2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

68,883 sq km

total

70,273 sq km

water

1,390 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Elevation extremes

highest point

Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

284 cu m/yr (1994)

total

1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)

Geographic coordinates

53 00 N, 8 00 W

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

UK 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

16.82%

other

83.15% (2005)

permanent crops

0.03%

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

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

46.8 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760) 65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,500 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.41 years (2010 est.)

male

77.86 years

total population

80.07 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

34.8 years (2010 est.)

male

34.1 years

total

34.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Irish

noun

Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

4,622,917 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.007% (2010 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2008)

male

18 years

total

18 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.057 male(s)/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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

61% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

53 19 N, 6 14 W

name

Dublin

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Ireland

local long form

none

local short form

Eire

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Daniel ROONEY

embassy

42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

FAX

[353] (1) 668-9946

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[353] (1) 668-8777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael COLLINS

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5993

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3939

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)

election results

Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE was appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president

head of government

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)

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

Government type

republic, parliamentary democracy

Independence

6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

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 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 House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%, Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, independents 4, Speaker of the Dail 1; note - through dissertions and attrition the makeup of both houses is greatly changed note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

elections

Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held probably in early 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2007 (next to be held probably in early 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

"Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier"s Song)

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank); Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard Boyd BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world); Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters); Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2009) 3% (31 December 2008) 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.) 6.76% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.191 billion (2010 est.) -$6.762 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.131 trillion (30 June 2010) $2.356 trillion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.7 (2008) 35.9 (1987)

Economy - overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland joined 11 other EU nations in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity has dropped sharply since 2008 with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008, nearly 8% in 2009, and 1% in 2010, and further contraction is expectd in 2011. Ireland entered into a recession for the first time in more than a decade with the onset of the world financial crisis and subsequent severe slowdown in its domestic property and construction markets. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's economy, construction most recently fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in any other developed economy. However, average home prices have fallen 50% from the 2007 peak. 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 an effort 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. The budget deficit reached nearly 38% of GDP in 2010 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 recapitalize its banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt, and initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20 billion from its budget.

Electricity - consumption

25.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

303 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

753 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

26.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$115.7 billion (2010 est.) $107.3 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Exports - partners

US 20.52%, Belgium 17.78%, UK 16.31%, Germany 5.66%, France 5.56%, Spain 4.19% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5%

industry

46%

services

49% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,600 (2010 est.) $38,200 (2009 est.) $41,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.6% (2010 est.) -7.6% (2009 est.) -3.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$204.1 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$174 billion (2010 est.) $175.1 billion (2009 est.) $189.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Imports

$70.36 billion (2010 est.) $62.22 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners

UK 35.28%, US 16.87%, Germany 6.76%, Netherlands 5.86%, France 4.76% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2010 est.)

Industries

steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.5% (2010 est.) -4.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.18 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

6%

industry

27%

services

67% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$29.88 billion (31 December 2009) $49.4 billion (31 December 2008) $144 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

5.112 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.723 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

392 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

164,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

22,410 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

192,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

4.2% (2008 est.)

Public debt

98.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 64.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$257.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $275.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$192.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $180.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$221.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $198.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$745.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$127.7 billion (31 December 2010 est) $141 billion (31 December 2009 est) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 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

Unemployment rate

13.7% (2010 est.) 11.8% (2009 est.)

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

Internet hosts

1.339 million (2010)

Internet users

3.042 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access

general assessment

modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.08 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.871 million (2009)

Airports

39 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Merchant marine

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)

total

28

Pipelines

gas 1,550 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Railways

broad gauge

1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 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) (2008)

total

3,237 km

Roadways

paved

96,036 km (includes 423 km of expressways) (2008)

total

96,036 km

Waterways

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,031,985 females age 16-49: 1,030,606 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 858,317 females age 16-49: 855,125 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

26,240 (2010 est.)

male

27,987

Military branches

Irish Defense Forces (IDF; Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2010)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for male or 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)

Disputes - international

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

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 offshore financial community - remains a concern page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================