Ireland

Broadcast media

publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2014)

Internet country code

.ie

Internet users

total: 3.9 million | percent of population: 81.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

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 stations - 81 (2014)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2.02 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 4.9 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Television broadcast stations

4 (many repeaters) (2008)

Agriculture - products

barley, potatoes, wheat; beef, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $85.97 billion | expenditures: $96.11 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013) | 1.5% (31 December 2010) | note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area | country comparison to the world: 136

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.41% (31 December 2014 est.) | 3.28% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Current account balance

$9.08 billion (2014 est.) | $7.379 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Debt - external

$1.748 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.635 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.9 (2010) | 35.9 (1987) | country comparison to the world: 98

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 dropped sharply during the world financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of its domestic property market and construction industry. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit from efforts to stabilize its fragile banking sector, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. These measures were not sufficient to stabilize Ireland’s public finances. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP. In late 2010, the former COWEN government agreed to a $92 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize Ireland’s banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. In March 2011, the KENNY government intensified austerity measures to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF bailout program. In late 2013, Ireland formally exited its EU-IMF bailout program, benefiting from its strict adherence to deficit-reduction targets and success in refinancing a large amount of banking-related debt. In 2014, the economy rapidly picked up and GDP grew by 3.6%. The recovering economy assisted lowering the deficit to 4.2% of GDP. In late 2014, the government introduced a fiscally neutral budget, marking the end of the austerity program. 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 an even more important component of Ireland's economy. Ireland’s low corporation tax of 12.5% has been central to encouraging business investment. Loose tax residency requirements made Ireland a common destination for international firms seeking to avoid taxation. Amid growing international pressure the government announced it would phase in more stringent tax laws, effectively closing a loophole.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.7489 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.78 (2012 est.) | 0.7185 (2011 est.) | 0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$144.8 billion (2014 est.) | $116.1 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals; foodstuffs, animal products

Exports - partners

US 20.6%, UK 16%, Belgium 14.1%, Germany 6.8%, Switzerland 6.3%, France 5.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$250.8 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$236.4 billion (2014 est.) | $224.7 billion (2013 est.) | $221.5 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 61

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 47% | government consumption: 14.4% | investment in fixed capital: 19.3% | investment in inventories: 1% | exports of goods and services: 113.7% | imports of goods and services: -95.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.6% | industry: 25.6% | services: 72.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$51,300 (2014 est.) | $48,700 (2013 est.) | $48,100 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 21

GDP - real growth rate

5.2% (2014 est.) | 1.4% (2013 est.) | 0.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Gross national saving

23.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | 19.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 17.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$84.38 billion (2014 est.) | $66.1 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UK 38.8%, US 10.3%, Germany 8.5%, Netherlands 6.2%, China 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.3% (2014 est.) | 0.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Labor force

2.157 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 5% | industry: 19% | services: 76% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$109 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $108.1 billion (31 December 2011) | $60.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Population below poverty line

5.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

107.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 117.9% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions | country comparison to the world: 11

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.748 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.635 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Stock of broad money

$255.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $267.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$939.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $913.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$831.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $788.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Stock of domestic credit

$380.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $477.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Stock of narrow money

$143.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $158.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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 | country comparison to the world: 27

Taxes and other revenues

34.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Unemployment rate

11.3% (2014 est.) | 13.1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

35.49 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Crude oil - exports

4,866 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Crude oil - imports

66,490 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity - consumption

24.24 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Electricity - exports

388 million kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from fossil fuels

71% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity - from other renewable sources

23% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - imports

2.508 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity - installed generating capacity

8.759 million kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - production

25.85 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - consumption

4.408 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas - imports

4.246 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas - production

152 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Refined petroleum products - consumption

142,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Refined petroleum products - exports

23,020 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - imports

105,700 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Refined petroleum products - production

57,790 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Area

total: 70,273 sq km | land: 68,883 sq km | water: 1,390 sq km | country comparison to the world: 120

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: 0.79 cu km/yr (94%/6%/0%) | per capita: 226.9 cu m/yr (2007)

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

11 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 443 km | border countries (1): UK 443 km

Land use

agricultural land: 66.1% | arable land 15.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 50.7% | forest: 10.9% | other: 23% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Total renewable water resources

52 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo , Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Capital

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

Citizenship

dual citizenship recognized: yes

Constitution

previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937; amended many times, last in 2015 (2015)

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 Kevin F. O'MALLEY (since 8 October 2014) | 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 Anne Colette ANDERSON (since 28 August 2013) | chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011) | head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011) | cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the 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 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president | election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS (Labor Party) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS (Sinn Fein) 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David NORRIS (independent) 6.2%, other 5.6%

