Isle of Man

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

Telephone system

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

Agriculture - products

cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Budget

revenues: $965 million | expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.5% of GDP (FY05/06 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Financial services, 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. Online gambling sites provided about 10% of the islands income in 2014. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets and trade is mostly with the UK. In October 2014, the Isle of Man signed an OECD agreement to automatically exchange some financial account information to limit tax avoidance and evasion.

Exchange rates

Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - | 0.6542 (2015) | 0.607 (2014) | 0.6472 (2013 est.) | 0.6241 (2012 est.) | 0.624 (2011 est.)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.076 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.298 billion (FY12/13 est.) | $5.85 billion (FY11/12 est.) | $5.621 billion (FY10/11 est.) | note: data are in 2013 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 167

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1% | industry: 13% | services: 86% (FY12/13 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$83,100 (2007 est.) | $35,000 (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2012) | 3.4% (2011) | 2.1% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 136

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

timber, fertilizers, fish

Industries

financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2010 est.) | 3.1% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 174

Labor force

41,790 (2006) | country comparison to the world: 194

Labor force - by occupation

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)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

23.7% of GDP (FY05/06 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Unemployment rate

2% (April 2011 est.) | 1.8% (October 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Area

total: 572 sq km | land: 572 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 194

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

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m | highest point: Snaefell 621 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 (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 74.7% | arable land 43.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 30.9% | forest: 6.1% | other: 19.2% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Population - distribution

most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest

Terrain

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

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

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

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century; the constitution has been expanded and amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Isle of Man | abbreviation: I.O.M. | etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Celtic word for "mountain"

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

chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 27 May 2016) | head of government: Chief Minister Howard QUAYLE (since 4 October 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term); election last held on 4 October 2016 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: Howard QUAYLE (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald vote count - 21 of 33

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. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Tynwald); a Crown dependency of the UK

Independence

none (British crown dependency)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s): Isle of Man High Court of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges or "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); the Court of General Gaol Delivery is not formally part of the High Court but is administered as though part of the High Court and deals with serious criminal cases; note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: deemsters appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; deemsters can serve until age 70 | subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; Magistrate's Court; specialized courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Tynwald or the High Court of Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats; includes the President of Tynwald, 2 ex-officio members - the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general - and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys with renewal of 4 members every 2 years; elected members serve 4-year terms) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: House of Keys - last held on 22 September 2016 (next to be held in September 2021) | election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 6.4%, independent 91.7%; seats by party - Liberal Vannin 3, independent 21

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

National holiday

Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded

National symbol(s)

triskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Vannin Party [Kate BEECROFT] | Manx Labor Party | Mec Vannin [Bernard MOFFATT]; (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party; advocates a sovereign state and environment policies) | note: most members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog)

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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 EU. However, the UK Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.31% (male 7,526/female 6,855) | 15-24 years: 11.61% (male 5,354/female 4,886) | 25-54 years: 39.04% (male 17,212/female 17,222) | 55-64 years: 12.93% (male 5,752/female 5,649) | 65 years and over: 20.11% (male 8,287/female 9,452) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

11 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Death rate

10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Ethnic groups

white 96.5%, Asian/Asian British 1.9%, other 1.5% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.2 years | male: 79.5 years | female: 83 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Major urban areas - population

DOUGLAS (capital) 29,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 43.9 years | male: 43.2 years | female: 44.7 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Nationality

noun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women) | adjective: Manx

Net migration rate

6.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Population

88,195 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Population distribution

most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest

Population growth rate

0.72% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.1% | male: 11.8% | female: 8.2% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Urbanization

urban population: 52.1% of total population (2014) | rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 221

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

M (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 321 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 30

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey

Railways

total: 63 km | 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) | country comparison to the world: 130

Roadways

total: 500 km (2008) | country comparison to the world: 196