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National Map
Of |
Ireland |
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National Flag
Of |
Ireland |
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Flag Description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; 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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Ireland |
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National Anthem
Of |
Ireland |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Ireland |
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Background:
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Celtic
tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C.
Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century
were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the
Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th
century and set off more than seven centuries of
Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and
harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion
touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in
1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26
southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties
remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland
withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the
European Community in 1973. Irish governments have
sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have
cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good
Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being
implemented with some difficulties. |
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Location:
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Western
Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland
in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain |
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Geographic coordinates:
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53 00 N,
8 00 W |
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total:
70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than West Virginia |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
360 km
border countries: UK 360 km |
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Coastline:
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1,448 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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temperate
maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast
about half the time |
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Terrain:
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mostly
level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged
hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m |
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Natural resources:
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natural
gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum,
limestone, dolomite |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 15.2%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 84.77% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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water
pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life
Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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4,015,676
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female
1,354,148)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 203,614/female
258,873) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
33.7 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.16%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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14.47
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.85
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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4.93
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
5.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 77.56 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 80.34 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.87
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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2,800
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective
plural)
adjective: Irish |
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Ethnic groups:
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Celtic,
English |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian
1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002
census) |
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Languages:
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English
(official) is the language generally used, Irish
(official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas
located along the western seaboard |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Dublin
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Administrative divisions:
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26
counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin,
Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan,
Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford,
Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of
Ulster Province |
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Independence:
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6
December 1921 (from UK by treaty) |
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National holiday:
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Saint
Patrick's Day, 17 March |
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Constitution:
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adopted 1
July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937 |
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Legal system:
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based on
English common law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN
(since 26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with
previous nomination by the prime minister and approval
of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE
appointed to a second term when no other candidate
qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime
minister nominated by the House of Representatives and
appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected
president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary
BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the
Progressive Democrats |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or
Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the
universities and from candidates put forward by five
vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime
minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House
of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members
are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002
(next to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives
- last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael
15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents
and others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor
Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%,
Green Party 3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna
Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive
Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice
of the prime minister and cabinet) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Fianna
Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party
[Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive
Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS];
Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean
GARLAND] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Australia
Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York,
and San Francisco |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador James C. KENNY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; 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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Ireland
is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth
averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once
the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry
and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about
80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although
exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth,
the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer
spending, construction, and business investment. Per
capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European
economies and the second highest in the EU behind
Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government
has implemented a series of national economic programs
designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce
government spending, increase labor force skills, and
promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in
circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11
other EU nations. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$126.4
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.1%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.92
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 63% (2002 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.3%
(2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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10% (1997
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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35.9
(1987) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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23.8% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $62.51 billion
expenditures: $63.52 billion, including capital
expenditures of $5.5 billion (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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31.2% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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turnips,
barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy
products |
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Industries:
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steel,
lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining
processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing;
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail
transportation equipment, passenger and commercial
vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and
crystal; software, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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7% (2004
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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22.88
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 95.9%
hydro: 2.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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21.78
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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100
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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600
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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174,400
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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27,450
bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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178,600
bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1
January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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815
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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4.199
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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3.384
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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9.911
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$-2.881
billion (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$103.8
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
live animals, animal products |
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Exports - partners:
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US 19.7%,
UK 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7.7%, France 6%,
Netherlands 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$60.65
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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data
processing equipment, other machinery and equipment,
chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles,
clothing |
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Imports - partners:
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UK 35.6%,
US 13.8%, Germany 8.9%, Netherlands 4.3%, France 4.2%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$4.152
billion (2003) |
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Debt - external:
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$11
billion (1998) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $283
million (2001) |
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Currency (code):
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euro
(EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary
Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be
used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1
January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for
everyday transactions within the member countries |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per
US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),
1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1.955
million (2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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3.4
million (2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern digital system using
cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 9, FM
106, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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2.55
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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4 (many
low-power repeaters) (2001) |
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Televisions:
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1.82
million (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.ie |
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Internet hosts:
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162,228
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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22 (2000)
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Internet users:
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1.26
million (2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by
the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations
and briquetting plants) (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
95,736 km
paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002) |
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Waterways:
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753 km
(pleasure craft only) (2004) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,795
km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Cork,
Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
39
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical
tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll
off 2
foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1,
Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 18 (2005) |
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Airports:
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36 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army
(includes Naval Service and Air Corps) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years
of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under
the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 977,092 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 814,768 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
29,327 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$700
million (FY00/01) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9%
(FY00/01) |
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Disputes - international:
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Ireland,
Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the
Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from
North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of
European-produced synthetic drugs; 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 |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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