Introduction
Background
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.
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Geography
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total: 490 km
border countries: UK 499 km
Coastline
1,448 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 118 m
Natural resources
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use
agricultural land: 66.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 10.9% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
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
Natural hazards
rare extreme weather events
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
Population
total: 5,233,461
male: 2,590,542
female: 2,642,919 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 123; male 124; total 124
Nationality
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups
Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6% (2022 est.)
Languages
English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)
Religions
Roman Catholic 69.2% (includes lapsed), Protestant 3.7% (Church of Ireland/England/Anglican/Episcopalian 2.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), Orthodox 2%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 1.6%, other 1.4%, agnostic/atheist 0.1%, none 14.5%, unspecified 6.7% (2022 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)
65 years and over: 15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 53.2
youth dependency ratio: 30.5
elderly dependency ratio: 22.7
potential support ratio: 4.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 40.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 39.7 years
female: 40.6 years
comparison ranking: total 60
Population distribution
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
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)
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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
30.9 years (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
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
comparison ranking: total 198
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82 years (2024 est.)
male: 80.3 years
female: 83.9 years
comparison ranking: total population 36
Gross reproduction rate
0.84 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 97% of population
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 97.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 3% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 2.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
7.1% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
3.49 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 97.8% of population
rural: 99.1% of population
total: 98.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population
rural: 0.9% of population
total: 1.7% of population (2020 est.)
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.)
comparison ranking: total 15
Tobacco use
total: 20.8% (2020 est.)
male: 22.5% (2020 est.)
female: 19% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 81
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.1% (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 19 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; acid rain kills plants, destroys soil fertility, and contributes to deforestation
Environment - international 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
Land use
agricultural land: 66.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 10.9% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
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.)
Waste and recycling
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.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 990 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 520 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
52 billion cubic meters (2020 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
Country name
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
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 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
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
Independence
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)
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); 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
Legal system
common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court
Constitution
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
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)
head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon HARRIS (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
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of:
Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members indirectly elected from 5 vocational panels of nominees by an electoral college, 11 appointed by the prime minister
House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (160 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; all Parliament members serve 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held early on 21-30 May 2020 (next to be held in March 2025)
House of Representatives - last held on 8 February 2020 (next to be held no later than March 2025)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 35%, Fine Gael 26.7%, Green Party 6.7%, Labor Party 6.7%, Sinn Fein 6.7%, other 1.6%, independent 16.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 21, Fine Gael 16, Green Party 4, Labor Party 4, Sinn Fein 4, other 1, independent 10; composition - men 36, women 24, percentage women 40%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 23.8%, Sinn Fein 23.1%, Fine Gael 21.9%, Green Party 7.5%, other 11.8%, independent 11.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, Green Party 12, Labor Party 6, Social Democrats 6, PBPS 5, other 2, independent 19; composition - men 123, women 37, percentage women 23.1%; total Parliament percentage women 27.7%
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 PBPS
Fianna Fail
Fine Gael
Green Party
Human Dignity Alliance
Labor (Labour) Party
Right to Change or RTC
Sinn Fein
Social Democrats
Socialist Party
The Workers' Party
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
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 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:
ACSDublin@state.gov
https://ie.usembassy.gov/
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 (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white symbolizes 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 - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
National symbol(s)
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 song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete 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
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$608.463 billion (2023 est.)
$628.57 billion (2022 est.)
$574.387 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 42
Real GDP growth rate
-3.2% (2023 est.)
9.43% (2022 est.)
15.13% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 211
Real GDP per capita
$115,600 (2023 est.)
$122,600 (2022 est.)
$114,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 4
GDP (official exchange rate)
$545.629 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.3% (2023 est.)
7.83% (2022 est.)
2.34% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 133
Credit ratings
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.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
industry: 37.6% (2023 est.)
services: 56.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 109; industry 37; agriculture 186
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 27% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 12.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 3.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 134.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -100.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, barley, wheat, beef, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, lamb/mutton (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
Industrial production growth rate
-10.79% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 211
Labor force
2.766 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 116
Unemployment rate
4.34% (2023 est.)
4.48% (2022 est.)
6.19% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 85
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.5% (2023 est.)
male: 10.5% (2023 est.)
female: 10.6% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 131
Population below poverty line
14% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
30.1 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 122
Average household expenditures
on food: 8.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.6% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.08% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.08% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $99.784 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $97.713 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
46.71% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 117
Taxes and other revenues
17.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 112
Current account balance
$53.997 billion (2023 est.)
$57.807 billion (2022 est.)
$70.909 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 10
Exports
$731.814 billion (2023 est.)
$729.135 billion (2022 est.)
$685.814 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 12
Exports - partners
US 30%, Germany 12%, UK 8%, Belgium 7%, China 7% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, scented mixtures (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$548.827 billion (2023 est.)
$516.084 billion (2022 est.)
$479.284 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 17
Imports - partners
UK 26%, US 16%, Germany 9%, China 6%, Netherlands 6% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
aircraft, nitrogen compounds, refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$12.905 billion (2023 est.)
$13.039 billion (2022 est.)
$13.247 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 96
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 11.53 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 30.736 billion kWh (2022 est.)
exports: 1.342 billion kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 1.552 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.455 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 131; imports 65; exports 64; consumption 66; installed generating capacity 62
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 58.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 35.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
biomass and waste: 4.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
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.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 600 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 156,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
35.957 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.973 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 22.441 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 10.543 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 68
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.498 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 60
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 5.69 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 121
Telecommunication systems
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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet users
total: 4.75 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 95% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 101
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,516,473 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 65
Transportation
National air transport system
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
Heliports
5 (2024)
Pipelines
2,427 km gas (2017)
Merchant marine
total: 94 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49
comparison ranking: total 93
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
Military and security forces
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2024)
note: An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice
Military expenditures
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2022)
0.3% of GDP (2021)
0.3% of GDP (2020)
0.3% of GDP (2019)
comparison ranking: 165
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 8,000 active-duty personnel (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Irish Defense Forces have a small inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries, particularly the UK (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; 12-year service (5 active, 7 reserves) (2024)
note 1: as of 2024, 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
130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 325 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)
Military - note
Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, it participates in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, as well as crisis management; 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
the Irish Defense Forces trace their 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) (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): 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
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 105,210 (Ukraine) (as of 8 March 2024)
stateless persons: 7 (2022)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern