Ireland - IE - IRL - IRL - Europe
Ireland Images
An ancient stone circle near Kinnity Castle in County Offaly. Most stone circles are found in Northwestern Europe – especially in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. While some may have been constructed as early as 5000 B.C., most were built after 3000 B.C. Many theories have been put forth to explain their use, generally having to do with a setting for ceremony or ritual, but no consensus exists as to their intended function. There are 187 stone circles in Ireland; the vast majority are in the southern County Cork, which has 103 circles.
Dust from North Africa mingled with other aerosols in the skies over the United Kingdom (left of center) and Ireland (farther west) on 18 April 2003. In this scene, the dust is more prominent to the north over the Atlantic, where it can be seen as a tan swirl west of Norway. West of Ireland, the haze is grayer, and is more likely pollution. In the United Kingdom, a few bright plumes of white could be associated with fires. Photo courtesy of NASA.
Satellite image of Ireland, Northern Ireland, as well as Great Britain. It is not so easy to get a view of the region without cloud cover, but here we can clearly see the beautiful “40 shades of green” that the island’s countryside is famous for. The skies of Ireland tend to be covered by clouds most of the year, due to its geographical location close to Atlantic low pressure systems that bring humid, cloudy air flows across the area. The country’s sunniest months are May and June, where one may see between 5 and 6.5 hours of sunshine over most of the country each day. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
Constructed in 1729, the Bank of Ireland in Dublin building was the original home of the Irish Parliament. Following the 1801 Act of Union that abolished the Irish Parliament and placed Ireland under the direct rule of London, the building was sold to the Bank of Ireland in 1803.
Christ Church was built on the site of a Viking church that dated back to A.D. 1038. Construction of the current church was begun in 1172 by Strongbow, a Norman baron and conqueror of Dublin for the English crown. It is presently the seat of the Protestant Church of Ireland.
City Hall in Dublin was constructed between 1769 to 1779; it was used as the Royal Exchange during the time of British rule and currently is the seat of the Dublin Corporation, the elected body that governs the city.
Dublin Castle was the seat of British rule in Ireland for seven centuries until 1922; it is now used mainly for Irish and EU governmental purposes. The Record Tower dates to A.D. 1208.
Leinster House in Dublin was built by the Duke of Leinster in 1745. The building now houses the Irish bicameral Parliament - the Seanad Eireann (Senate) and the Dail Eireann (House of Representatives).
![Molly Malone statue on Grafton Street in Dublin. The statue is of a fictional fishmonger in Dublin, who died of a fever. The song, "Molly Malone," is the unofficial anthem of Dublin. The statue was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Dublin in December 1988 as part of the city's millennium celebration.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_019_large.jpg "Molly Malone statue on Grafton Street in Dublin. The statue is of a fictional fishmonger in Dublin, who died of a fever. The song, "Molly Malone," is the unofficial anthem of Dublin. The statue was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Dublin in December 1988 as part of the city's millennium celebration.")
Molly Malone statue on Grafton Street in Dublin. The statue is of a fictional fishmonger in Dublin, who died of a fever. The song, "Molly Malone," is the unofficial anthem of Dublin. The statue was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Dublin in December 1988 as part of the city's millennium celebration.
The General Post Office in Dublin, constructed between 1814 and 1818 by the British as a center of communications, was the scene of the Irish Easter Uprising against British occupation from 24 to 30 April 1916.
The entrance to the massive Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) in Dublin. Built in 1796, it was the site of numerous hangings and deportations in the early 19th century. Many famous Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned there. Leaders of the Easter Uprising from 24 to 30 April 1916 were held there before their execution a short time later.
Plaque with the names of the leaders of the April 1916 Easter Uprising executed at the jail in early May 1916 in the courtyard of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin.
![Interior of a section of the Victorian Wing or East Wing of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin "modernized" in the mid-19th century to allow more light and space for the inmates.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_044_large.jpg "Interior of a section of the Victorian Wing or East Wing of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin "modernized" in the mid-19th century to allow more light and space for the inmates.")
Interior of a section of the Victorian Wing or East Wing of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin "modernized" in the mid-19th century to allow more light and space for the inmates.
A view of the cells in the Victorian Wing of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin.
![A statue of Charles Stewart Parnell in upper O'Connell Street near Parnell Square. Parnell was a 19th-century member of Parliament and a champion of home rule for Ireland (he is often referred to as "the uncrowned King of Ireland").](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_018_large.jpg "A statue of Charles Stewart Parnell in upper O'Connell Street near Parnell Square. Parnell was a 19th-century member of Parliament and a champion of home rule for Ireland (he is often referred to as "the uncrowned King of Ireland").")
A statue of Charles Stewart Parnell in upper O'Connell Street near Parnell Square. Parnell was a 19th-century member of Parliament and a champion of home rule for Ireland (he is often referred to as "the uncrowned King of Ireland").
![The River Liffey in Dublin divides the city into the "Northside" and the "Southside." It flows 125 km (78 mi) from the Wicklow Mountains to the Irish Sea.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_017_large.jpg "The River Liffey in Dublin divides the city into the "Northside" and the "Southside." It flows 125 km (78 mi) from the Wicklow Mountains to the Irish Sea.")
The River Liffey in Dublin divides the city into the "Northside" and the "Southside." It flows 125 km (78 mi) from the Wicklow Mountains to the Irish Sea.
![The Spire on O'Connell Street in Dublin near the General Post Office was erected in 2003. The 120 m- (394 ft-) high structure is also known as "The Tower of Light." It replaced a pillar with a statue of England's Lord Nelson that was destroyed in 1966 and that was seen as a relic of English colonialism. The Spire consists of eight hollow stainless steel cone sections and contains a tuned mass damper to ensure aerodynamic stability during a wind storm.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_016_large.jpg "The Spire on O'Connell Street in Dublin near the General Post Office was erected in 2003. The 120 m- (394 ft-) high structure is also known as "The Tower of Light." It replaced a pillar with a statue of England's Lord Nelson that was destroyed in 1966 and that was seen as a relic of English colonialism. The Spire consists of eight hollow stainless steel cone sections and contains a tuned mass damper to ensure aerodynamic stability during a wind storm.")
The Spire on O'Connell Street in Dublin near the General Post Office was erected in 2003. The 120 m- (394 ft-) high structure is also known as "The Tower of Light." It replaced a pillar with a statue of England's Lord Nelson that was destroyed in 1966 and that was seen as a relic of English colonialism. The Spire consists of eight hollow stainless steel cone sections and contains a tuned mass damper to ensure aerodynamic stability during a wind storm.
The quadrangle in Trinity College in Dublin. The college was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.
Trinity College in Dublin.
Street scene in Dublin.
The ruins of an old farm house front a vista of patchwork Irish countryside.
![Some of the famed "forty shades of green" displayed in a pastoral Irish setting.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_006_large.jpg "Some of the famed "forty shades of green" displayed in a pastoral Irish setting.")
Some of the famed "forty shades of green" displayed in a pastoral Irish setting.
Kilkenny Castle as seen from the nearby River Nore.
The Rock of Cashel (also known as Cashel of the Kings and Saint Patrick's Rock) is in County Tipperary. Tradition has it that Saint Patrick converted the King of Munster to Christianity there.
Built in the 15th century, the Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland, houses the famed limestone Blarney Stone (the Stone of Eloquence or Cloch na Blarnan in Irish). Visitors can climb to the top of the castle, lean backwards on the parapet edge with the help of an assistant, hold onto the wrought-iron railings, and kiss the stone and supposedly acquire the gift of flattery. The castle is a tower house with 4.8 m (18 ft) thick walls at the base, a type of fortification built by Gaelic lords and the Anglo-Irish typically. Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens, including a poison garden with numerous poisonous plants, such as wolfsbane, mandrake, and castor bean.
