Ireland

Population

5.4M

Rank #120

Source: World Bank

Capital

Dublin

Source: REST Countries

Region

Europe

Europe & Central Asia

Source: REST Countries

GDP (Nominal)

$609.16B

Rank #24

Source: World Bank

Land Area

70.3K km²

Rank #119

Source: REST Countries

Life Expectancy

82.861 yrs

Source: World Bank

Historical Trends

Population Trend (5-Year)

Source: World Bank

GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)

Source: World Bank

Geography

Area: 70,273 km²

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

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

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

Elevation: mean elevation: 118 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural Hazards: rare extreme weather events

Environmental Issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; acid rain kills plants, destroys soil fertility, and contributes to deforestation

Land Use: agricultural land: 66.1% (2011 est.) forest: 10.9% (2011 est.) other: 23% (2011 est.)

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

Natural Resources

natural gaspeatcopperleadzincsilverbaritegypsumlimestonedolomite

People & Society

Fertility Rate

1.50

Population

5.4M

Ethnic Groups

Irish (82.2%)Irish travelers (0.7%)other White (9.5%)Asian (2.1%)Black (1.4%)other (1.5%)unspecified (2.6%)

Religions

Roman Catholic (78.3%)Church of Ireland (2.7%)other Christian (1.6%)Orthodox (1.3%)Muslim (1.3%)other (2.4%)none (9.8%)unspecified (2.6%)

Economy

GDP per Capita

$112,894.953

GDP per Capita PPP

133,437.47
(2024)

GNI per Capita

80,650
(2024)

Gini Index

29
(2023)

Unemployment

4.3%
(2024)

Inflation

2.113%
(2024)

Public Debt

Not Available

Energy

Electricity Access

100%
(2023)

Renewable Energy

12.7%
(2021)

CO₂ Emissions

32.569 Mt
(2024)

Energy Intensity

0.97 MJ/$
(2022)

Renewable Electricity

37.154%
(2021)

Environment

Forest Coverage

11.526% of land
(2023)

Communications

Internet Users

96.497%
(2023)

Mobile Penetration

110.798%
(2023)

Broadband Subscribers

31.891%
(2023)

Transportation

Air Transport Freight

430.494 M ton-km
(2023)

Container Port Traffic

1,154,803 TEU
(2022)

Airports

1,108,607

Rail Lines

1,650 km

Roads Total

103,524 km(©IRF)

Military

Military Forces

Irish Defence Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army (includes Army Reserve), Naval Service (includes Naval Service Reserves), Air Corps

Personnel Strength

the Irish Defence Forces have approximately 8,700 active duty personnel (7,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 700 Air Force)

Military Expenditure (USD)

$1.33B

Military Expenditure (% of GDP)

0.24%

Military Expenditure History

0.3% of GDP (2019) 0.3% of GDP (2018) 0.3% of GDP (2017) 0.3% of GDP (2016) 0.3% of GDP (2015)

Deployments

130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 340 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2020)

Equipment & Inventories

the Irish Defense Forces have a small inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of European countries, as well as South Africa and the US; the UK is the leading supplier of military...

Service Age & Obligation

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Defence Forces (18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-26 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 12-year service...

Education

Pre-Primary Enrollment

95.354%
(2020)

Primary Enrollment

99.62%
(2022)

Secondary Enrollment

133.15%
(2022)

Tertiary Enrollment

76.605%
(2022)

Education Spending

2.905% of GDP
(2021)

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

16.06:1
(2012)

Health

Physicians per 1,000

3.875
(2023)

Safe Water Access

97.098%
(2024)

Safe Drinking Water

96.125%
(2024)

Under-5 Mortality

3.8 per 1,000
(2023)

Maternal Mortality (World Bank)

23.901 per 100,000
(2021)

Hospital Beds per 1,000

79.866
(2021)

UHC Coverage Index

82
(2023)

Measles Immunization

92%
(2024)

Social Indicators

Extreme Poverty Rate

0.1%
(2023)

Food Insecurity

2.5%
(2023)

Youth NEET Rate

10.609%
(2024)

Governance

Women in Government

25.287%
(2024)

Voice & Accountability

1.48
(Strong)
(2023)

Political Stability

0.90
(Above Average)
(2023)

Government Effectiveness

1.59
(Strong)
(2023)

Regulatory Quality

1.75
(Strong)
(2023)

Rule of Law

1.63
(Strong)
(2023)

Control of Corruption

1.57
(Strong)
(2023)

Government

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Legal System

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

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál MARTIN (since 27 June 2020); note - MARTIN will serve through December...

Legislative Branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of:Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 43 members indirectly elected from 5 vocational panels of nominees by an electoral college consisting...

Judicial Branch

highest courts: 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...

International Organizations

ADB (nonregional member)Australia GroupBIS CD CEEAPCEBRDECB

National Symbols

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...

National Symbols

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

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...

Safety

Homicide Rate

0.654 per 100,000
(2023)

Travel Information

Language(s): English, Irish

Currency: EUR (€)

Timezone(s): UTC

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Driving Side: Left

Calling Code: +353

Car Sign: IRL

Week Starts: Monday

Photos

View along the "Ring of Kerry" drive, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry. The Ring is a 179 km (111 mi) tourist trail in southwestern Ireland that starts and ends in Killarney. Because the narrow roads make it difficult for tour busses to pass, all tour coaches travel in a counter clockwise direction. There is also a shorter bike/foot path.

Muckross Abbey was built in 1448 as a Franciscan Friary; its monks were driven out by Oliver Cromwell's army in 1652. The Abbey is close to Muckross House near Killarney in County Kerry.

Cruise ship at King's Wharf on North Ireland Island near the Royal Navy Dockyard.

A statue of Charles Stewart Parnell in upper O'Connell Street near Parnell Square. Parnell was a 19th-century member of Parliament and a champion of home rule for Ireland (he is often referred to as "the uncrowned King of Ireland").

Ross Castle, near Killarney, County Kerry, is a fully restored 14th-century stronghold; it was last place in the province of Munster to fall to Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1652.

Street view of Killarney, County Kerry. Killarney is one of the principal towns in the country and a center of tourism for the region. The sign over the street reads "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes" (Cead Mille Failte).

49 photos available

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Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data

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Ireland