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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

2.2 million (1991 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

900,000 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

10 (in addition, there are 36 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.025 million (1990 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $23.5 billion expenditures: $20.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$11 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $153 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 9.5% in 1995-98. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 39% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, and promote foreign investment. Although the unemployment rate has been halved, it remains high, and job creation is a primary concern of government policy. Recent efforts have concentrated on improving workers qualifications and the education system. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

17.743 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

200 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

100 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

17.843 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 95.83% hydro: 3.99% nuclear: 0% other: 0.18% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1--0.6815 (January 1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995), 0.6676 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 0.78764 Irish pounds per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports [time series]

$60.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals, animal products (1997)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 67% (UK 24%, Germany 12%, France 8%), US 11% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$67.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7% industry: 39% services: 54% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$18,600 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

9.5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 27.4% (1987)

Imports [time series]

$43.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing (1997)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 55% (UK 34%, Germany 6%, France 6%), US 15% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

15.8% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

1.52 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 62.1%, manufacturing and construction 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, utilities 0.9% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.7% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Coastline [time series]

1,448 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

53 00 N, 8 00 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 68% forests and woodland: 5% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Dublin

Constitution [time series]

29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael SULLIVAN embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINN chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

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 to be held NA November 2004); 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

6 December 1921 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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 NA August 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); House of Representatives--last held 6 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19, Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Greens 2, Sinn Fein 1, independents 7

National holiday [time series]

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Labor note: Prime Minister AHERN heads a two-party coalition consisting of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats; Democratic Left merged into the Labor Party on 1 February 1999

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Growing Irish nationalism resulted in independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, with six largely Protestant northern counties remaining within the UK. After World War II bloody strife between Catholics and Protestants over the status of Northern Ireland cost thousands of lives. In 1998, substantial steps toward peace were agreed to by the British and Irish governments and the Roman Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$771 million (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1% (1997)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 974,226 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 790,155 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 33,810 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21% (male 399,379; female 377,366) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,232,072; female 1,213,364) 65 years and over: 12% (male 174,519; female 236,244) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Celtic, English

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.39 years male: 73.64 years female: 79.32 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

3,632,944 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.38% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 92%, Anglican 3%, Islamic 0.11%, Jehovah's Witness 0.1%, Jewish 0.04%, other 4.75% (1991)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

Northern Ireland issue with the UK (historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

44 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

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: 3 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 92,500 km paved: 87,042 km (including 80 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,458 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,284 GRT/117,652 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, container 2 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 225 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford

Railways [time series]

total: 1,947 km broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km double track) (1996)

Waterways [time series]

limited for commercial traffic