Ireland

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

• population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin;
• populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities

noun:

Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

adjective:

Irish

total:

40.2 years (2024 est.)

male:

39.7 years

female:

40.6 years

• population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin;
• populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities

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.)

total:

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

82 years (2024 est.)

male:

80.3 years

female:

83.9 years

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.)

total:

20.8% (2020 est.)

male:

22.5% (2020 est.)

female:

19% (2020 est.)

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

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

urban population:

64.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

particulate matter emissions:

8.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

37.71 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

13.67 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

2,692,537 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

888,537 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

33% (2012 est.)

municipal:

990 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

520 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

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)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Ireland

local long form:

none

local short form:

Eire

etymology:

• the modern Irish name "Eire" evolved from the Gaelic "Eriu," the name of the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land);
• the names "Ireland" in English and "Eire" in Irish are direct translations of each other

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 Irish dubh and lind meaning respectively "black, dark" and "pool" and which referred to the dark tidal pool where the River Poddle entered the River Liffey;
• today the area is the site of the castle gardens behind Dublin Castle

• 6 December 1921 (from the UK by the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended British rule);
• 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established);
• 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)

• 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);
• although Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated in Ireland as early as the ninth century, it only became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903

history:

previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937

amendments:

• 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;
• amended many times, last in 2019

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

chief of state:

President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)

head of government:

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon HARRIS resigned on 18 December 2024 but remains in Caretaker status until a new prime minister is appointed (since 9 April 2024)

cabinet:

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 26 October 2018 (next to be held no later than November 2025);
• taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president

election results:

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%

;

• 2011: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president in second round;
• percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (Labor) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) 13.7%, Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David Norris (independent) 6.2%, Mary DAVIS (independent) 2.7%;
• percent of vote in second round - Michael D. HIGGINS 56.8%, Sean GALLAGHER 35.5%

note: Taoiseach Leo VARADKAR resigned from the ruling party on 20 March 2024 but remained as the caretaker taoiseach until a successor was appointed on 9 April 2024

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

• Aontu
• Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S
• Fianna Fail
• Fine Gael
• Green Party
• Human Dignity Alliance
• Independent Ireland
• Labor (Labour) Party
• Right to Change or RTC
• Sinn Fein
• Social Democrats
• Socialist Party
• The Workers' Party

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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Claire D. CRONIN (since 10 February 2022)

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/

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 song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team

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

• strong, export-based EU economy;
• multinational-business-friendly environment known for resilience, even amid COVID-19 disruptions;
• real wage growth beyond other OECD members;
• high livings standards;
• strong social equity and cohesion;
• aging labor force

Fitch rating:

A+ (2017)

Moody's rating:

A2 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

total:

10.5% (2023 est.)

male:

10.5% (2023 est.)

female:

10.6% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

8.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.6% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

24.8% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

1.322 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

96,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

1.335 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

40 million metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

600 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

156,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

production:

1.447 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption:

5.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

3.836 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

general assessment:

• Ireland’s telecom market has rebounded from a long period in which fiscal constraints inhibited investment in the sector;
• significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the NBN which aims to deliver a fiber-based service of at least 150Mb/s nationally by the end of 2022;
• the renewed optimism has been seen in company investment in extending fiber-based networks providing 1Gb/s services;
• the mobile sector is preparing for a multi-frequency availability later in 2021 which will greatly increase the amount of frequencies available, and provide a boost for 5G services;
• the MNOs are rapidly expanding the reach of 5G (2021)

domestic:

fixed-line 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 108 per 100 subscriptions. (2021)

international:

• country code - 353;
• landing point for the AEConnect -1, Celtic-Norse, Havfrue/AEC-2, GTT Express, Celtic, ESAT-1, IFC-1, Solas, Pan European Crossing, ESAT-2, CeltixConnect -1 & 2, GTT Atlantic, Sirius South, Emerald Bridge Fibres and Geo Eirgrid submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, Norway, Isle of Man and UK;
• satellite earth stations - 81 (2019)

• publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 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 (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

9 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 450

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

1.676 million (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

168.71 million (2018) mt-km

total ports:

21 (2024)

large:

1

medium:

3

small:

3

very small:

14

ports with oil terminals:

8

key ports:

Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes

• Continuity Irish Republican Army;
• New Irish Republican Army;
• 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