factbook.json/europe/ei.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600 and 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. 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 saw the population of the island drop by one third through starvation and emigration. For more than a century after that the population of the island continued to fall only to begin growing again in the 1960s. Over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that touched off several years of guerrilla warfare resulting in independence from the UK in 1921 for 26 southern counties; six northern counties remained part of the UK. Unresolved issues in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the \"Troubles\" that began in the 1960s. The Government of Ireland was part of a process along with the UK and US Governments that helped broker what is known as The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. This initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth, which came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. Today the economy is recovering, fueled by large and growing foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals."
    }
  },
  "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",
      "Area comparison map": {
        "text": null
      }
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "443 km"
      },
      "border countries (1)": {
        "text": "UK 443 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 extremes": {
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Carrauntoohil 1,041 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "66.1% ++ arable land 15.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 50.7%"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "10.9%"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "23% (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "11 sq km (2003)"
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "52 cu km (2011)"
    },
    "Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0.79  cu km/yr (94%/6%/0%)"
      },
      "per capita": {
        "text": "226.9  cu m/yr (2007)"
      }
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation"
      }
    },
    "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": {
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Irish"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Irish 84.5%, other white 9.8%, Asian 1.9%, black 1.4%, mixed and other 0.9%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 38.7% of the population as a first or second language in 2011; mainly spoken in areas along the western coast)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic 84.7%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 2.7%, Muslim 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 1.5%, none 5.7% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Population": {
      "text": "4,892,305 (July 2015 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "21.5% (male 537,239/female 514,369)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "11.84% (male 294,771/female 284,710)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "43.82% (male 1,076,579/female 1,067,193)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "10.23% (male 250,926/female 249,453)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "12.61% (male 284,399/female 332,666) (2015 est.)"
      },
      "population pyramid": {
        "text": null
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "53.7%"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "33.5%"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "20.2%"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "5% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "36.1 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "35.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "36.4 years (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "1.25% (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "14.84 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "4.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "63.2% of total population (2015)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.58% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "DUBLIN (capital) 1.169 million (2015)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.86 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.7 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4.07 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "80.68 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "78.39 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "83.11 years (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.99 children born/woman (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "64.8%",
      "note": {
        "text": "percent of women aged 18-49 (2004/05)"
      }
    },
    "Health expenditures": {
      "text": "8.9% of GDP (2013)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "2.67 physicians/1,000 population (2013)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 97.9% of population ++ rural: 97.8% of population ++ total: 97.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 2.1% of population ++ rural: 2.2% of population ++ total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 89.1% of population ++ rural: 92.9% of population ++ total: 90.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 10.9% of population ++ rural: 7.1% of population ++ total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "0.28% (2014 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "8,000 (2014 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "100 (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "27% (2014)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "6.2% of GDP (2011)"
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "18 years (2012)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "36.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "24% (2012 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Ireland"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Eire"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "republic, parliamentary democracy"
    },
    "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"
      }
    },
    "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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "text": "previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the lower house of Parliament"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS (Labor Party) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS (Sinn Fein) 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David NORRIS (independent) 6.2%, other 5.6%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 43 members indirectly elected by panels of various vocational interests, 11 appointed by the prime minister, and 6 elected by graduates of the University of Dublin and the National University of Ireland; members serve 5-year terms) and the Parliament or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Labor Party 12, Sinn Fein 3, independent 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 36.1%, Labor Party 19.5%, Fianna Fail 17.5%, Sinn Fein 9.9%, United Left Alliance 2.6%, independent and other 14.4%; seats by party - Fine Gael 76, Labor Party 37, Fianna Fail 20, Sinn Fein 14, United Left Alliance 5, independent 14"
