2024 Edition Primary

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

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

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

11.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.1% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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 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

0.84 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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.)

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 (2020 est.)

Median age

female

40.6 years

male

39.7 years

total

40.2 years (2024 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

5.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.3% (2016)

Physician density

3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

2,642,919 (2024 est.)

male

2,590,542

total

5,233,461

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

0.93% (2024 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: 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

1.04 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

19% (2020 est.)

male

22.5% (2020 est.)

total

20.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.72 children born/woman (2024 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 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, 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 Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)

election results

2024: Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president2018: 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%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) Simon HARRIS resigned on 18 December 2024 but remains in Caretaker status until a new prime minister is appointed (since 9 April 2024)

note

note: Taoiseach Leo VARADKAR resigned from the ruling party on 20 March 2024 but remained as the caretaker taoiseach until a successor was appointed on 9 April 2024

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 (174 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%, Green Party 6.7%, Labor Party 6.7%, Sinn Fein 6.7%, other 1.6%, independent 16.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 21, Fine Gael 16, Green Party 4, Labor Party 4, Sinn Fein 4, other 1, independent 10; composition - men 36, women 24, percentage women 40%House of Representatives - seats by party - Fianna Fail 48, Sinn Fein 39, Fine Gael 38, Social Democrats 11, Labor Party 11, Independent Ireland 4, PBP-S 3, other 1, independent 16; composition - men 130, women 44, percentage women 25.3%; total Parliament percentage women 29.1%

elections

Senate - last held early on 21-30 May 2020 (next to be held in March 2025)House of Representatives - last held on 29 November 2024 (next to be held no later than November 2029)

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

Aontu Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S Fianna Fail Fine Gael Green Party Human Dignity AllianceIndependent Ireland Labor (Labour) Party Right to Change or RTCSinn Fein Social Democrats Socialist PartyThe Workers' Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, barley, wheat, beef, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, lamb/mutton (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

8.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$105.516 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$118.278 billion (2022 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 2021

$70.909 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$57.807 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$53.997 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

strong, export-based EU economy; multinational-business-friendly environment known for resilience, even amid COVID-19 disruptions; real wage growth beyond other OECD members; high livings standards; strong social equity and cohesion; aging labor force

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$685.814 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$729.135 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$731.814 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, scented mixtures (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 30%, Germany 12%, UK 8%, Belgium 7%, China 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

134.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

12.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

27% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-100.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

3.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.9% (2023 est.)

industry

37.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

56.6% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$545.629 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

30.1 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$479.284 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$516.084 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$548.827 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

aircraft, nitrogen compounds, refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UK 26%, US 16%, Germany 9%, China 6%, Netherlands 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-10.79% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.34% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.83% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.766 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

14% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

46.71% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$574.387 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$628.57 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$608.463 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

15.13% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

9.43% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-3.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$114,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$122,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$115,600 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.08% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$13.247 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$13.039 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$12.905 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.19% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

4.48% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.34% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

10.6% (2023 est.)

male

10.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

10.5% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

2.973 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

10.543 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

22.441 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

35.957 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

1.322 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

96,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

1.335 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

40 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

30.736 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

1.342 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

1.552 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

11.53 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.455 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

4.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

58.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

35.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

118.037 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

5.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

3.836 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

1.447 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

156,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

600 bbl/day (2023 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

95% (2021 est.)

total

4.75 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 108 per 100 subscriptions. (2021)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

1.498 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

113 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.69 million (2022 est.)

Airports

100 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EI

Heliports

5 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

94 (2023)

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

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

Roadways

total

102,227 km (2022)

Waterways

956 km (2010) (pleasure craft only)

Military - note

Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, it participates in multinational 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 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 1950sthe Irish Defense Forces trace their 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) (2024)

Military and security forces

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2024)

note

note: An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,500 active-duty personnel (authorized establishment of 9,500)  (2024)

Military deployments

130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 325 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Irish Defense Forces have a small inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries, particularly the UK (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

0.3% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

0.3% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; 12-year service (5 active, 7 reserves) (2024)

note

note 1: as of 2024, women made up about 7.5% 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

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)

105,210 (Ukraine) (as of 8 March 2024)

stateless persons

7 (2022)

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 the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

37.71 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

13.67 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

8.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

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

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

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

52 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

520 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

990 million cubic meters (2020 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.)