Isle of Man

This article is about the British island territory. For the island in Canada, see Isle of Man (Cataraqui River). For the racehorse, see Isle of Man (horse). For the film, see Isle of Man (film).

Isle of Man Mannin, Ellan Vannin (Manx)
Crown Dependency
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (Latin) "Wherever you throw it, it shall stand"
Anthem: "O Land of Our Birth"
Location of the Isle of Man (green), in Europe (dark grey)
Sovereign state responsible for the Isle of Man	United Kingdom
Anglo-Saxon control	7th century
Norse control	9th century
Scottish control	2 July 1266
English control	1399
Revested into British Crown	10 May 1765
Capital and largest city	Douglas 54.15°N 4.48°W / 54.15; -4.48
Official languages	English Manx
Ethnic groups (2021)	94.7% White 3.1% Asian 1.0% Mixed 0.6% Black 0.6% other
Religion (2021)	54.7% Christianity 43.8% no religion 0.5% Islam 0.5% Buddhism 0.3% Hinduism 0.1% Judaism 0.2% other
Demonym(s)	Manx
Government	Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Lord of Mann	Charles III
• Lieutenant Governor	Sir John Lorimer
• Chief Minister	Alfred Cannan
Legislature	Tynwald
• Upper house	Legislative Council
• Lower house	House of Keys
Government of the United Kingdom
• Minister	Baron Lemos
Area
• Total	574 km2 (222 sq mi) (178)
• Water (%)	1
Highest elevation	620 m (2,030 ft)
Population
• 2024 census	84,523 (185th)
• Density	148/km2 (383.3/sq mi) (87th)
GDP (PPP)	2025 estimate
• Total	$7.931 billion
• Per capita	$89,706 (9th)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	£5.84 billion (US$7.79 billion) (financial year of 2023/24)
• Per capita	£69,094 (US$92,173)
HDI (2022)	0.940 very high · 15th
Currency	Pound sterling Manx pound (£) (GBP)
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (BST)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Mains electricity	240 V, 50 Hz
Driving side	Left
Calling code	+44
UK postcode	IM1 – IM99
ISO 3166 code	IM
Internet TLD	.im

The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin [ˈmanɪnʲ], also Ellan Vannin [ˈɛlʲan ˈvanɪnʲ]), also known simply as Man or Mann (/mæn/ man), is a self-governing British 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 of Man's military defence and represents it abroad, but the Isle of Man still has a separate international identity.

Humans have lived on the island since before 6500 BC. There was Gaelic cultural influence and settlement by the 5th century AD, and the Manx language emerged as a branch of the Goidelic languages. Irish missionaries following the teaching of Saint Patrick spread Christianity on Man. In 627, King Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man. In the 9th century, Norsemen founded the Kingdom of the Isles, which included Man and the Hebrides. For most of this period, Man was ruled by the Crovan dynasty and the island was a dependency of Norway. Norwegian King Magnus III reigned as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103.

In 1266, Magnus VI of Norway sold his suzerainty over Man to Alexander III of Scotland in the Treaty of Perth. 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.

The Manx economy is bolstered by its status as a low tax and offshore banking destination. Insurance and online gambling each generate 17% of the GNI, followed by information and communications technology and banking with 9% each. This status has, however, also brought the problems of money laundering, financial crime, and the financing of terrorism. The Isle of Man is also known for the TT (Tourist Trophy) Motorcycle Races, and the Manx cat, a breed with short or no tails. In 2016, UNESCO awarded the Isle of Man biosphere reserve status.