      }
    },
    "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 posiiton 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 and leaders": {
      "text": "Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN] ++ Fine Gael [Enda KENNY] ++ Green Party [Eamon RYAN] ++ Labor (Labour) Party [Joan BURTON] ++ Renua Ireland [Lucinda CREIGHTON] ++ Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS] ++ Socialist Party [Collective Leadership] ++ The Workers' Party [Michael DONNELLY]"
    },
    "Political pressure groups and leaders": {
      "text": "Continuity IRA (terrorist group) ++ Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); ++ Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank) ++ Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard BOYD BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world) ++ Keep Ireland Open (environmental group) ++ Oglaigh na hEireann (terrorist group) ++ Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters) ++ New Irish Republican Army (terrorist group combining elements of the former Real IRA and Republican Action Against Drugs) ++ Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality) ++ Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters) ++ 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports unifying Northern Ireland with the rest of the island under Irish government sovereignty)"
    },
    "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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Anne Colette ANDERSON (since 28 August 2013)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 462-3939"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 232-5993"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Kevin F. O'MALLEY (since 8 October 2014)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "use embassy street address"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[353] (1) 668-8777"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[353] (1) 668-9946"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange",
      "note": {
        "text": "similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red"
      }
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "harp, shamrock (trefoil); national colors: blue, green"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Amhran na bhFiann\" (The Soldier's Song)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "adopted 1926; instead of \"Amhran na bhFiann,\" the song \"Ireland's Call\" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economy - overview": {
      "text": "Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity dropped sharply during the world financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of its domestic property market and construction industry. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit from efforts to stabilize its fragile banking sector, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. These measures were not sufficient to stabilize Ireland’s public finances. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP. In late 2010, the former COWEN government agreed to a $92 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize Ireland’s banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. In March 2011, the KENNY government intensified austerity measures to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF bailout program. In late 2013, Ireland formally exited its EU-IMF bailout program, benefiting from its strict adherence to deficit-reduction targets and success in refinancing a large amount of banking-related debt. In 2014, the economy rapidly picked up and GDP  grew by 3.6%. The recovering economy assisted lowering the deficit to 4.2% of GDP. In late 2014, the government introduced a fiscally neutral budget, marking the end of the austerity program. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become an even more important component of Ireland's economy. Ireland’s low corporation tax of 12.5% has been central to encouraging business investment. Loose tax residency requirements made Ireland a common destination for international firms seeking to avoid taxation. Amid growing international pressure the government announced it would phase in more stringent tax laws, effectively closing a loophole."
    },
    "GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "text": "$226.8 billion (2014 est.) ++ $216.4 billion (2013 est.) ++ $216 billion (2012 est.)",
      "note": {
        "text": "data are in 2014 US dollars"
      }
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$246.4 billion (2014 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - real growth rate": {
      "text": "4.8% (2014 est.) ++ 0.2% (2013 est.) ++ -0.3% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - per capita (PPP)": {
      "text": "$49,200 (2014 est.) ++ $46,900 (2013 est.) ++ $46,900 (2012 est.)",
      "note": {
        "text": "data are in 2014 US dollars"
      }
    },
    "Gross national saving": {
      "text": "23.6% of GDP (2014 est.) ++ 20% of GDP (2013 est.) ++ 17.3% of GDP (2012 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "46.5%"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "14.4%"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "15.3%"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.3%"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "106.6%"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-83.1% ++  (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.6%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "27%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "71.4% (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agriculture - products": {
      "text": "barley, potatoes, wheat; beef, dairy products"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4% (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "2.174 million (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "5%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "19%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "76% (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "text": "11.3% (2014 est.) ++ 13.1% (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "5.5% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.9%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "27.2% (2000)"
      }
    },
    "Distribution of family income - Gini index": {
      "text": "33.9 (2010) ++ 35.9 (1987)"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$80.65 billion"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$91.87 billion (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "32.8% of GDP (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "text": "118.9% of GDP (2014 est.) ++ 119.9% of GDP (2013 est.)",
      "note": {
        "text": "data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions"
      }
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "text": "0.3% (2014 est.) ++ 0.5% (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Central bank discount rate": {
      "text": "0.75% (31 December 2013) ++ 1.5% (31 December 2010)",
      "note": {
        "text": "this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area"
      }
    },
