PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Ireland
Geography
Area: 70,282 sq. km. (27,136 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West
Virginia.
Terrain: Arable 10%, meadows and pastures 77%, rough grazing in
use 11%, inland water 2%.
Climate: Temperate maritime.
People
Nationality: Noun--Irishman, Irishwoman. Adjective--Irish.
Population: 4,234,935 (2006 est.).
Cities: Capital--Dublin (pop. 505,739). Other cities--Cork
(119,143), Galway (71,983), Limerick (52,560), Waterford,
(45,775).
Population breakdown 0-14 years (21%), 15-24 years (15%), 25-34
years (17%), 35-44 years (14%), 45-54 years (12%), 55-64 years
(10%), 65 years and over (11%)
Population growth rate: 1.53 (2004).
Ethnic groups: Irish, with English minority.
Religions: Roman Catholic 88.4%; Church of Ireland 2.9%;
Presbyterian 0.52%; Methodist 0.25%; Muslim 0.49%; Jewish 0.1%;
other 4%.
Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).
Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Enrollment rates:
first (primary) level 449,508, second (high school and
vocational) level 335,162, third (university and college) level
133,691. Literacy--98%-99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--4.9/1,000. Life
expectancy at birth--male 75.1 yrs., female 80.3 yrs.
Work force: Services--66%; industry--28%;
agriculture--6%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: December 6, 1921.
Constitution: December 29, 1937.
Branches: Executive--president, chief of state; prime
minister (Taoiseach--pronounced "TEE-shuck"), head of
government. Legislative--bicameral national Parliament (Oireachtas--pronounced
"o-ROCK-tas"): House of Representatives (Dail--pronounced "DOIL")
and Senate (Seanad--pronounced "SHAN-ad"). Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 counties, 34 local authorities.
Major political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labor,
Progressive Democrats, Green Party, Sinn Fein.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2005): $160.3 billion.
Real GDP growth (2005): 4.7%.
Nominal GDP per capita (2005): $38,812.
Natural resources: Zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper,
gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat.
Agriculture (3% of GDP): Products--cattle, meat, and
dairy products; potatoes; barley; sugarbeets; hay; silage;
wheat.
Industry (32% of GDP): Types--food processing, beverages,
engineering, computer equipment, textiles and clothing,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction.
Trade (2005): Exports--$89 billion (excluding services):
machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food, live animals,
manufactured materials, beverages. Imports--$57.4 billion
(excluding services): grains, petroleum products, machinery,
transport equipment, chemicals, textile yarns. Major
suppliers-Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31%, U.S. 11%,
Germany 8%, China 7%, Japan 4%, France 3%, rest of the world
(including other EU Member States) 36%.
PEOPLE AND HISTORY
The Irish people are mainly of Celtic origin, with the country's
only significant sized minority having descended from the
Anglo-Normans. English is the common language, but Irish
(Gaelic) is also an official language and is taught in schools.
