President: Michael D. Higgins (2011)
Taoiseach (Prime Minister): Enda Kenny (2011)
Land area: 26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km); total area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)
Population (2014 est.): 4,832,765 (growth rate: 1.2%); birth rate: 15.18/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.74/1000; life expectancy: 80.56
Capital (2011 est.): Dublin, 1.121 million
Monetary unit: Euro (formerly Irish pound [punt])
National name: Éire
Current government officials
Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)
Ethnicity/race: Irish 84.5%, other white 9.8%, Asian 1.9%, black 1.4%, mixed and other 0.9%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
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.)
National Holiday: Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17
Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $190.4 billion; per capita $41,300. Real growth rate: 0.6%. Inflation: 0.6%. Unemployment: 13.5%. Arable land: 15.11%. Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products. Labor force: 2.161 million (2011 est.); agriculture 5%, industry 19%, services 76% (2011 est.). Industries: 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. Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver. Exports: $113.6 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products. Imports: $61.51 billion (2013 est.): data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing. Major trading partners: U.S., UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland (2012).
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 2.007 million (2012); mobile cellular: 4.906 million (2012). 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 hosts: 1.387 million (2010). Internet users: 3.042 million (2009).
Transportation: Railways: total: 3,237 km (2008). Roadways: total: 96,036 km; paved: 96,036 km (including 1,224 km of expressways) (2014). Waterways: 956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010). Ports and harbors: Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes, Waterford. Airports: 40 (2013).
International disputes: Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark’s claim that the Faroe Islands’ continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm.
Blog O'The Irish 