Ireland

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<p>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.</p> <p>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.<br><br>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. <br><br>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.</p>

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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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53 00 N, 8 00 W

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Europe

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slightly larger than West Virginia

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1,448 km

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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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mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

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natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

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0 sq km (2022)

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

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rare extreme weather events

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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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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.)

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English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)

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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.)

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0.8% (2025 est.)

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10.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)

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30.9 years (2020 est.)

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4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.83 (2025 est.)

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3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

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25.3% (2016)

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47.1% (2022 est.)

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water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain

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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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7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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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

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common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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Aontu <br>Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S <br>Fianna Fail <br>Fine Gael <br>Green Party <br>Human Dignity Alliance<br>Independent Ireland <br>Labor (Labour) Party<br>100% Redress <br>Right to Change or RTC<br>Sinn Fein <br>Social Democrats <br>Socialist Party<br>The Workers' Party

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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

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6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)

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Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

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<strong>note:</strong> 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); Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated as early as the ninth century, but it only became an official public holiday in 1903

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the flag colors have no official meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green stands for the Irish nationalist tradition, orange for the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white for peace or a lasting truce between the green and the orange

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<strong>note:</strong> similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has red instead of orange

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harp, shamrock (trefoil)

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blue, green

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the coat of arms features a gold harp on a blue shield and dates back to the 13th century, although it only became official in 1945; the harp, a national symbol that Ireland adopted after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, represents the country’s history, culture, and national identity

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<p>high-income, export-oriented EU economy; large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks; high living standards; strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$577.389 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices

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-4.9% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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2.857 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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14% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

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16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households use 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; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)

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.ie

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EI

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100 (2025)

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10 (2025)

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Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice

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approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025)

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the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025)

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18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> as of 2025, women made up about 7.5% of the military's full-time personnel<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

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330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025)

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the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible for external defense, assisting civil authorities upon request, participating in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and providing for maritime security; the IDF traces its 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)<br><br>Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, 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 (2025)

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Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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