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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

22 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ie

Internet users [time series]

1.31 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

1.6 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $30.7 billion expenditures: $30.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5 billion (2002)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

EUR

Debt - external [time series]

$11 billion (1998)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

35.9 (1987)

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

ODA, $283 million (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 8% in 1995-2002. The global slowdown, especially in the information technology sector, pressed growth down to 2.7% in 2003. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP and about 80% of exports and employs 28% 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. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

21.63 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

285 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

38 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

23.53 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 95.9% hydro: 2.3% other: 1.7% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999), 0.7 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$86.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products (1999)

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 23.3%, US 16.7%, Belgium 14.6%, Germany 7.3%, France 5% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $113.7 billion (2002 est.)

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

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

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

purchasing power parity - $29,300 (2002 est.)

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

6.9% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$48.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

UK 41.1%, US 15.3%, Germany 6.8% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.6% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.8 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 64% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

815 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

9.911 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

174,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

27,450 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

178,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

10% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.3% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

53 00 N, 8 00 W

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: 19.49% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 80.47% (1998 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]

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 note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. EGAN 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 [time series]

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

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 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 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

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 by treaty)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, 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, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the 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) 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 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)

National holiday [time series]

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Celtic tribes settled on the island in the 4th century 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 currently being implemented.

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$700 million (FY00/01)

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

0.9% (FY00/01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,020,182 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 821,378 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 31,437 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female 252,797) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.63 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Celtic, English

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

2,400 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 5.95 deaths/1,000 live births

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: 77.35 years male: 74.58 years female: 80.31 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 33.1 years male: 32.2 years female: 34 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

3,924,140 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.03% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.89 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

disputes with Iceland, Denmark, and the UK over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM

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; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (2002)

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: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 17 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 92,500 km paved: 87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,457 km (2000 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 110,913 GRT/128,017 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 2 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, container 1, short-sea passenger 1

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,795 km (2003)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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) (2002)

Waterways [time series]

700 km (limited facilities for commercial traffic) (1998)