area 70,282 sq km - 27,146 sq miles

Capital Dublin towns and cities Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway physical Central plateau surrounded by hills; rivers Shannon, Liffey, Boyne
Environment Large reserves of peat rapidly being depleted features Bog of Allen, source of domestic and national power; Macgillicuddy's Reeks, Wicklow Mountains; Lough Corrib, lakes of Killarney; Galway Bay and Aran Islands


Head of State President
Head of Government Prime Minister
Political system Democratic republic
Political parties Fianna Fail (Soldiers of Destiny), moderate centre-right; Fine Gael (Irish Tribe or United Ireland Party), moderate centre-left; Labour Party, moderate left of centre; Progressive Democrats, radical free-enterprise
Exports Livestock, dairy products, Irish whiskey, microelectronic components and assemblies, mining and engineering products, chemicals, clothing

  • Military
    Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)
    Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
    Military manpower - availability:
    Males age 15-49: 959,807 (1997 est.)
    Military manpower - fit for military service:
    males: 778,234 (1997 est.)
    Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
    Males: 36,560 (1997 est.)
    Military expenditures - dollar figure: $618 million (1994)
    Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.3% (1994)
  • Currency Euro
    Population (1993 est) 3,600,000; growth rate 0.4% p.a.
    Life expectancy Men 73, women 78
    Language Irish Gaelic and English (both official)
    Religion Roman Catholic 95%, Church of Ireland, other Protestant denominations
    Lliteracy 99%
    GNP $10,780 per head (1991)
  • Communications
    Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)
    Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
    domestic: microwave radio relay
    international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
    Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
    Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)
    Television broadcast stations: 86 (1987 est.)
    Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)

 

Ireland