2012 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

70,273 sq km 68,883 sq km 1,390 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

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

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 Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

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)

1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%) 284 cu m/yr (1994)

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

360 km UK 360 km

border countries

UK 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

16.82% 0.03% 83.15% (2005)

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

12 nm 200 nm

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

21.3% (male 512,854/ female 491,801) 66.9% (male 1,589,342/ female 1,568,149) 11.9% (male 255,858/ female 304,024) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

21.3% (male 512,854/ female 491,801)

15-64 years

66.9% (male 1,589,342/ female 1,568,149)

65 years and over

11.9% (male 255,858/ female 304,024) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

15.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 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)

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,900 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.17 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

3.81 deaths/1,000 live births 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births 3.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

3.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

3.81 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

80.32 years 78.07 years 82.69 years (2012 est.)

female

82.69 years (2012 est.)

total population

80.32 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99% 99% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Major cities - population

DUBLIN (capital) 1.084 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

35.1 years 34.8 years 35.4 years (2012 est.)

female

35.4 years (2012 est.)

male

34.8 years

total

35.1 years

Nationality

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

adjective

Irish

noun

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

Net migration rate

1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

13% (2002)

Physicians density

3.187 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

4,722,028 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.112% (2012 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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 98% of population total: 99% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 2% of population total: 1% of population

rural

2% of population

total

1% of population

urban

0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

18 years 18 years 18 years (2008)

female

18 years (2008)

male

18 years

total

18 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

24.3% 30.9% 17.3% (2009)

female

17.3% (2009)

total

24.3%

Urbanization

62% of total population (2010) 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

62% of total population (2010)

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

Dublin 53 19 N, 6 14 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

none Ireland none Eire

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Ireland

local long form

none

local short form

Eire

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John HENNESSEY-NILAND 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 use embassy street address [353] (1) 668-8777 [353] (1) 668-9946

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John HENNESSEY-NILAND

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

Ambassador Michael COLLINS 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-3939 [1] (202) 232-5993 Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

chancery

2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael COLLINS

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5993

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3939

Executive branch

President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 29 October 2011) Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011) Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the lower house of Parliament 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 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%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the lower house of Parliament

chief of state

President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 29 October 2011)

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%

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

head of government

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011)

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 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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)

Legal system

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

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) 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) 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 on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

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

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)

National anthem

"Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song) Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY 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

lyrics/music

Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY

name

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

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

National symbol(s)

harp

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Michael MARTIN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Eamon RYAN]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; New Vision; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Michael FINNEGAN]; United Left Alliance

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

barley, potatoes, wheat; beef, dairy products

Budget

$71.57 billion $88.97 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$88.97 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$71.57 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.5% (31 December 2012) 1.75% (31 December 2010) 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

3.1% (31 December 2012 est.) 3.81% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$3.5 billion (2012 est.) $2.484 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$2.352 trillion (30 September 2011) $2.283 trillion (31 December 2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.9 (2010) 35.9 (1987)

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 7% in 2009, and less than 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 47%. 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 former 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. Since entering office in March 2011, the KENNY government has intensified austerity measures to try to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF program. Ireland achieved moderate growth of 1.4% in 2011 and cut the budget deficit to 9.1% of GDP. Although the recovery slowed in 2012 because of weaker EU demand for Irish exports, Dublin managed to trim the deficit to about 8.5% of GDP.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$113.6 billion (2012 est.) $118.1 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals; food products, animal products

Exports - partners

US 22.3%, UK 16.1%, Belgium 15.5%, Germany 7%, France 5.7%, Switzerland 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

2% 29% 69% (2010 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

29%

services

69% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$41,700 (2012 est.) $41,500 (2011 est.) $41,900 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2012 est.) 1.4% (2011 est.) -0.8% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$204.7 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$191.5 billion (2012 est.) $190.1 billion (2011 est.) $187.5 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.9% 27.2% (2000)

highest 10%

27.2% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

$63.1 billion (2012 est.) $67.18 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UK 39.8%, US 13%, Germany 7.8%, Netherlands 5.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2012 est.) 2.6% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.104 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

5% 19% 76% (2011 est.)

agriculture

5%

industry

19%

services

76% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$35.36 billion (31 December 2011) $33.72 billion (31 December 2010) $29.88 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

5.5% (2009)

Public debt

118% of GDP (2012 est.) 108.2% of GDP (2011 est.) data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.703 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $2.115 billion (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$291.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $260 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$338.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $324.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$260.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $243.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$892.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $983.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$118.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $118.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.) 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

Taxes and other revenues

35% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.6% (2012 est.) 14.4% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

40.48 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

53,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

26.1 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

242 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

75.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

3.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

17.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

732 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.401 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

26.35 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

4.981 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.633 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

346 million cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

144,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

17,480 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

166,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

55,340 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial TV 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

1.387 million (2012)

Internet users

3.042 million (2009)

Telephone system

modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas 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)

domestic

system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas

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

2.047 million (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.906 million (2011)

Airports

39 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

1

total

16

under 914 m

5 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

21 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

23

under 914 m

21 (2012)

Merchant marine

cargo 28, chemical tanker 2, container 1 5 (France 2, Spain 1, US 2) 33 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Netherlands 8, Panama 1, Russia 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1, UK 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

5 (France 2, Spain 1, US 2)

registered in other countries

33 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Netherlands 8, Panama 1, Russia 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1, UK 1) (2010)

total

31

Pipelines

gas 1,888 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Railways

3,237 km 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified) 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

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

96,036 km 96,036 km (includes 1,224 km of expressways) (2010)

total

96,036 km

Waterways

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

1,179,125 1,163,728 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,163,728 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,179,125

Manpower fit for military service

977,631 965,900 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

965,900 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

977,631

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

28,564 27,197 (2010 est.)

female

27,197 (2010 est.)

male

28,564

Military branches

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Force: Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2012)

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Force

Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2012)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

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)

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