2022 Edition

Background

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600 and 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. 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 was responsible for a drop in the island's population by more than one quarter through starvation, disease, and emigration. For more than a century afterward, the population of the island continued to fall only to begin growing again in the 1960s. 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 and fostered a guerrilla war resulting in 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 partition of Ireland, with six of the island's 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 formally left the British Dominion in 1949 when Ireland declared itself a republic.Deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the "Troubles" that began in the 1960s. 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, which 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 helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insolated it 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 490 km

total

490 km

Land use

agricultural land

66.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)

forest

10.9% (2018 est.)

other

23% (2018 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 being in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

21.15% (male 560,338/female 534,570)

15-24 years

12.08% (male 316,239/female 308,872)

25-54 years

42.19% (male 1,098,058/female 1,085,794)

55-64 years

10.77% (male 278,836/female 278,498)

65 years and over

13.82% (male 331,772/female 383,592) (2020 est.)

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

12.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

6.7% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

22.7

potential support ratio

4.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.2

youth dependency ratio

30.5

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.1% of population

improved: total

total: 97.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3% of population

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Irish 82.2%, Irish travelers 0.7%, other White 9.5%, Asian 2.1%, Black 1.4%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2021 est.)

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.47 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 39.8% of the population as of 2016; mainly spoken in areas along Ireland's western coast known as gaeltachtai, which are officially recognized regions where Irish is the predominant language)

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.1 years (2022 est.)

male

79.35 years

total population

81.66 years

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

38.2 years (2020 est.)

male

37.4 years

total

37.8 years

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

3.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.3% (2016)

Physicians density

3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

5,275,004 (2022 est.)

Population distribution

population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities

Population growth rate

0.94% (2022 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%, Muslim 1.3%, other 2.4%, none 9.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 99.1% of population

improved: total

total: 98.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.7% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

19 years (2020)

male

18 years

total

19 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

19% (2020 est.)

male

22.5% (2020 est.)

total

20.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

14.6% (2021 est.)

male

14.5%

total

14.5%

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 Irish dubh and lind meaning respectively "black, dark" and "pool" and which referred to the dark tidal pool where the River Poddle entered the River Liffey; today the area is the site of the castle gardens behind Dublin Castle

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

amendments

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; amended many times, last in 2019

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 modern Irish name "Eire" evolved from the Gaelic "Eriu," the name of the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land); the names "Ireland" in English and "Eire" in Irish are direct translations of each other

local long form

none

local short form

Eire

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Claire D. CRONIN (since 10 February 2022)

email address and website

ACSDublin@state.govhttps://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, New York, San Francisco

email address and website

https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/usa/

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 Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)

election results

2018: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president; percent of vote - 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%2011: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (Labor) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) 13.7%, Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David Norris (independent) 6.2%, Mary DAVIS (independent) 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Michael D. HIGGINS 56.8%, Sean GALLAGHER 35.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 October 2018 (next to be held no later than November 2025); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president

head of government

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo VARADKAR (since 16 December 2022)

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

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

parliamentary republic

Independence

6 December 1921 (from the UK by the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended British rule); 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; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of:Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members indirectly elected from 5 vocational panels of nominees by an electoral college, 11 appointed by the prime ministerHouse of Representatives or Dail Eireann (160 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; all Parliament members serve 5-year terms)

election results

 Senate - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 35%, Fine Gael 26.7%, Labor Party 6.7%, Sinn Fein 6.7%, Green Party 6.7%, Human Dignity Alliance 1.6%, independent 16.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 21, Fine Gael 16, Labor Party 4, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 4, Human Dignity Alliance 1, independent 10; composition - men 36, women 24, percent of women 40%  House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Sinn Fein 22.6%, Fianna Fail 22.6%, Fine Gael 20.7%, Green Party 6.3%, Labor Party 4.5%, Social Democrats 3.8%, PBPS 3.2%, Aontu 0.6%, Right to Change 0.6%, independent 15%; seats by party - Sinn Fein 36, Fianna Fail 36, Fine Gael 33, Green Party 10, Labor Party 7, Social Democrats 6, PBPS 5, Aontu l, Right to Change 1, Independents 24; composition as of March 2022 - men 123, women 37, percent of women 23.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 27.7%

elections

Senate - last held early on 21-30 May 2020 (next to be held in March 2025)House of Representatives - last held on 8 February 2020 (next to be held no later than 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

