landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use

51,000 (1999)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Merchant marine

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 5 200 (Bermuda 7, Chile 8, Denmark 26, Germany 56, Greece 57, Ireland 1, Japan 15, Norway 26, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, US 2) (2010)

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)

total

292

Ports and terminals

Douglas, Ramsey

Railways

63 km 6 km 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified); 57 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified) primarily summer tourist attractions (2008)

total

63 km

Roadways

500 km (2008)

total

500 km (2008)

Manpower fit for military service

15,206 15,127 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

15,127 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

15,206

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

494 (2010 est.)

female

494 (2010 est.)

male

507

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none