factbook.json/europe/ei.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<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>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "53 00 N, 8 00 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "70,273 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "68,883 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "1,390 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than West Virginia"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "490 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "UK 499 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,448 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Carrauntoohil 1,041 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "118 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "60.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "11.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "27.3% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2022)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "rare extreme weather events"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "5,233,461 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "2,590,542"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2,642,919"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Irish"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "52.6 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "28.5 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "24.1 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.1 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "40.5 years (2025 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "39.7 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40.6 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.8% (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "64.5% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.98 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.89 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "30.9 years (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "3.2 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "82 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "80.3 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "83.9 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.83 (2025 est.)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 97% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 4% of population (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Health expenditure": {
      "Health expenditure (as % of GDP)": {
        "text": "6.1% of GDP (2022)"
      },
      "Health expenditure (as % of national budget)": {
        "text": "22.3% of national budget (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "25.3% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16.8% (2025 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19.2% (2025 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "14.4% (2025 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "47.1% (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditure": {
      "Education expenditure (% GDP)": {
        "text": "2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Education expenditure (% national budget)": {
        "text": "12.3% national budget (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19 years (2022 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19 years (2022 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20 years (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environmental issues": {
      "text": "water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain"
    },
    "International environmental agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "60.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "11.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "27.3% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "64.5% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Particulate matter emissions": {
      "text": "7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "2.911 million tons (2024 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "42.4% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Geoparks": {
      "total global geoparks and regional networks": {
        "text": "3"
      },
      "global geoparks and regional networks": {
        "text": "Burren &amp; Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Ireland"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Eire"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the Irish name Eire evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic <em>iveriu</em>, meaning \"good land;\" the English name, Ireland, is a direct translation"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Dublin"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "53 19 N, 6 14 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "derived from the Irish words <em>dubh</em> (black or dark) and <em>linn</em> (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937"
      },
      "amendment process": {
        "text": "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"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "4 of the previous 8 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)"
      },
      "election/appointment process": {
        "text": "president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "26 October 2018"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>2025: </em>Michael MARTIN is elected taoiseach by parliament, 95 votes to 76, and is appointed taoiseach by the president<br><em><br>2024: </em>Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president<em><br><br>2018:</em> 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%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "no later than November 2025"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parliament (Oireachtas)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "174 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Fianna Fáil (48); Sinn Féin (39); Fine Gael (38); Social Democratic Party (11); Labour Party (11); Independents (16); Other (11)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "25.3%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "November 2029"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed)"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "11/29/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Fianna Fail (19); Fine Gael (18); Sinn Fein (6); Independents (12); other (5)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "45%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "January 2030"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 462-3939"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 232-5993"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5290"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[353] (1) 668-8777"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[353] (1) 688-8056"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ACSDublin@state.gov<br><br>https://ie.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March",
      "note": "<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"
    },
    "Flag": {
      "text": "<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",
      "note": "<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"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "harp, shamrock (trefoil)"
    },
    "National color(s)": {
      "text": "blue, green"
    },
    "National coat of arms": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "National anthem(s)": {
      "title": {
        "text": "\"Amhran na bhFiann\" (The Soldier's Song)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY"
      },
      "history": {
        "text": "adopted 1926; the song \"Ireland's Call\" is often used as the anthem at athletic events if citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland are competing as a unified team"
      }
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "2 (both cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<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>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024": {
        "text": "$620.544 billion (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$613.056 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$648.943 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2024": {
        "text": "1.2% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "-5.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "8.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2024": {
        "text": "$115,300 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$115,500 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$124,500 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$577.389 billion (2024 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": {
        "text": "2.1% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "6.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "7.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.1% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "30.8% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "61.8% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "26.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "12.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "23.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "3.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "135.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-102.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-4.9% (2024 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "2.857 million (2024 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2024": {
        "text": "4.4% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "4.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "4.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11.1% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11.2% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "11% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "14% (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022": {
        "text": "29.9 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Average household expenditures": {
      "on food": {
        "text": "8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      },
      "on alcohol and tobacco": {
        "text": "4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "24.5% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "0% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$118.231 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$108.693 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2022": {
        "text": "45.4% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "$44.744 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "$48.427 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$65.118 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$761.876 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$763.233 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$722.655 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$580.399 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$536.882 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$500.334 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": {
        "text": "$12.698 billion (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$12.905 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$13.039 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2024": {
        "text": "0.924 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "0.925 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "0.95 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "0.845 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.876 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "12.321 million kW (2023 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "441.615 million kWh (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "76,000 metric tons (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "40 million metric tons (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "600 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": {
        "text": "113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.176 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "23 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "5.76 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "113 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".ie"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "97% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.65 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "32 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "EI"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "100 (2025)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "10 (2025)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "94 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "21 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "3"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "3"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "14"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "8"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025)",
      "note": "<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"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2024": {
        "text": "0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026)",
      "note": "<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"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "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)"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
      "note": "<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"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees": {
        "text": "156,441 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "48 (2024 est.)"
      }
    }
  }
}