2020 Edition

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.

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

highest point

Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

118 m

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

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

UK 499 km

total

490 km

Land use

agricultural land

60.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)

forest

11.9% (2023 est.)

other

27.3% (2023 est.)

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

rare extreme weather events

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

47.1% (2022 est.)

Death rate

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

24.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

4.1 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.6 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

28.5 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 97% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 96% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.3% national budget (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6% (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.1% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

22.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.9 years

male

80.3 years

total population

82 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

40.6 years

male

39.7 years

total

40.5 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Irish

noun

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

Net migration rate

4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.3% (2016)

Physician density

3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

2,642,919

male

2,590,542

total

5,233,461 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.8% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

20 years (2022 est.)

male

19 years (2022 est.)

total

19 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

14.4% (2025 est.)

male

19.2% (2025 est.)

total

16.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

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

geographic coordinates

53 19 N, 6 14 W

name

Dublin

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

4 of the previous 8 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed as bills by Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidential signature

history

previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Ireland

etymology

the Irish name Eire evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu, meaning "good land;" the English name, Ireland, is a direct translation

local long form

none

local short form

Eire

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025)

email address and website

ACSDublin@state.gov https://ie.usembassy.gov/

embassy

42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

FAX

[353] (1) 688-8056

mailing address

5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC 20521-5290

telephone

[353] (1) 668-8777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

email address and website

https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5993

telephone

[1] (202) 462-3939

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)

chief of state

President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)

election results

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%

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

expected date of next election

no later than November 2025

head of government

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)

most recent election date

26 October 2018

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange meaning: the flag colors have no official meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green stands for the Irish nationalist tradition, orange for the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white for peace or a lasting truce between the green and the orange

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; 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), ICCt, 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, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members -- the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal -- and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law)

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70

subordinate courts

High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Oireachtas)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

November 2029

most recent election date

1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025

number of seats

174 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Fianna Fáil (48); Sinn Féin (39); Fine Gael (38); Social Democratic Party (11); Labour Party (11); Independents (16); Other (11)

percentage of women in chamber

25.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate)

expected date of next election

January 2030

most recent election date

11/29/2024

number of seats

60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

Fianna Fail (19); Fine Gael (18); Sinn Fein (6); Independents (12); other (5)

percentage of women in chamber

45%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

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

lyrics/music

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

title

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

National coat of arms

the coat of arms features a gold harp on a blue shield and dates back to the 13th century, although it only became official in 1945; the harp, a national symbol that Ireland adopted after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, represents the country’s history, culture, and national identity

National color(s)

blue, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

National symbol(s)

harp, shamrock (trefoil)

Political parties

Aontu  Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S  Fianna Fail  Fine Gael  Green Party  Human Dignity Alliance Independent Ireland  Labor (Labour) Party 100% Redress  Right to Change or RTC Sinn Fein  Social Democrats  Socialist Party The Workers' Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$108.693 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$118.231 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

$65.118 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$48.427 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$44.744 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, export-oriented EU economy; large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks; high living standards; strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$722.655 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$763.233 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$761.876 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

135.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

12.2% (2023 est.)

household consumption

26.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-102.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

3.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.1% (2024 est.)

industry

30.8% (2024 est.)

services

61.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$577.389 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

29.9 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.5% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$500.334 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$536.882 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$580.399 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023)

Imports - partners

UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.9% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.857 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

14% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2022

45.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$648.943 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$613.056 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$620.544 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-5.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$124,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$115,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$115,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$13.039 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$12.905 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$12.698 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

11% (2024 est.)

male

11.2% (2024 est.)

total

11.1% (2024 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.)

Electricity

consumption

32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

441.615 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

12.321 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

600 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2023 est.)

total

1.65 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households use 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; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)

Internet country code

.ie

Internet users

percent of population

97% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

1.176 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

113 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.76 million (2023 est.)

Airports

100 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EI

Heliports

10 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49

total

94 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes

large

1

medium

3

ports with oil terminals

8

small

3

total ports

21 (2024)

very small

14

Railways

total

1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified

Military - note

the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible for external defense, assisting civil authorities upon request, participating in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and providing for maritime security; the IDF traces its origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit established in 1913 which took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO but has a relationship with it going back to 1997, when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; it has been active in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s (2025)

Military and security forces

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025)

Military deployments

330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

156,441 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

48 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Burren & Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

3

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Particulate matter emissions

7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.911 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

42.4% (2022 est.)