Ireland Facts

Facts about Ireland

Capital

Dublin

Total Area

total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

Population

4,015,676 (July 2005 est.)

Languages

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Religions

Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)

Life Expectancy

total population: 77.56 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 80.34 years (2005 est.)

Government Type

republic

Currency

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries 

GDP (per capita)

purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)

Labour Force  
1.92 million (2004 est.)

Exports
$103.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports
$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Natural Resources

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

Telephones (main lines in use)
1.955 million (2003)

Telephones (mobile cellular)
3.4 million (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)