1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 70,280 sq km land area: 68,890 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Climate
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Coastline
1,448 km
Environment
current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
International disputes
Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total 360 km, UK 360 km
Land use
arable land: 14% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 71% forest and woodland: 5% other: 10%
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Note
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin
Terrain
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 24% (female 415,640; male 440,468) 15-64 years: 64% (female 1,125,638; male 1,155,823) 65 years and over: 12% (female 237,098; male 175,781) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
14.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Celtic, English
Infant mortality rate
7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
1.37 million by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)
Languages
Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard, English is the language generally used
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.99 years male: 73.15 years female: 79 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.) total population: 98%
Nationality
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish
Net migration rate
-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
3,550,448 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
0.33% (1995 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)
Total fertility rate
1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
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
Capital
Dublin
Constitution
29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebescite
Digraph
EI
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2% head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
FAX
[353] (1) 6689946
Flag
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the 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
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann)
elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by November 1997); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10 Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
Independence
6 December 1921 (from UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Member of
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
National holiday
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY; The Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
Senate (Seanad Eireann)
elections last held NA February 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6687122
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 10% of GDP; principal crops - turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables
Budget
revenues: $16 billion expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Currency
1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Economic aid
donor: ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Electricity
capacity: 3,930,000 kW production: 14.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6420 (January 1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030 (1990)
Exports
$28 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals, animal products partners: EU 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
External debt
$20 billion (1994 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands
Imports
$26 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing partners: EU 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, France 4%), US 15%
Industrial production
growth rate 8.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP
Industries
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.7% (1994 est.)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $49.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product per capita
$14,060 (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate
5.5% (1994 est.)
Overview
The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Ireland has substantially reduced its external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.
Unemployment rate
16% (1994 est.)
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
900,000 telephones; modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Television
broadcast stations: 86 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 44 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 32 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
Highways
total: 92,327 km paved: 86,787 km (32 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,540 km (1992)
Inland waterways
limited for commercial traffic
Merchant marine
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,996 GRT/160,419 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 33, chemical tanker 2, container 2, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
Pipelines
natural gas 225 km
Ports
Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Railroads
total: 1,947 km broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (36 km electrified; 485 km double track)
Military and Security
Branches
Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% of GDP (1994) ________________________________________________________________________ ISRAEL (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 926,831; males fit for military service 749,646; males reach military age (17) annually 34,215 (1995 est.)