View of the towers and river from Blarney Castle, near Cork.
View of the park in the mist outside of Blarney Castle, near Cork.
![Street view of Killarney, County Kerry. Killarney is one of the principal towns in the country and a center of tourism for the region. The sign over the street reads "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes" (Cead Mille Failte).](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_038_large.jpg "Street view of Killarney, County Kerry. Killarney is one of the principal towns in the country and a center of tourism for the region. The sign over the street reads "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes" (Cead Mille Failte).")
Street view of Killarney, County Kerry. Killarney is one of the principal towns in the country and a center of tourism for the region. The sign over the street reads "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes" (Cead Mille Failte).
![Street view of Kenmare, County Kerry. Kenmare is the southern gateway to the "Ring of Kerry" scenic drive.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_040_large.jpg "Street view of Kenmare, County Kerry. Kenmare is the southern gateway to the "Ring of Kerry" scenic drive.")
Street view of Kenmare, County Kerry. Kenmare is the southern gateway to the "Ring of Kerry" scenic drive.
![View along the "Ring of Kerry" drive, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry. The Ring is a 179 km (111 mi) tourist trail in southwestern Ireland that starts and ends in Killarney. Because the narrow roads make it difficult for tour busses to pass, all tour coaches travel in a counter clockwise direction. There is also a shorter bike/foot path.](https://dev.me/media/factbook/ei/EI_004_large.jpg "View along the "Ring of Kerry" drive, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry. The Ring is a 179 km (111 mi) tourist trail in southwestern Ireland that starts and ends in Killarney. Because the narrow roads make it difficult for tour busses to pass, all tour coaches travel in a counter clockwise direction. There is also a shorter bike/foot path.")
View along the "Ring of Kerry" drive, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry. The Ring is a 179 km (111 mi) tourist trail in southwestern Ireland that starts and ends in Killarney. Because the narrow roads make it difficult for tour busses to pass, all tour coaches travel in a counter clockwise direction. There is also a shorter bike/foot path.
The lakes of Killarney, Country Kerry. The lakes consist of the Upper Lake, the Middle Lake (Muckross Lake), and the Lower Lake (Lough Leane).
Lough Leane in Killarney, County Kerry.
Mountain stream below the Torc Waterfall in County Kerry.
Torc Waterfall in County Kerry.
Muckross Abbey was built in 1448 as a Franciscan Friary; its monks were driven out by Oliver Cromwell's army in 1652. The Abbey is close to Muckross House near Killarney in County Kerry.
A closer view of Muckross Abbey near Killarney, County Kerry.
The interior of Muckross Abbey near Killarney, County Kerry is still in good condition.
Another view of the interior of Muckross Abbey near Killarney, County Kerry.
Built in 1843, Muckross House is an Elizabethan-style manor house 6 km (4 mi) from the town of Killarney in County Kerry. The grounds of the estate became the basis for Killarney National Park in 1932.
Ross Castle, near Killarney, County Kerry, is a fully restored 14th-century stronghold; it was last place in the province of Munster to fall to Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1652.
Street view in Dingle, County Kerry. Dingle (An Daingean) is the principal town on the Dingle Peninsula in southwest Ireland. The colorful town and peninsula attract many tourists.
Street view in Dingle, County Kerry.
Another view of bustling Dingle, County Kerry.
Bunratty Castle in County Clare. The area was first settled as a Viking village in the 10th century; several castles and fortifications were subsequently built there. The present structure was completed by the MacNamara family around 1425.
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland. This view looks south towards Hag's Head, where the cliffs rise to 120 m (394 ft).
The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare range from 120 m (394 ft) at Hag's Head to their maximum height of 214 m (702 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean just north of O'Brien's Tower. Comprised of mainly shale and sandstone, the cliffs are home to large colonies of Atlantic Puffins.
The main tower/keep of Leap Castle in County Offaly was constructed ca. A.D. 1250. The stronghold has a bloody history, claims a number of ghosts, and bills itself as "the world's most haunted castle."
View from a window in Leap Castle, County Offaly. The stronghold has a bloody history, claims a number of ghosts, and bills itself as "the world's most haunted castle."
An ancient stone circle near Kinnity Castle in County Offaly. Most stone circles are found in Northwestern Europe – especially in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. While some may have been constructed as early as 5000 B.C., most were built after 3000 B.C. Many theories have been put forth to explain their use, generally having to do with a setting for ceremony or ritual, but no consensus exists as to their intended function. There are 187 stone circles in Ireland; the vast majority are in the southern County Cork, which has 103 circles.
Dust from North Africa mingled with other aerosols in the skies over the United Kingdom (left of center) and Ireland (farther west) on 18 April 2003. In this scene, the dust is more prominent to the north over the Atlantic, where it can be seen as a tan swirl west of Norway. West of Ireland, the haze is grayer, and is more likely pollution. In the United Kingdom, a few bright plumes of white could be associated with fires. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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Ireland Factbook Data
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: 5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC 20521-5290
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 688-8056
email address and website:
ACSDublin@state.gov
https://ie.usembassy.gov/
Age structure
15-64 years: 65.04% (male 1,741,527/female 1,720,989)
65 years and over: 14.57% (2023 est.) (male 360,476/female 415,488)
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Natural hazards
Area - comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Military service age and obligation
note: as of 2023, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel
note 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
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 insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Environment - current issues
Environment - international agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Population below poverty line
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 23.8% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
Administrative divisions
Agricultural products
Military and security forces
note: An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice
Budget
expenditures: $97.713 billion (2019 est.)
Capital
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Imports - commodities
Climate
Coastline
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
Exchange rates
Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
Executive branch
head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon HARRIS (since 9 April 2024); note - Taoiseach Leo VARADKAR resigned from the ruling party on 20 March 2024 but remained as the caretaker taoiseach until a successor was appointed
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)
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
election results:
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%
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%
Fiscal year
Flag description
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
Illicit drugs
Independence
Industries
Judicial branch
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
Land boundaries
border countries: UK 499 km
Land use
arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 10.9% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
Legal system
Legislative branch
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 minister
House 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)
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 March 2025)
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 as of February 2024 - men 36, women 24, percentage women 40%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 23.8%, Sinn Fein 23.1%, Fine Gael 21.9%, Green Party 7.5%, other 11.8%, independent 11.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, Green Party 12, Labor Party 6, Social Democrats 6, PBPS 5, other 2, independent 19; composition as of February 2024 - men 123, women 37, percentage women 23.1%; note - total Parliament percentage women 27.7%
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
International organization participation
National holiday
Nationality
adjective: Irish
Natural resources
Geography - note
Economic overview
Pipelines
Political parties and leaders
Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBPS [collective leadership]
Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN]
Fine Gael [Simon HARRIS]
Green Party [Eamon RYAN]
Human Dignity Alliance [Ronan MULLEN]
Labor (Labour) Party Ivana BACIK]
Right to Change or RTC [Joan COLLINS]
Sinn Fein [Mary Lou McDONALD]
Social Democrats [Holly CAIRNS]
Socialist Party [collective leadership]
The Workers' Party [collective leadership]
Ports and terminals
cruise port(s): Cork (250,000), Dublin (359,966) (2020)
container port(s) (TEUs): Dublin (529,563) (2016)
river port(s): Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir)
Suffrage
Telecommunication systems
domestic: fixed-line 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 108 per 100 subscriptions. (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)
Terrain
Government type
Country name
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
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
Location
Map references
Irrigated land
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
email address and website:
https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/usa/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Internet country code
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 7 (2022)
GDP (official exchange rate)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Credit ratings
Moody's rating: A2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Total renewable water resources
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 18 years
female: 19 years (2020)
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Broadcast media
Drinking water source
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 97.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 3% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 2.6% of population (2020 est.)
National anthem
lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
note: adopted 1926; instead of "Amhran na bhFiann," the song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team
Major urban areas - population
International law organization participation
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
National symbol(s)
Mother's mean age at first birth
GDP - composition, by end use
government consumption: 10.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 119.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -89.7% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 30.5
elderly dependency ratio: 22.7
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2021 est.)
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 of the previous 8 years
Population distribution
Electricity access
National air transport system
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 450
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1.676 million (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 168.71 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Sanitation facility access
rural: 99.1% of population
total: 98.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population
rural: 0.9% of population
total: 1.7% of population (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
Religions
Languages
Imports - partners
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
Elevation
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 118 m
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Current health expenditure
Military - note
the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) 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); today, the IDF is comprised of an Army, an Air Corps, a Naval Service, and the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF); the Army has two combined arms combat brigades, one responsible for military operations in the south of the country, the other in the north; the Army’s primary mission is national defense, but elements have deployed on overseas humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, and at times have assisted civil authorities and the national police by providing security at airports, foreign embassies, government facilities, and ports; the Air Corps operates a range of non-combat fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for a variety of missions, including air ambulance, civil assistance, maritime patrol, reconnaissance and surveillance, search and rescue, support to the Army, and transport; the Naval Service’s warships are six large or offshore patrol vessels, and its roles include defending territorial seas, deterrence, maritime surveillance, protecting marine assets, and supporting Army operations; the RDF was established in 2005 and has both an Army and a Naval Service Reserve; the RDF takes its lineage from the Volunteer Reserve Force, which was established in 1929 (2023)
Literacy
male: NA
female: NA
Military and security service personnel strengths
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
Military deployments
Terrorist group(s)
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
Total water withdrawal
industrial: 520 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 888,537 tons (2012 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 33% (2012 est.)
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Air pollutants
carbon dioxide emissions: 37.71 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 13.67 megatons (2020 est.)
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl
Heliports
Coal
consumption: 351,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 132,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 408,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 14 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 34.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 3.6% of total installed capacity (2020 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.)
proven reserves: 9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 159,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
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.)
Gross reproduction rate
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
Remittances
0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.06% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks: Burren & Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)
Labor force
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 16.1%
female: 18.8%
Net migration rate
Median age
male: 39.4 years
female: 40.2 years
Debt - external
$2.759 trillion (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$13.247 billion (2021 est.)
$7.463 billion (2020 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Waterways
Refined petroleum products - imports
Public debt
71.28% of GDP (2020 est.)
69.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Total fertility rate
Military expenditures
0.3% of GDP (2022)
0.3% of GDP (2021)
0.3% of GDP (2020)
0.3% of GDP (2019)
Unemployment rate
6.19% (2021 est.)
5.62% (2020 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Population
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
Internet users
percent of population: 95% (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.43 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 23.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 10.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Area
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Taxes and other revenues
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$526.831 billion (2021 est.)
$457.615 billion (2020 est.)
note: data in 2017 dollars
Roadways
Airports
Infant mortality rate
male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.36% (2021 est.)
-0.33% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Refined petroleum products - exports
Current account balance
$70.909 billion (2021 est.)
-$26.44 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Real GDP per capita
$104,700 (2021 est.)
$91,800 (2020 est.)
note: data in 2017 dollars
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 22.5% (2020 est.)
female: 19% (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
Energy consumption per capita
Death rate
Birth rate
Electricity
consumption: 30.627 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 1.913 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 1.761 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.309 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Imports
$479.284 billion (2021 est.)
$488.823 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports
$685.814 billion (2021 est.)
$571.051 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
male: 80.5 years
female: 84.1 years
Real GDP growth rate
15.13% (2021 est.)
6.62% (2020 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Industrial production growth rate
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Railways
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 38.6% (2017 est.)
services: 60.2% (2017 est.)