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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ie

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

429,487 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

1.437 million (2006)

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: 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

2.097 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.69 million (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (many repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $80.78 billion expenditures: $74.51 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [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

Current account balance [time series]

$-9.136 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.392 trillion (30 June 2006)

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

34.3 (2000)

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

ODA, $607 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 6% in 1995-2006. 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 40% 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 [time series]

24.09 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.045 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

24.13 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$104.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 18.6%, UK 17.7%, Belgium 14.9%, Germany 7.7%, France 5.8%, Italy 4.2% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$203.8 billion (2006 est.)

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

$180.9 billion (2006 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$44,500 (2006 est.)

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

5.7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$72.79 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

UK 37.5%, US 11.5%, Germany 9.6%, Netherlands 4.6% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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) [time series]

3.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.132 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$114.1 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.895 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.348 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

546.7 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

9.505 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

182,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

23,360 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports [time series]

204,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

10% (1997 est.)

Public debt [time series]

24.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$831.9 million (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$125.2 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$179 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.3% (2006 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 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-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 [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 100 km of Dublin

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km

Land use [time series]

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

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]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

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]

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 [time series]

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY 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 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, 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 (eligible for a second 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 (taoiseach) 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, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats

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, parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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 members elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; to 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 24 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012) 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 other 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%, Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, other 5

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, acting leader]; Labor Party [Pat RABBITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Michael McDOWELL]; 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 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 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 is being implemented with some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began working to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 977,092 females age 17-49: 978,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 814,768 females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 29,327 females age 17-49: 28,139 (2005 est.)

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

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps) (2006)

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

0.9% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.8% (male 442,664/female 413,556) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,387,803/female 1,385,355) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 212,782/female 266,926) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.4 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.79 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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 (2003 est.)

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

2,800 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.9 years male: 75.27 years female: 80.7 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 34.3 years male: 33.5 years female: 35.1 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

4,109,086 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.143% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.002 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.797 male(s)/female total population: 0.989 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.86 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 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; 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 27 ships (1000 GRT or over) 116,091 GRT/161,808 DWT by type: cargo 23, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Spain 1, US 2) registered in other countries: 18 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Isle of Man 1, Netherlands 9, Panama 1, UK 1, unknown 1) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,728 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Railways [time series]

total: 3,237 km 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) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 96,602 km paved: 96,602 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways [time series]

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2007)