from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Ireland
Introduction
Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150
B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th
century were finally ended when King Brian BORU
defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in
the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries
of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and
harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday
Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla
warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the
UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster)
counties remained part of the UK. In 1948 Ireland
withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the
European Community in 1973. Irish governments have
sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have
cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the
Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being
implemented with some difficulties.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great
Britain
Geographic 53 00 N, 8 00 W
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - slightly larger than West Virginia
comparative:
Land total: 360 km
boundaries: border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid;
overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west
coast
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite,
resources: gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use: arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)
Irrigated NA
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural
current runoff
issues:
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
international Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
agreements: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - strategic location on major air and sea routes between
note: North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the
population resides within 100 km of Dublin
People
Population: 4,062,235 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 437,903/female 409,774)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,373,771/female 1,370,452)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 207,859/female 262,476)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 34 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.8 years (2006 est.)
Population 1.15% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 14.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 77.73 years
expectancy at male: 75.11 years
birth: female: 80.52 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2,800 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish
(collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other
Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5%
(2002 census)
Languages: English (official) is the language generally used,
Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in
areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
Government republic, parliamentary democracy
type:
Capital: name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 20 N, 6 15 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
Administrative 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal,
divisions: Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois,
Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath,
Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,
Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster
Province
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
National Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
holiday:
Constitution: adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29
December 1937
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative
acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11
branch: November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since
26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with
previous nomination by the prime minister and approval
of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October
2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term
when no other candidate qualified for the 2004
presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach)
nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed
by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president;
percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI
29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the
Progressive Democrats
Legislative bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the
branch: Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the
universities and from candidates put forward by five
vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime
minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House
of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members
are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next
to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives -
last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15,
Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents
and other 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor
Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats
4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, other 10.9%; seats by party -
Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Sinn Fein
5, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, other 14
Judicial Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
branch: advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
Political Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY];
parties and Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat
leaders: RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn
Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The
Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
organization ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
participation: IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY
representation chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY
representation embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
from the US: mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946
Flag three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
description: white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote
d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed
- orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar
to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors
of green (hoist side), white, and red
Economy
Economy - Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy
overview: with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now
dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for
46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor
force. Although exports remain the primary engine for
Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a
rise in consumer spending, construction, and business
investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the
four big European economies and the second highest in
the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the
Irish Government has implemented a series of national
economic programs designed to curb price and wage
inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor
force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland
joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along
with 11 other EU nations.
GDP $165.1 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $188.4 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $41,100 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 5%
composition by industry: 46%
sector: services: 49% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 2.03 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 8%
by occupation: industry: 29%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
Unemployment 4.3% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 10% (1997 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2%
income or highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 35.9 (1996)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 2.4% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 27% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $70.46 billion
expenditures: $69.4 billion; including capital
expenditures of $5.5 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: 26.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef,
products: dairy products
Industries: steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum
mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles,
clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail
transportation equipment, passenger and commercial
vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass
and crystal; software, tourism
Industrial 3% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 23.41 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 95.9%
production by hydro: 2.3%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)
Electricity - 22.97 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 1.2 billion kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 175,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 27,450 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports: 178,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved 0 bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 673 million cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 4.298 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 19.82 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $-3.833 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $102 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals,
commodities: pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Exports - US 18.7%, UK 17.4%, Belgium 15.2%, Germany 7.4%, France
partners: 6.4%, Netherlands 4.8% (2005)
Imports: $65.47 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - data processing equipment, other machinery and
commodities: equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products,
textiles, clothing
Imports - UK 37%, US 13.8%, Germany 9.2%, Netherlands 4.5% (2005)
partners:
Reserves of $869.3 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.049 trillion (30 June 2005)
external:
Economic aid - ODA, $607 million (2004)
donor:
Currency euro (EUR)
(code): note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by
financial institutions of member countries; on 1
January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for
everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code: EUR
Exchange euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
rates: 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 2.033 million (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 4.21 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern digital system using cable
system: and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 2.55 million (1997)
Television 4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 1.82 million (2001)
Internet .ie
country code:
Internet 238,191 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 22 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 2.06 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 36 (2006)
Airports - total: 15
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2006)
Airports - total: 21
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 4
runways: under 914 m: 17 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 1,728 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the
Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations
and briquetting plants) (2005)
Roadways: total: 95,736 km
paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways)
(2002)
Waterways: 753 km (pleasure craft only) (2005)
Merchant total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 103,589 GRT/145,044
marine: DWT
by type: cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Germany 2, US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda
1, Cyprus 3, Gibraltar 1, Netherlands 10, Panama 2,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford
terminals:
Military
Military Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army
branches: (includes Naval Service and Air Corps) (2006)
Military 17 years of age for voluntary military service;
service age enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for
and specialist positions (2001)
obligation:
Manpower males age 17-49: 977,092
available for females age 17-49: 978,465 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 17-49: 814,768
for military females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 29,327
reaching females age 17-49: 28,139 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $700 million (FY00/01)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0.9% (FY00/01)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim
international: that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends
beyond 200 nm
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from
North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of
European-produced synthetic drugs; 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