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

top of page


Background: Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland between 600 and 150 B.C. Norse invasions that began in the late 8th century finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century caused an almost 25-percent decline in the island's population through starvation, disease, and emigration. The population of the island continued to fall until the 1960s, but over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment. The ensuing guerrilla war led to independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland, in part because it helped solidify the country's partition, with six of the 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland. The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland declared itself a republic in 1949 and formally left the British Dominion. Beginning in the 1960s, deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the Troubles. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth that came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. As a small, open economy, Ireland has excelled at courting foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals, which has helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.


top of page


Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 70,273 km²
Land: 68,883 km²
Water: 1,390 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 490 km
Border countries (1): (1) UK 499 km

Coastline: 1,448 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 flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation
Highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 118 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 60.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Other: 27.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: rare extreme weather events

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


top of page


Population
Total: 5,233,461 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,590,542
Female: 2,642,919
Distribution: population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes
Growth rate: 0.93% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)

Religions: Roman Catholic 69.2% (includes lapsed), Protestant 3.7% (Church of Ireland/England/Anglican/Episcopalian 2.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), Orthodox 2%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 1.6%, other 1.4%, agnostic/atheist 0.1%, none 14.5%, unspecified 6.7% (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)
65 years and over: 15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 28.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 24.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 40.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 39.7 years
Female: 40.6 years

Population growth rate: 0.93% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 11.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes

Urbanization
Urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82 years (2024 est.)
Male: 80.3 years
Female: 83.9 years

Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 4% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.4% (2024 est.); 4.3% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


top of page


Country name

Government type

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
Etymology: derived from the Irish words dubh (black or dark) and linn (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River

Administrative divisions: 28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

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

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)
Head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 26 October 2018
2025: Michael MARTIN is elected taoiseach by parliament, 95 votes to 76, and is appointed taoiseach by the president
2024: Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president
2018: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president in first round; percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (independent) 55.8%, Peter CASEY (independent) 23.3%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 6.4%, Liadh NI RIADA (Sinn Fein) 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN (independent) 6%, Gavin DUFFY (independent) 2.2%
Expected date of next election: no later than November 2025

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Oireachtas)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Amhran na bhFiann' (The Soldier's Song)
Lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
History: adopted 1926; the song 'Ireland's Call' is often used as the anthem at athletic events if citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland are competing as a unified team

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


top of page


Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1.2% (2024 est.); -5.5% (2023 est.); 8.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.2% (2024 est.); -5.5% (2023 est.); 8.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 26.8% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 135.1% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -102.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 30.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 61.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: -4.9% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.857 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2024 est.); 4.3% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.4% (2024 est.); 4.3% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $118.231 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $108.693 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $761.876 billion (2023 est.); $763.233 billion (2022 est.); $722.655 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $580.399 billion (2023 est.); $536.882 billion (2022 est.); $500.334 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


top of page


Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 12.321 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 441.615 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 76,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 40 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 600 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 35.486 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.029 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 22.635 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 9.822 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.176 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 5.76 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.65 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)


top of page


Military expenditures: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 100 (2025)

Heliports: 10 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 94 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs