ARCHIVE // GB // 2016
Isle of Man
2016 Edition — crown_dependency
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Communications
Broadcast media
[time series]
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
[time series]
.im
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system | international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $965 million | expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
0.5% of GDP (FY05/06 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28
Debt - external
[time series]
$NA
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities
[time series]
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$4.076 billion (2007 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$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
[time series]
agriculture: 1% | industry: 13% | services: 86% (FY12/13 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$83,100 (2007 est.) | $35,000 (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
2.2% (2012) | 3.4% (2011) | 2.1% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 136
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities
[time series]
timber, fertilizers, fish
Industries
[time series]
financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
5% (2010 est.) | 3.1% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 174
Labor force
[time series]
41,790 (2006) | country comparison to the world: 194
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
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
[time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
23.7% of GDP (FY05/06 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Unemployment rate
[time series]
2% (April 2011 est.) | 1.8% (October 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Energy
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 572 sq km | land: 572 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 194
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
Coastline
[time series]
160 km
Elevation
[time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m | highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
54 15 N, 4 30 W
Geography - note
[time series]
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary
Irrigated land
[time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 74.7% | arable land 43.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 30.9% | forest: 6.1% | other: 19.2% (2011 est.)
Location
[time series]
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
NA
Natural resources
[time series]
none
Population distribution
(Population - distribution)
[time series]
most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Terrain
[time series]
hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
see United Kingdom
Constitution
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
British Crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
none (British Crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
none (British Crown dependency)
Executive branch
[time series]
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
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
[time series]
parliamentary democracy (Tynwald); a Crown dependency of the UK
Independence
[time series]
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation
[time series]
UPU
Judicial branch
[time series]
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
[time series]
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and include Manx statutes
Legislative branch
[time series]
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(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
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
[time series]
Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded
National symbol(s)
[time series]
triskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
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 parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog)
Suffrage
[time series]
16 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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 and Security
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
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
[time series]
11 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Death rate
[time series]
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Ethnic groups
[time series]
white 96.5%, Asian/Asian British 1.9%, other 1.5% (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
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
[time series]
English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 81.2 years | male: 79.5 years | female: 83 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
DOUGLAS (capital) 29,000 (2014)
Median age
[time series]
total: 43.9 years | male: 43.2 years | female: 44.7 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women) | adjective: Manx
Net migration rate
[time series]
6.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Population
[time series]
88,195 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200
Population distribution
[time series]
most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.72% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Religions
[time series]
Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends), Roman Catholic
Sex ratio
[time series]
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
[time series]
1.93 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 10.1% | male: 11.8% | female: 8.2% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 52.1% of total population (2014) | rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 221
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
M (2016)
Merchant marine
[time series]
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
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
major seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey
Railways
[time series]
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
[time series]
total: 500 km (2008) | country comparison to the world: 196