Ireland

Internet country code

.ie

Internet hosts

162,228 (2004)

Internet users

1.26 million (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.955 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.4 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $62.51 billion expenditures: $63.52 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR) 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

Current account balance

$-2.881 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$11 billion (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.9 (1987)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $283 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy 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.

Electricity - consumption

21.78 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

100 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

600 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

22.88 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Exports

$103.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Exports - partners

US 19.7%, UK 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7.7%, France 6%, Netherlands 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$126.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.1% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)

Imports

$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners

UK 35.6%, US 13.8%, Germany 8.9%, Netherlands 4.3%, France 4.2% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2004 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force

1.92 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 63% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

815 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

174,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

27,450 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

178,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

10% (1997 est.)

Public debt

31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.152 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

4.3% (2004 est.)

Area

total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 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 extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

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

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Land use

arable land: 15.2% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 84.77% (2001)

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

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, 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

Capital

Dublin

Constitution

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. KENNY embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777 FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 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; 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 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

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), 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

Government type

republic

Independence

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

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

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the 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 others 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%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 United Kingdom. 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 17-49: 977,092 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 17-49: 814,768 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 29,327 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$700 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY00/01)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female 1,354,148) 65 years and over: 11.5% (male 203,614/female 258,873) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

14.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Celtic, English

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,800 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.56 years male: 74.95 years female: 80.34 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% (1981 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 33.7 years male: 32.9 years female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish

Net migration rate

4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

4,015,676 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

1.16% (2005 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)

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 (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim 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

Airports

36 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 95,736 km paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 39 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 3) registered in other countries: 18 (2005)

Pipelines

gas 1,795 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

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) (2004)

Waterways

753 km (pleasure craft only) (2004)