General Overview
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. However, the UK Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Demographics
There is a mix of culture and people living on the Isle of Man. From the native Manx to immigrants from South Africa, the island is as mixed as the United Kingdom and flourishes because of it. Most people are of Irish, Welsh, Scottish and British descent, but this is expected due to the location of the island between the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The island has seen large numbers of immigrants in recent years, but there are still plenty of locals. The Manx are of Celtic and Viking descent. This has greatly effected the culture on the island, which has strong roots in Celtic and Viking traditions.
The official languages of the Isle of Man are Manx Gaelic and English. A dialect of English known as Manx English is spoken.
• Country name: Isle of Man
• Capital Name: Douglas
• Population: 76,220 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
• Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
• Ethnic Groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons
Economy
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers 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 shares of 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.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.719 billion (2005 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2005)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $35,000 (2005 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (December 2006 est.)
Government
The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom. It is a crown dependency which has its own laws, courts, and government. The Government on the Isle of Man is a parliament called Tynwald. Tynwald is over a 1000 years old and believed to be the oldest continual parliament in the world. Started in Viking times, Tynwald was an open air meeting at midsummer. There islanders could come and hear the laws, seek justice, or speak their thoughts. This tradition continued throughout the viking rule, which lasted from 800 AD to 1266 AD, then passed on through Scottish rule, before ending up in British rule around 1405 AD. The island's first English King was Sir John Stanley of Lancashire. In the 16th century the title King was replaced by Lord and in 1765 the title Lord of Man was passed to the British Crown and hence it has been.
• 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.
• Legal system: Laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx statutes
• Constitution: Unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution.
• Independence: None (British crown dependency)
References
Isle of Man Government - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Isle of Man Guide
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
