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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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 Economy
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 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Map of Ireland



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Ireland
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 United Kingdom. In 1948 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, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.
   Geography    Ireland
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 15.2%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 84.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Ireland
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,015,676 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female 1,354,148)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 203,614/female 258,873) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 33.7 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.16% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.56 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 80.34 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Celtic, English
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
   Government    Ireland
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Dublin
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
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; election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 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 House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. KENNY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; 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
   Economy    Ireland
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $126.4 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
10% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
35.9 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.92 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 63% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.3% (2004 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $62.51 billion
expenditures: $63.52 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.88 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.78 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
100 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
600 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
174,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27,450 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
178,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
815 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-2.881 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$103.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 20.2%, UK 17.5%, Belgium 14.8%, Germany 7.5%, France 5.9%, Italy 4.5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK 35.2%, US 13.5%, Germany 8.9%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.152 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $283 million (2001)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
EUR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Ireland
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.955 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.4 million (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ie
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
162,228 (2004)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.26 million (2003)
   Transportation    Ireland
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2004)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 95,736 km
paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
753 km (pleasure craft only) (2004)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 1,795 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 39
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 18 (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
36 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
   Military    Ireland
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 977,092 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 814,768 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 29,327 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$700 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.9% (FY00/01)
   Transnational Issues    Ireland
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; 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 offshore financial community remains a concern

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


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