Ireland

<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>

Land

68,883 sq km

Total

70,273 sq km

Water

1,390 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

1,448 km

Europe

Highest point

Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

118 m

53 00 N, 8 00 W

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

0 sq km (2022)

Border countries

UK 499 km

number of neighbors

1

Total

490 km

Agricultural land

60.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)

arable land

6.37%

Forest

11.9% (2023 est.)

Other

27.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.01%

No

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/hxd1BKxgpchStzQC6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/62273

Europe

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

rare extreme weather events

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

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

Northern Europe

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

UTC

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)

15-64 years

65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)

65 years and over

15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030)

Beer

4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

47.1% (2022 est.)

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

adult female

44 per 1,000

adult male

73 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

24.1 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

4.1 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

52.6 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

28.5 (2024 est.)

improved total

96.13%

Improved: rural

rural: 97% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 96% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.3% national budget (2021 est.)

3 % of GDP

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.)

0.83 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.1% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

22.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

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

Female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

English, Irish

number of languages

2

Female

83.9 years

Male

80.3 years

Total population

82 years (2024 est.)

1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)

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

Female

40.6 years

Male

39.7 years

Total

40.5 years (2025 est.)

30.9 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Irish

Noun

Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

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

25.3% (2016)

3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

2,642,919

Male

2,590,542

Total

5,233,461 (2024 est.)

0.8% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

81.26%

Improved: rural

rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

Female

20 years (2022 est.)

Male

19 years (2022 est.)

Total

19 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

14.4% (2025 est.)

Male

19.2% (2025 est.)

Total

16.8% (2025 est.)

1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

measles

90%

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

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

derived from the Irish words <em>dubh</em> (black or dark) and <em>linn</em> (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River

Geographic coordinates

53 19 N, 6 14 W

Name

Dublin

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

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

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

4 of the previous 8 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ie.svg

Amendment process

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

History

previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937

alternative spellings

IE, Éire, Republic of Ireland, Poblacht na hÉireann

Conventional long form

none

Conventional short form

Ireland

Etymology

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

FIFA code

IRL

Local long form

none

local long form (eng)

Republic of Ireland

Local short form

Eire

Chief of mission

Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ACSDublin@state.gov<br><br>https://ie.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

FAX

[353] (1) 688-8056

Mailing address

5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5290

Telephone

[353] (1) 668-8777

Chancery

2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022)

Consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 232-5993

Telephone

[1] (202) 462-3939

Cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)

Chief of state

President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)

Election results

<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%

Election/appointment process

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

Expected date of next election

no later than November 2025

Head of government

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)

Most recent election date

26 October 2018

<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

The flag of Ireland is composed of three equal vertical bands of green, white and orange.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/ie.svg

parliamentary republic

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Highest court(s)

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

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

High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts

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

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Oireachtas)

Chamber name

House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

November 2029

Most recent election date

1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025

Number of seats

174 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

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

25.3%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Chamber name

Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate)

Expected date of next election

January 2030

Most recent election date

11/29/2024

Number of seats

60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed)

Parties elected and seats per party

Fianna Fail (19); Fine Gael (18); Sinn Fein (6); Independents (12); other (5)

Percentage of women in chamber

45%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

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

blue, green

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

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

harp, shamrock (trefoil)

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

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

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

On alcohol and tobacco

4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$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

Revenues

$118.231 billion (2022 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$105.99 billion

Current account balance 2021

$65.118 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$48.427 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$44.744 billion (2023 est.)

Note

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

<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>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$877.09 billion

Exports 2021

$722.655 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$763.233 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$761.876 billion (2023 est.)

Note

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

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

note

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

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

net inflows

$4.82 billion

Exports of goods and services

135.1% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

12.2% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

26.8% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-102.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

23.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

3.1% (2023 est.)

Note

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

Agriculture

1.1% (2024 est.)

Industry

30.8% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

61.8% (2024 est.)

$577.389 billion (2024 est.)

note

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

$112,895

31.4 (2017)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

29.9 (2022 est.)

Note

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

$457.66 billion

$80,650

18 % of GDP

Highest 10%

24.5% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.6% (2022 est.)

Note

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

$622.47 billion

Imports 2021

$500.334 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$536.882 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$580.399 billion (2023 est.)

Note

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

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

note

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

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

-4.9% (2024 est.)

note

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

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

2.11%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

Note

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

2.857 million (2024 est.)

note

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

total

2.89 million persons

agriculture

3.85%

industry

18.21%

services

77.93%

14% (2021 est.)

note

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

Note

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

Public debt 2022

45.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

$720 billion

Note

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$648.943 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$613.056 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$620.544 billion (2024 est.)

2.6%

Note

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

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-5.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.2% (2024 est.)

$133,437

Note

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

Real GDP per capita 2022

$124,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$115,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$115,300 (2024 est.)

$656.41 million

Note

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

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

$12.7 billion

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$13.039 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$12.905 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$12.698 billion (2024 est.)

22 % of GDP

17 % of GDP

16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

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

4.63%

Note

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

Unemployment rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.4% (2024 est.)

Female

11% (2024 est.)

Male

11.2% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Total

11.1% (2024 est.)

Consumption

1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

76,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

40 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

6,145 kWh

Exports

441.615 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

12.321 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

3.88%

Hydroelectricity

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

37.15%

Solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

2,468 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

600 bbl/day (2023 est.)

12.7%

per 100 inhabitants

32 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2023 est.)

Total

1.65 million (2023 est.)

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)

.ie

Percent of population

97% (2023 est.)

+353

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.176 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

111 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

113 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

5.76 million (2023 est.)

passengers carried

192.53 million passengers

registered carrier departures

1.11 million departures

100 (2025)

EI

Left

10 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49

Total

94 (2023)

Key ports

Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes

Large

1

Medium

3

Ports with oil terminals

8

Small

3

Total ports

21 (2024)

Very small

14

Total

1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified

IRL

armored vehicles

tanks

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)

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

active duty personnel

9,000

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

percent of total labor force

0.37 %

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

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

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

0 % of GDP

current USD

$1,330,503,579

Military Expenditures 2020

0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

1.00 %

percent of GDP

0.24 % of GDP

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

PowerIndex score

2.0661

Refugees

156,441 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

48 (2024 est.)

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

From coal and metallurgical coke

3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

Global geoparks and regional networks

Burren &amp; Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

3

Party to

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

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

4 % of total land area

34 % of total

52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

3 % of internal resources

Agricultural

39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.911 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

42.4% (2022 est.)