Isle of Man
Self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin [ˈmanɪnʲ], also Ellan Vannin [ˈɛlʲan ˈvanɪnʲ]), also known as Mann (/mæn/),[7] is a self-governing Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The government of the United Kingdom is responsible for the isle's military defence and represents it abroad.
Isle of Man | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto: | |
| Anthem: "O Land of Our Birth"[lower-alpha 1]
| |
 Location of the Isle of Man (green)
in Europe (dark grey) | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Norse control | 9th century |
| Scottish control | 2 July 1266 |
| English control | 1399 |
| Revested into British Crown | 10 May 1765 |
| Capital | Douglas 54°09′00″N 04°28′39″W |
| Official languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2021)[3] | |
| Religion (2021)[3] |
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| Demonym(s) | Manx; Manxman (plural, Manxmen); Manxwoman (plural, Manxwomen) |
| Government | Parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy |
| Charles III | |
| John Lorimer | |
| Alfred Cannan MHK[4] | |
| Legislature | Tynwald |
| Legislative Council | |
| House of Keys | |
| Area | |
• Total | 572 km2 (221 sq mi) (unranked) |
• Water (%) | 1 |
| Highest elevation | 2,030 ft (620 m) |
| Population | |
• 2021 census | 84,069[3] (202nd) |
• Density | 148/km2 (383.3/sq mi) (86th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2014 estimate |
• Total | $7.43 billion (161st) |
• Per capita | $84,600 (9th) |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | US$7.49 billion[5] |
| HDI (2010) | 0.849[6] very high · 14th |
| Currency | Pound sterling Manx pound (£) (GBP) |
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (GMT) |
| UTC+01:00 (BST) | |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Mains electricity | 240 V, 50 Hz |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +44 |
| UK postcode | |
| ISO 3166 code | IM |
| Internet TLD | .im |
Humans have lived on the island since before 6500 BC. Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century AD, when Irish missionaries following the teaching of St. Patrick began settling the island,[8] and the Manx language, a branch of the Goidelic languages, emerged. In 627, King Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia. In the 9th century, Norsemen established the thalassocratic Kingdom of the Isles, which included the Isle of Man. Magnus III, King of Norway from 1093 to 1103, reigned as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103.[9]
In 1266, King Magnus VI of Norway sold his suzerainty over Mann to King Alexander III of Scotland under the Treaty of Perth.[10] After a period of alternating rule by the Kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested in the British Crown in 1765, but the island did not become part of the 18th-century Kingdom of Great Britain, nor of its successors, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the present-day United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has always retained its internal self-government. In 1881, the Isle of Man Parliament, Tynwald, became the first national legislative body in the world to give women the right to vote in a general election, although this excluded married women.[11][lower-alpha 2]
The Manx economy is bolstered by its status as a tax haven and offshore banking destination.[12][13][14] Insurance and online gambling each generate 17% of the GNP, followed by information and communications technology and banking with 9% each.[15] This status has also brought the problems of money laundering, financial crime, and terrorism financing.[16]
Internationally, the Isle of Man is known for the TT Motorcycle Races,[17] and the Manx cat, a breed with short or no tails.[18] In 2016, UNESCO awarded the Isle of Man biosphere reserve status.[19]