Map of Ireland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is gradually being implemented despite some difficulties. In 2006 the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.


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Location: Western Europe occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N 8 00 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 70,273 km²
Rank: 120
Land: 68,883 km²
Water: 1390 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 360 km
Border countries: (1) UK 360 km

Coastline: 1448 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Carrauntoohil 1041 m

Natural resources: natural gas peat copper lead zinc silver barite gypsum limestone dolomite

Land use
Arable land: 16.82%
Permanent crops: 0.03%
Other: 83.15% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 46.8 km³ (2003)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin


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Population: 4,670,976 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 120
Growth rate: 1.061% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 112
Below poverty line: 5.5% (2009 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Irishman Irishwoman(women) Irish (collective plural)
Adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups: Irish 87.4% other white 7.5% Asian 1.3% black 1.1% mixed 1.1% unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Languages: English (official the language generally used) Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official spoken mainly in areas along the western coast)

Religions: Roman Catholic 87.4% Church of Ireland 2.9% other Christian 1.9% other 2.1% unspecified 1.5% none 4.2% (2006 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 21.1%
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,581,959/female 1,560,238)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 246,212/female 295,192) (2011 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 34.8 years
Male: 34.5 years
Female: 35.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.061% (2011 est.)
Rank: 112

Birth rate: 16.1 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 126

Death rate: 6.34 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 154

Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 56

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 62% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water pollution especially of lakes from agricultural runoff
International agreements party to: Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Tropical Timber 83 Tropical Timber 94 Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.057 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.85 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 203
Male: 4.24 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.44 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.19 years
Rank: 26
Male: 77.96 years
Female: 82.55 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 125

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.187 physicians/1000 population (2008)
Rank: 33

Hospital bed density: 5.17 beds/1000 population (2007)
Rank: 37

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 96
People living with hivaids: 6,900 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 113
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 115

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 13% (2002)
Rank: 44

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 62

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 18 years
Male: 18 years
Female: 18 years (2008)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Ireland
Local long form: none
Local short form: Eire

Government type: republic parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Dublin
Geographic coordinates: 53 19 N 6 14 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

Administrative divisions: 29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow Cavan Clare Cork Cork* Donegal Dublin* Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Fingal Galway Galway* Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Limerick* Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan North Tipperary Offaly Roscommon Sligo South Dublin South Tipperary Waterford Waterford* Westmeath Wexford Wicklow

Dependent areas

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day 17 March

Constitution: adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Legal system: common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS
Head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next scheduled for October 2018); prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president
Election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS 39.6% Sean GALLAGHER 28.5% Martin MCGUINNESS 13.7% Gay MITCHELL 6.4% David NORRIS 6.2%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the lower house of Parliament or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19 Fianna Fail 14 Labor Party 12 Sinn Fein 3 independents 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 45.8% Labor Party 22.3% Fianna Fail 12.0% Sinn Fein 8.4% United Left Alliance 3.0% New Vision 0.6% independents 7.8%; seats by party - Fine Gael 76 Labor Party 37 Fianna Fail 20 Sinn Fein 14 United Left Alliance 5 New Vision 1 independents 13; note - after November 2009 disbandment of the Progressive Democrats the two members of the Senate continued as independent DPs
Note: on 8 November 2008 delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Court of Final Appeal) (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet); Courts of First Instance (includes High Court)

Political parties and leaders: Fianna Fail [Michael MARTIN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; New Vision; Progressive Democrats or PD [Noel GREALISH] (formerly dissolved on 20 November 2009); Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Michael FINNEGAN]; United Left Alliance

International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member) Australia Group BIS CE EAPC EBRD ECB EIB EMU ESA EU FAO FATF IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IGAD (partners) IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MINURSO MONUSCO NEA NSG OAS (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE Paris Club PCA PFP UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNIFIL UNOCI UNRWA UNTSO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS
In the us chancery: 2,234 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-3,939
In the us fax: [1] (202) 232-5,993
In the us consulate general: Atlanta Boston Chicago New York San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROONEY
From the us embassy: 42 Elgin Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [353] (1) 668-8,777
From the us fax: [353] (1) 668-9,946

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) white and orange; officially the flag colors have no meaning but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange
Note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side) white and green; also similar to the flag of Italy which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side) white and red