    "Commercial bank prime lending rate": {
      "text": "3.3% (31 December 2014 est.) ++ 3.28% (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Stock of narrow money": {
      "text": "$146.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $156.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)",
      "note": {
        "text": "see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders"
      }
    },
    "Stock of broad money": {
      "text": "$255.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $267.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Stock of domestic credit": {
      "text": "$411.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $440.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Market value of publicly traded shares": {
      "text": "$109 billion (31 December 2012 est.) ++ $108.1 billion (31 December 2011) ++ $60.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "text": "$15.24 billion (2014 est.) ++ $14.44 billion (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "text": "$121.3 billion (2014 est.) ++ $116.1 billion (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals; foodstuffs, animal products"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "US 20.6%, UK 16%, Belgium 14.1%, Germany 6.8%, Switzerland 6.3%, France 5.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "text": "$66.94 billion (2014 est.) ++ $66.1 billion (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "UK 38.8%, US 10.3%, Germany 8.5%, Netherlands 6.2%, China 4% (2014)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "text": "$1.635 billion (31 December 2013 est.) ++ $1.635 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "text": "$2.164 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) ++ $2.213 trillion (31 December 2011)"
    },
    "Stock of direct foreign investment - at home": {
      "text": "$831.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $788.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad": {
      "text": "$943.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $913.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar - ++ 0.7489 (2014 est.) ++ 0.7634 (2013 est.) ++ 0.78 (2012 est.) ++ 0.7185 (2011 est.) ++ 0.755 (2010 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "26.09 billion kWh (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "24.68 billion kWh (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "389 million kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "2.716 billion kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "8.572 million kW (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "77.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "2.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "19.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "1,100 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "61,130 bbl/day (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "61,650 bbl/day (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "141,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "26,120 bbl/day (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "110,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "345 million cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "4.77 billion cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "4.401 billion cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)"
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": {
      "text": "35.49 million Mt (2012 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "2.02 million"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "42 (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4.9 million"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "101 (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephone system": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2014)"
    },
    "Radio broadcast stations": {
      "text": "AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)"
    },
    "Television broadcast stations": {
      "text": "4 (many repeaters) (2008)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".ie"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.9 million"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "81.6% (2014 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "text": "40 (2013)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16"
      },
      "over 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "4"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "5 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": " ++ 21 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "gas 2,147 km (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,237 km"
      },
      "broad gauge": {
        "text": "1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (49 km electrified)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "96,036 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "96,036 km (includes 1,224 km of expressways) (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "31"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "cargo 28, chemical tanker 2, container 1"
      },
      "foreign-owned": {
        "text": "5 (France 2, Spain 1, US 2)"
      },
      "registered in other countries": {
        "text": "33 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Netherlands 8, Panama 1, Russia 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1, UK 1) (2010)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Dublin, Shannon Foynes,"
      },
      "river port(s)": {
        "text": "Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir)"
      },
      "container port(s) (TEUs)": {
        "text": "Dublin (1,931,001)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military": {
    "Military branches": {
      "text": "Irish Defence Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Forces (PDF): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps; Reserve Defence Forces (RDF): Army, Naval Service Reserves (2014)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF; 18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-28 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 18-35 years of age for the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (PDF officers), 5 years (PDF enlisted), 3 years RDF (4 years for Naval Service Reserves); EU citizenship, refugee status, or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2014)"
    },
    "Manpower available for military service": {
      "males age 16-49": {
        "text": "1,179,125"
      },
      "females age 16-49": {
        "text": "1,163,728 (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Manpower fit for military service": {
      "males age 16-49": {
        "text": "977,631"
      },
      "females age 16-49": {
        "text": "965,900 (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually": {
      "male": {
        "text": "28,564"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "27,197 (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "text": "0.49% of GDP (2014) ++ 0.51% of GDP (2013) ++ 0.55% of GDP (2012) ++ 0.59% of GDP (2011) ++ 0.55% of GDP (2010)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "99 (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern"
    }
  }
}