Background: The Isle of Man was part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century, when it was ceded to Scotland. The isle came under English lordship in the 14th century before being purchased by the British Government in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, which makes it a self-governing possession of the British Crown that is not part of the UK. The UK Government, however, remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Area
Total: 572 km²
Land: 572 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries
Total: 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
Highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 69.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 41.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Permanent pasture: 28% (2023 est.)
Forest: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 24.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Natural hazards: occasional high winds and rough seas

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

Population
Total: 92,269 (2024 est.)
Male: 46,331
Female: 45,938
Distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Growth rate: 0.45% (2024 est.)

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

Religions: Christian 54.7%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 43.8% (2021 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 16% (male 7,701/female 7,100)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 29,035/female 28,044)
65 years and over: 22.1% (2024 est.) (male 9,595/female 10,794)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 61.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 25.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 35.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 2.8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 44.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 43.7 years
Female: 46.1 years

Population growth rate: 0.45% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest

Urbanization
Urban population: 53.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 27,000 DOUGLAS (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 80.7 years
Female: 84.4 years

Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA
Urban: NA
Rural: NA

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
Etymology: the name comes from the Gaelic name Dubhghlais, or 'black stream,' referring to a nearby river; a second river was called Fionnghlais, or 'white stream;' both river names were later shortened to Dhoo and Glass, respectively, which coincidentally comprised the elements of the town's name

Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 24 local authorities each hold elections

Legal system: UK laws apply, as well as Manx statutes

Executive branch
Chief of state: Lord of Mann King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021)
Head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor
Election/appointment process: 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)
Most recent election date: 23 September 2021
2021: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24
2016: Howard QUAYLE elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 33
Expected date of next election: 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Tynwald (High Court of Tynwald)
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note: Legislative Council includes the President of Tynwald, 2 non-voting members (the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general), and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys

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; a two-sided emblem is used to allow the toes to point clockwise on both sides of the flag

National anthem
Title: 'God Save the King'
Lyrics/music: unknown
History: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency; played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present

Real gdp growth rate: -4.2% (2022 est.); 3.8% (2021 est.); -8.8% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -4.2% (2022 est.); 3.8% (2021 est.); -8.8% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.4% (2022 est.)
Industry: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Services: 95.1% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: -29.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, artwork, vegetables, fruits, whiskies (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports
Commodities: ships, delivery trucks (2022)

Electricity
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Airports: 4 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Railways
Total: 63 km (2008)
Narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified)
57 0.914-mm gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions

Merchant marine
Total: 269 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 102, container ship 6, general cargo 27, oil tanker 56, other 78