Ireland

Broadcast media

publicly-owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial television 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ie

Internet hosts

1.339 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 36

Internet users

3.042 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 67

Telephone system

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.078 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 57

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.702 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 104

Agriculture - products

beef, dairy products, barley, potatoes, wheat

Budget

revenues: $70.74 billion expenditures: $137 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-32.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 118 1.75% (31 December 2009) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.45% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 4.32% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.477 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 -$6.544 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.357 trillion (30 June 2011) country comparison to the world: 9 $2.253 trillion (30 September 2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29.3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 121 35.9 (1987)

Economy - overview

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity has dropped sharply since the onset of the world financial crisis, with GDP falling by over 3% in 2008, nearly 8% in 2009, and 1% in 2010. Ireland entered into a recession in 2008 for the first time in more than a decade, with the subsequent collapse of its domestic property and construction markets. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2007 than in any other developed economy. Since their 2007 peak, average house prices have fallen 50%. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become a key component of Ireland's economy. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. In 2008 the COWEN government moved to guarantee all bank deposits, recapitalize the banking system, and establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the country's economic downturn. In 2009, in continued efforts to stabilize the banking sector, the Irish Government established the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to acquire problem commercial property and development loans from Irish banks. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. In addition to across-the-board cuts in spending, the 2009 budget included wage reductions for all public servants. These measures were not sufficient. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP - because of additional government support for the banking sector. In late 2010, the COWEN Government agreed to a $112 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin further increase the capitalization of its banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. The government also initiated a four-year austerity plan to cut an additional $20 billion from its budget. A return to modest growth is expected in 2011.

Electricity - consumption

26.99 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - exports

290 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

756 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

27.28 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.7198 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$110.1 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $108.2 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 22.1%, UK 16.1%, Belgium 15.1%, Germany 8.1%, France 5.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$204.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$172.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $174.2 billion (2009 est.) $188.4 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 29% services: 70% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $38,000 (2009 est.) $41,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 -7.6% (2009 est.) -3.5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Imports

$61.63 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $62.95 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UK 37.7%, US 13.8%, Germany 7.6%, Netherlands 5.6%, China 4.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 -4.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Labor force

2.14 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 5% industry: 20% services: 76% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$63.1 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 50 $61.7 billion (31 December 2009) $49.4 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

5.656 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas - imports

5.261 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - production

388 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Oil - consumption

159,700 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Oil - exports

17,480 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Oil - imports

176,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - production

431 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Population below poverty line

5.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

94.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 65.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.115 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $2.154 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$245 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $283.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$286.2 billion (31 September 2010) country comparison to the world: 16 $264.6 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$228 billion (31 September 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $236.2 billion (31 December 2009)

Stock of domestic credit

$745.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $738.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$131.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $145.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues

34.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Unemployment rate

13.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 11.8% (2009)

Area

total: 70,273 sq km country comparison to the world: 120 land: 68,883 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%) per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)

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

Land boundaries

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Land use

arable land: 16.82% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 83.15% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources

46.8 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford, Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Capital

name: Dublin 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

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 Daniel ROONEY 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 Michael COLLINS chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 29 October 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next scheduled for October 2018); prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL 6.4%, David NORRIS 6.2%

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: 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, parliamentary democracy

Independence

6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Court of Final Appeal) (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet); Courts of First Instance (includes High Court)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members 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 lower house of Parliament or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Labor Party 12, Sinn Fein 3, independents 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 45.8%, Labor Party 22.3%, Fianna Fail 12.0%, Sinn Fein 8.4%, United Left Alliance 3.0%, New Vision 0.6%, independents 7.8%; seats by party - Fine Gael 76, Labor Party 37, Fianna Fail 20, Sinn Fein 14, United Left Alliance 5, New Vision 1, independents 13; note - after November 2009 disbandment of the Progressive Democrats, the two members of the Senate continued as independent DPs note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the Progressive Democrats, and in November 2009 it officially stopped operating as a political party

National anthem

name: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song) 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 in athletic events where citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

National symbol(s)

harp

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Michael MARTIN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; New Vision; Progressive Democrats or PD [Noel GREALISH] (formerly dissolved on 20 November 2009); Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Michael FINNEGAN]; United Left Alliance

Political pressure groups and leaders

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank); Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard Boyd BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world); Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters); Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)

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 UK. In 1949, 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 is gradually being implemented despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,179,125 females age 16-49: 1,163,728 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 977,631 females age 16-49: 965,900 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 28,564 female: 27,197 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Irish Defense Forces (IDF; Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps (2011)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (5 years IDF, 7 years RDF); EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 503,921/female 483,454) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 1,581,959/female 1,560,238) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 246,212/female 295,192) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Death rate

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 62

Ethnic groups

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 64

Hospital bed density

5.17 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 37

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 203 male: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.19 years country comparison to the world: 26 male: 77.96 years female: 82.55 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

DUBLIN (capital) 1.084 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 171

Median age

total: 34.8 years male: 34.5 years female: 35.1 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

13% (2002) country comparison to the world: 44

Physicians density

3.187 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 33

Population

4,670,976 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Population growth rate

1.061% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2% of population total: 1% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years male: 18 years female: 18 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24.3% country comparison to the world: 33 male: 30.9% female: 17.3% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 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; 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

Airports

39 (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

Airports - with paved runways

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 28 country comparison to the world: 88 by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1 foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 3, US 2) registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 7, Panama 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,888 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Railways

total: 3,237 km country comparison to the world: 54 broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 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) (2008)

Roadways

total: 96,036 km country comparison to the world: 46 paved: 96,036 km (includes 896 km of expressways) (2010)

Waterways

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010) country comparison to the world: 68