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

note

note: adopted 1926; instead of "Amhran na bhFiann," the song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

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; note - marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493); although Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated in Ireland as early as the ninth century, it only became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903

National symbol(s)

harp, shamrock (trefoil); national colors: blue, green

Political parties and leaders

Aontu [Peadar TOIBIN]Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBPS [collective leadership]Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN]Fine Gael [Leo VARADKAR]Green Party [Eamon RYAN]Human Dignity Alliance [Ronan MULLEN]Labor (Labour) Party Ivana BACIK]Renua Ireland (vacant)Right to Change or RTC [Joan COLLINS]Sinn Fein [Mary Lou McDONALD]Social Democrats [Catherine MURPHY, Roisin SHORTALL]Socialist Party [collective leadership]The Workers' Party [collective leadership]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, poultry, mushrooms/truffles, mutton

Budget

expenditures

87.19 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

86.04 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

A+ (2017)

Moody's rating

A2 (2017)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA- (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

$24.154 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$44.954 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$2.759 trillion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$2.829 trillion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. It 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 dropped sharply during the world financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of its domestic property market and construction industry during 2008-11. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit from efforts to stabilize its fragile banking sector, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. These measures were not sufficient to stabilize Ireland’s public finances. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP. In late 2010, the former COWEN government agreed to a $92 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize Ireland’s banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. In March 2011, the KENNY government intensified austerity measures to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF bailout program.   In late 2013, Ireland formally exited its EU-IMF bailout program, benefiting from its strict adherence to deficit-reduction targets and success in refinancing a large amount of banking-related debt. In 2014, the economy rapidly picked up. In late 2014, the government introduced a fiscally neutral budget, marking the end of the austerity program. Continued growth of tax receipts has allowed the government to lower some taxes and increase public spending while keeping to its deficit-reduction targets. In 2015, GDP growth exceeded 26%. The magnitude of the increase reflected one-off statistical revisions, multinational corporate restructurings in intellectual property, and the aircraft leasing sector, rather than real gains in the domestic economy, which was still growing. Growth moderated to around 4.1% in 2017, but the recovering economy assisted lowering the deficit to 0.6% of GDP.   In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment during the 2008-11 economic crisis, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become an even more important component of Ireland's economy. Ireland’s low corporation tax of 12.5% and a talented pool of high-tech laborers have been some of the key factors in encouraging business investment. Loose tax residency requirements made Ireland a common destination for international firms seeking to pay less tax or, in the case of U.S. multinationals, defer taxation owed to the United States. In 2014, amid growing international pressure, the Irish government announced it would phase in more stringent tax laws, effectively closing a commonly used loophole. The Irish economy continued to grow in 2017 and is forecast to do so through 2019, supported by a strong export sector, robust job growth, and low inflation, to the point that the Government must now address concerns about overheating and potential loss of competitiveness. The greatest risks to the economy are the UK’s scheduled departure from the European Union ("Brexit") in March 2019, possible changes to international taxation policies that could affect Ireland’s revenues, and global trade pressures.

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.885 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.87789 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.90338 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.82771 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$440.693 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$471.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2019

$502.31 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

medical cultures/vaccines, nitrogen compounds, packaged medicines, integrated circuits, scented mixtures (2019)

Exports - partners

United States 28%, Belgium 10%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, China 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

119.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

10.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

34% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-89.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.2% (2017 est.)

industry

38.6% (2017 est.)

services

60.2% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$398.476 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1987

35.9 (1987 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

32.8 (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27.2% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

Imports 2017

$359.725 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$361.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$452.98 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

aircraft, computers, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019)

Imports - partners

United Kingdom 31%, United States 16%, Germany 10%, Netherlands 5%, France 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

7.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0.3% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

0.4% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

0.9% (2019 est.)

Labor force

2.289 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

5%

industry

11%

services

84% (2015 est.)

