Europe :: ISLE OF MAN

- ## Introduction :: ISLE OF MAN

- 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 :: ISLE OF MAN

- 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
  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
  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:
  agricultural land: 74.7%
  arable land 43.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 30.9%
  forest: 6.1%
  other: 19.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  0 sq km (2011)
  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 and Society :: ISLE OF MAN

- Nationality:
  noun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women)
  adjective: Manx
  Ethnic groups:
  white 96.5%, Asian/Asian British 1.9%, other 1.5% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
  Religions:
  Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends), Roman Catholic
  Population:
  87,545 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 16.3% (male 7,488/female 6,778)
  15-24 years: 11.81% (male 5,380/female 4,956)
  25-54 years: 39.27% (male 17,153/female 17,223)
  55-64 years: 12.83% (male 5,668/female 5,560)
  65 years and over: 19.81% (male 8,077/female 9,262) (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 43.4 years
  male: 42.7 years
  female: 44.1 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.76% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Birth rate:
  11.1 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Death rate:
  10.06 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Net migration rate:
  6.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 52.1% of total population (2014)
  rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  DOUGLAS (capital) 29,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.09 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 (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.11 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.09 years
  male: 79.41 years
  female: 82.9 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Total fertility rate:
  1.94 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 7.2%
  male: 9.5%
  female: 5.1% (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118

- ## Government :: ISLE OF MAN

- 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 (1417, first recorded Day)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest announced 16 October 2006 (Isle of Man Constitution Act 2006) (2006)
  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 Allan BELL (since 11 October 2011)
  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 11 October 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)
  election results: Allan BELL (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald vote count - 27 of 30
  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 29 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2016)
  election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 3, independents 21
  Judicial branch:
  highest resident court(s): Isle of Man High Courts of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges called "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Justice are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
  judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; judge tenure NA
  subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; magistrate's Court; specialized courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Progressive Government
  Liberal Vannin Party [Peter KARRAN]
  Manx Labor Party
  Mec Vannin [Bernard MOFFATT]; (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party; Mec Vannin (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)
  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. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
  National symbol(s):
  triskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white
  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 :: ISLE OF MAN

- 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. 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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $6.298 billion (FY 2012/13 est.)
  $5.85 billion (FY 2011/12 est.)
  $5.621 billion (FY 2010/11 est.)
  note: data are in 2013 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 168
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $4.076 billion (2007 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.2% (2012)
  3.4% (2011)
  2.1% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $83,100 (2007 est.)
  $35,000 (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1%
  industry: 13%
  services: 86% (FY 2012/13 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
  Industries:
  financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
  Labor force:
  41,790 (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  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)
  Unemployment rate:
  2% (April 2011 est.)
  1.8% (October 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  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.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  23.7% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  0.5% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (2010 est.)
  3.1% (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  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 -
  0.6003 (2014 est.)
  0.6472 (2013 est.)
  0.6241 (2012 est.)
  0.624 (2011 est.)
  0.6472 (2010 est.)

- ## Communications :: ISLE OF MAN

- Telephone system:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)
  Internet country code:
  .im

- ## Transportation :: ISLE OF MAN

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  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
  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

- ## Military :: ISLE OF MAN

- 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 :: ISLE OF MAN

- Disputes - international:
  none