Ireland
parliamentary republicIndependence 6 December 1921 (from the UK)
Ireland as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 147 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland between 600 and 150 B.C. Norse invasions that began in the late 8th century finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century caused an almost 25-percent decline in the island's population through starvation, disease, and emigration. The population of the island continued to fall until the 1960s, but over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU.
The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment. The ensuing guerrilla war led to independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland, in part because it helped solidify the country's partition, with six of the 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland.
The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland declared itself a republic in 1949 and formally left the British Dominion.
Beginning in the 1960s, deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the Troubles. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments.
Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth that came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. As a small, open economy, Ireland has excelled at courting foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals, which has helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geography
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
17 fieldsLand useshare of 70,273 sq km
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
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
Population distribution
- population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin;
- populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes
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
People and Society
33 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female(2022 est.)
Ethnic groups(2022 est.)
Religions(2022 est.)
Languages
English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)
Population distribution
- population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin;
- populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.89 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Environment
11 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Climate
- temperate maritime;
- modified by North Atlantic Current;
- mild winters, cool summers;
- consistently humid;
- overcast about half the time
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 64.5% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 2.911 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 42.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks
- total global geoparks and regional networks:
- 3
- global geoparks and regional networks:
- Burren & Cliffs of Moher;
- Copper Coast;
- Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025); Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)
26 fieldsPresidential election, first roundpercent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Ireland
- local long form:
- none
- local short form:
- Eire
- etymology:
- the Irish name Eire evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu , meaning "good land;" the English name, Ireland, is a direct translation
Capital
- 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
- etymology:
- derived from the Irish words dubh (black or dark) and linn (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River
Administrative divisions
28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Legal system
common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937
- amendment process:
- proposed as bills by Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidential signature
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child
- citizenship by descent only:
- yes
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 4 of the previous 8 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)
- head of government:
- Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)
- election/appointment process:
- president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term);
- taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president
- most recent election date:
- 26 October 2018
- election results:
- 2025: Michael MARTIN is elected taoiseach by parliament, 95 votes to 76, and is appointed taoiseach by the president; 2024: Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president;
- 2018: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president in first round;
- percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (independent) 55.8%, Peter CASEY (independent) 23.3%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 6.4%, Liadh NI RIADA (Sinn Fein) 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN (independent) 6%, Gavin DUFFY (independent) 2.2%
- expected date of next election:
- no later than November 2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name:
- House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann)
- number of seats:
- 174 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- proportional representation
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Fianna Fáil (48);
- Sinn Féin (39);
- Fine Gael (38);
- Social Democratic Party (11);
- Labour Party (11);
- Independents (16);
- Other (11)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 25.3%
- expected date of next election:
- November 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name:
- Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate)
- number of seats:
- 60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed)
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 11/29/2024
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Fianna Fail (19);
- Fine Gael (18);
- Sinn Fein (6);
- Independents (12);
- other (5)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 45%
- expected date of next election:
- January 2030
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- 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 panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law)
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president;
- chief justice serves in the position for 7 years;
- judges can serve until age 70
- subordinate courts:
- High Court, Court of Appeal;
- circuit and district courts;
- criminal courts
Political parties
- Aontu
- Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S
- Fianna Fail
- Fine Gael
- Green Party
- Human Dignity Alliance
- Independent Ireland
- Labor (Labour) Party
- 100% Redress
- Right to Change or RTC
- Sinn Fein
- Social Democrats
- Socialist Party
- The Workers' Party
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022)
- chancery:
- 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 462-3939
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 232-5993
- email address and website:
- https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/
- consulate(s) general:
- Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025)
- embassy:
- 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
- mailing address:
- 5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC 20521-5290
- telephone:
- [353] (1) 668-8777
- FAX:
- [353] (1) 688-8056
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://ie.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence
- 6 December 1921 (from the UK);
- 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established);
- 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)
National holiday
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
note: marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493);
Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated as early as the ninth century, but it only became an official public holiday in 1903
Flag
- description:
- three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange
- meaning:
- the flag colors have no official meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green stands for the Irish nationalist tradition, orange for the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white for peace or a lasting truce between the green and the orange
note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has red instead of orange
National coat of arms
- the coat of arms features a gold harp on a blue shield and dates back to the 13 th century, although it only became official in 1945;
- the harp, a national symbol that Ireland adopted after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, represents the country’s history, culture, and national identity
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song)
- lyrics/music:
- Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
- history:
- adopted 1926; the song "Ireland's Call" is often used as the anthem at athletic events if citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland are competing as a unified team
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 2 (both cultural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl
Economy
31 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2023 est.)
Budget(2022 est.)
Economic overview
- high-income, export-oriented EU economy;
- large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks;
- high living standards;
- strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 1.1% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 30.8% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 61.8% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
Labor force
2.857 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
4.4% (2024 est.) · 4.3% (2023 est.) · 4.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 11.1% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 11.2% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 11% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
14% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
29.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Average household expenditures
- on food:
- 8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- on alcohol and tobacco:
- 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) · 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) · 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
$44.744 billion (2023 est.) · $48.427 billion (2022 est.) · $65.118 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$761.876 billion (2023 est.) · $763.233 billion (2022 est.) · $722.655 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$580.399 billion (2023 est.) · $536.882 billion (2022 est.) · $500.334 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$12.698 billion (2024 est.) · $12.905 billion (2023 est.) · $13.039 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) · 0.925 (2023 est.) · 0.95 (2022 est.) · 0.845 (2021 est.) · 0.876 (2020 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 12.321 million kW(2023 est.)
Coal
- consumption:
- 1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- exports:
- 76,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 40 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 600 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023 est.)
Broadcast media
- publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations;
- commercial TV stations are available;
- about 75% of households use 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;
- a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 94 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2023)
Ports
- total ports:
- 21 (2024)
- large:
- 1
- medium:
- 3
- small:
- 3
- very small:
- 14
- ports with oil terminals:
- 8
- key ports:
- Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes
Military and Security
7 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025) note: An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026) note 1: as of 2025, women made up about 7.5% of the military's full-time personnel note 2: the Defense Forces are open to refugees under the Refugee Act of 1996 and nationals of the European Economic Area, which include EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway
Military deployments
330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025)
Military - note
the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible for external defense, assisting civil authorities upon request, participating in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and providing for maritime security; the IDF traces its origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit established in 1913 which took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921)
Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO but has a relationship with it going back to 1997, when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; it has been active in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s (2025)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA);
- Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA);
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
1 fieldRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees:
- 156,441 (2024 est.)
- stateless persons:
- 48 (2024 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Ireland.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/ireland.