Population below poverty line

13.1% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

Public debt 2016

73.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

68.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$410.33 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$433.17 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$447.97 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

9.49% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

9.42% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

5.86% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$84,300 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$87,800 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$89,700 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2015

$2.203 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$4.412 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

5.78% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

4.98% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

14.6% (2021 est.)

male

14.5%

total

14.5%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1.43 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

10.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

23.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

35.475 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

351,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

132,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

408,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

14 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

30.627 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports

1.913 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

1.761 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

11.43 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.309 billion kWh (2020 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

3.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

57.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

3.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

34.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

133.674 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

5.492 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

2.847 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

2.652 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

60,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

159,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

600 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

37,040 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

126,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

64,970 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31 (2020 est.)

total

1,516,473 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.ie

Internet users

percent of population

92% (2020 est.)

total

4,586,820 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas; fixed-line 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular 106 per 100 subscriptions; digital system using cable and microwave radio relay (2020)

general assessment

Ireland’s telecom market has rebounded from a long period in which fiscal constraints inhibited investment in the sector; significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the NBN which aims to deliver a fiber-based service of at least 150Mb/s nationally by the end of 2022; the renewed optimism has been seen in company investment in extending fiber-based networks providing 1Gb/s services; the mobile sector is preparing for a multi-frequency availability later in 2021 which will greatly increase the amount of frequencies available, and provide a boost for 5G services; the MNOs are rapidly expanding the reach of 5G (2021)

international

country code - 353; landing point for the AEConnect -1, Celtic-Norse, Havfrue/AEC-2, GTT Express, Celtic, ESAT-1, IFC-1, Solas, Pan European Crossing, ESAT-2, CeltixConnect -1 & 2, GTT Atlantic, Sirius South, Emerald Bridge Fibres and Geo Eirgrid submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, Norway, Isle of Man and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

1,678,651 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

5,234,027 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

40 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

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 (2021)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

24

under 914 m

21 (2021)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EI

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 12, general cargo 36, oil tanker 1, other 47 (2021)

total

96

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

168.71 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1.676 million (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

450

number of registered air carriers

9 (2020)

Pipelines

2,427 km gas (2017)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Dublin (529,563) (2016)

cruise port(s)

Cork (250,000), Dublin (359,966) (2020)

major seaport(s)

Dublin, Shannon Foynes

river port(s)

Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir)

Railways

broad gauge

2,371 km (2018) 1.600-m gauge (53 km electrified)

narrow gauge

1,930 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)

total

4,301 km (2018)

Roadways

paved

99,830 km (2018) (includes 2,717 km of expressways)

total

99,830 km (2018)

Waterways

956 km (2010) (pleasure craft only)

Military - note

the Irish Defense Forces trace their origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit established in 1913; the Irish Volunteers 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, it participates in international peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, as well as crisis management; 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 going back to 1997 when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; Ireland has been an active participatant in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s

Military and security forces

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2022)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 8,500 active duty personnel (6,800 Army; 900 Naval Service; 800 Air Corps) (2022)

Military deployments

130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 320 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Irish Defense Forces have a small inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries; the UK is the leading supplier of military hardware to Ireland since 2010 (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

0.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.21 billion)

Military Expenditures 2018

0.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.25 billion

Military Expenditures 2019

0.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.27 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

0.3% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Defence Forces (18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-26 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 12-year service (5 active, 7 reserves) (2022)

note

note: as of 2021, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnelnote 2: the Defense Forces are open to refugees under the Refugee Act of 1996 and nationals of the European Economic Area, which include EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway

Disputes - international

Ireland-Denmark: Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands signed an agreement in 2019 extending the Faroe Islands’ northern continental shelf area

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

58,511 (Ukraine) (as of 20 December 2022)

stateless persons

107 (mid-year 2021)

Terrorist group(s)

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

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

37.71 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

13.67 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

8.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Environment - current issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; acid rain kills plants, destroys soil fertility, and contributes to deforestation

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

66.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)

forest

10.9% (2018 est.)

other

23% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

52 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

179 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

51 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

631 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2,692,537 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

888,537 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

33% (2012 est.)