National symbols: harp

National anthem
Name: 'Amhran na bhFiann'
Lyricsmusic: Peadar KEARNEY [English] Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
Note: adopted 1926; instead of 'Amhran na bhFiann' the song 'Ireland's Call' is often used in athletic events where citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

National heritage


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Economy overview: Ireland is a small modern trade-dependent economy. Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007 but economic activity has dropped sharply since the onset of the world financial crisis with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008 nearly 8% in 2009 and 1% in 2010. Ireland entered into a recession in 2008 for the first time in more than a decade with the subsequent collapse of its domestic property and construction markets. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in any other developed economy. Since their 2007 peak average house prices have fallen 50%. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment the export sector dominated by foreign multinationals has become a key component of Ireland's economy. Agriculture once the most important sector is now dwarfed by industry and services. In 2008 the COWEN government moved to guarantee all bank deposits recapitalize the banking system and establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the country's economic downturn. In 2009 in continued efforts to stabilize the banking sector the Irish Government established the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to acquire problem commercial property and development loans from Irish banks. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. In addition to across-the-board cuts in spending the 2009 budget included wage reductions for all public servants. These measures were not sufficient. In 2010 the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit as a percentage of GDP - because of additional government support for the banking sector. In late 2010 the COWEN Government agreed to a $112 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin further increase the capitalization of its banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. The government also initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20 billion from its budget. A return to modest growth is expected in 2011.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 57
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 197

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 27
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2%
Industry: 29%
Services: 70% (2009 est.)

Agriculture products: beef dairy products barley potatoes wheat

Industries: pharmaceuticals chemicals computer hardware and software food products beverages and brewing; medical devices

Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 51

Labor force: 2.14 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 117
By occupation agriculture: 5%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 76% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.8% (2009)
Rank: 141

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 5.5% (2009 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.9%
Highest 10: 27.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index: 35.9 (1987)
Rank: 121

Budget
Revenues: $70.74 billion
Expenditures: $137 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -32.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 208

Taxes and other revenues: 34.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 69

Public debt: 65.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 12

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: -4.5% (2009 est.)
Rank: 6

Central bank discount rate: 1.75% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 118
Note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 4.32% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 170

Stock of narrow money: $145.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 27
Note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money: $283.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 35

Stock of domestic credit: $738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 19

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 50

Current account balance: -$6.544 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 153

Exports: $108.2 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 34
Commodities: machinery and equipment computers chemicals pharmaceuticals; live animals animal products
Partners: US 22.1% UK 16.1% Belgium 15.1% Germany 8.1% France 5.3% Switzerland 4.2% (2010)

Imports: $62.95 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 41
Commodities: data processing equipment other machinery and equipment chemicals petroleum and petroleum products textiles clothing
Partners: UK 37.7% US 13.8% Germany 7.6% Netherlands 5.6% China 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 116

Debt external: $2.253 trillion (30 September 2010)
Rank: 9

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $236.2 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 20

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $264.6 billion (31 December 2009)
Rank: 16

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 27.28 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 63
Consumption: 26.99 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 64
Exports: 290 million kWh (2010 est.)
Imports: 756 million kWh (2010 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 388 million m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 71
Consumption: 5.656 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 57
Exports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 90
Imports: 5.261 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 32
Proven reserves: 9.911 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 80

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 2.078 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 57
Mobile cellular: 4.702 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 104

Telephone system
General assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
Domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas
International: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US Canada and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media: publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial television stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national regional and local levels (2007)

Internet
Country code: .ie
Hosts: 1.339 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 36
Users: 3.042 million (2009)
Users rank: 67

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 140

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (5 years IDF 7 years RDF); EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2010)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 39 (2010)
Rank: 105
With paved runways total: 16
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 23
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 1888 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 3,237 km
Rank: 54
Broad gauge: 1872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
Narrow gauge: 1365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

Roadways
Total: 96,036 km
Rank: 46
Paved: 96,036 km (includes 896 km of expressways) (2010)

Waterways: 956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010)
Rank: 68

Merchant marine
Total: 28
Rank: 88
By type: cargo 25 chemical tanker 2 container 1
Foreign owned: 5 (Norway 3 US 2)
Registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 3 Bermuda 2 Cyprus 3 Isle of Man 1 Kazakhstan 1 Malta 1 Netherlands 7 Panama 1 Slovakia 1 Sweden 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Cork Dublin Shannon Foynes Waterford


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Disputes international: Ireland Iceland and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change trusts and shell companies involving the off