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members - the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal - and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law) | judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70 | subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 43 members indirectly elected by panels of various vocational interests, 11 appointed by the prime minister, and 6 elected by graduates of the University of Dublin and the National University of Ireland; members serve 5-year terms) and the Parliament or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held probably in 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, independent 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 36.1%, Labor Party 19.5%, Fianna Fail 17.5%, Sinn Fein 9.9%, United Left Alliance 2.6%, independent and other 14.4%; seats by party - Fine Gael 76, Labor Party 37, Fianna Fail 20, Sinn Fein 14, United Left Alliance 5, independent 14

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 at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

National holiday

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

National symbol(s)

harp, shamrock (trefoil); national colors: blue, green

Political parties and leaders

Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN] | Fine Gael [Enda KENNY] | Green Party [Eamon RYAN] | Labor (Labour) Party [Joan BURTON] | Renua Ireland [Lucinda CREIGHTON] | Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS] | Socialist Party [collective leadership] | The Workers' Party [Michael DONNELLY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Continuity IRA (terrorist group) | Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); | Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank) | Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard BOYD BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world) | Keep Ireland Open (environmental group) | Oglaigh na hEireann (terrorist group) | Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters) | New Irish Republican Army (terrorist group combining elements of the former Real IRA and Republican Action Against Drugs) | 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 unifying Northern Ireland with the rest of the island under Irish government sovereignty)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 saw the population of the island drop by one third through starvation and emigration. For more than a century after that 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 touched off several years of guerrilla warfare resulting in independence from the UK in 1921 for 26 southern counties; six northern counties remained part of the UK. Unresolved issues in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the "Troubles" that began in the 1960s. The Government of Ireland was part of a process along with the UK and US Governments that helped broker what is known as The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. This 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. Today the economy is recovering, fueled by large and growing foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals.

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 Defence Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Forces (PDF): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps; Reserve Defence Forces (RDF): Army, Naval Service Reserves (2014)

Military expenditures

0.49% of GDP (2014) | 0.51% of GDP (2013) | 0.55% of GDP (2012) | 0.59% of GDP (2011) | 0.55% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 126

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF; 18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-28 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 18-35 years of age for the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (PDF officers), 5 years (PDF enlisted), 3 years RDF (4 years for Naval Service Reserves); EU citizenship, refugee status, or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2014)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.5% (male 537,239/female 514,369) | 15-24 years: 11.84% (male 294,771/female 284,710) | 25-54 years: 43.82% (male 1,076,579/female 1,067,193) | 55-64 years: 10.23% (male 250,926/female 249,453) | 65 years and over: 12.61% (male 284,399/female 332,666) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

14.84 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Contraceptive prevalence rate

64.8% | note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2004/05)

Death rate

6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.7% | youth dependency ratio: 33.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 20.2% | potential support ratio: 5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97.9% of population | rural: 97.8% of population | total: 97.9% of population | urban: 2.1% of population | rural: 2.2% of population | total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 31

Ethnic groups

Irish 84.5%, other white 9.8%, Asian 1.9%, black 1.4%, mixed and other 0.9%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.28% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,000 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Health expenditures

8.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 57

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Languages

English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 38.7% of the population as a first or second language in 2011; mainly spoken in areas along the western coast)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.68 years | male: 78.39 years | female: 83.11 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Major urban areas - population

DUBLIN (capital) 1.169 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Median age

total: 36.1 years | male: 35.8 years | female: 36.4 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

4.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 57

Physicians density

2.67 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

4,892,305 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Population growth rate

1.25% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Religions

Roman Catholic 84.7%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 2.7%, Muslim 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 1.5%, none 5.7% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 89.1% of population | rural: 92.9% of population | total: 90.5% of population | urban: 10.9% of population | rural: 7.1% of population | total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years | male: 19 years | female: 18 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24% | male: 36.4% | female: 24% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Urbanization

urban population: 63.2% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.58% 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 99 (2014)

Airports

40 (2013) | 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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 24 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 | 21 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 31 | by type: cargo 28, chemical tanker 2, container 1 | foreign-owned: 5 (France 2, Spain 1, US 2) | registered in other countries: 33 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Netherlands 8, Panama 1, Russia 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1, UK 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 84

Pipelines

gas 2,147 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Dublin, Shannon Foynes, | river port(s): Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir) | container port(s) (TEUs): Dublin (1,931,001)

Railways

total: 3,237 km | broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (49 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) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 54

Roadways

total: 96,036 km | paved: 96,036 km (includes 1,224 km of expressways) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 49

Waterways

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 67