Ireland
country in Northwestern Europe
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Ireland is a country in Europe[1][2]. Its official languages are Irish and English. The head of state is Catherine Connolly[3].
It has a population of 5.1M (2022)[4]. The area of the nation is 70k[5].
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Climate
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
People & Society
Languages
English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)
Religions
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.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Independence
6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)
National holiday
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Legal system
common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$620.544 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$115,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
4.4% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Country: Ireland[3]
- Head of government: Micheál Martin[4]
- Continent: Europe[5]
- Instance of: island country[6], country[7], successor state[8]
- Head of state: Catherine Connolly[9]
- Capital: Dublin[10]
- Official language: Irish[11], English[12]
- Currency: euro[13], Irish euro coin[14]
- Shares border with: United Kingdom[15], Northern Ireland[16]
- Top-level Internet domain: .ie[17]
- Anthem: Amhrán na bhFiann[18]
- Basic form of government: parliamentary republic[19], unitary state[20]
- Named after: Ireland[21]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: County Cork[22], County Kerry[23], County Waterford[24], County Wexford[25], County Galway[26], County Laois[27], County Kildare[28], County Donegal[29], County Dublin[30], County Westmeath[31], County Leitrim[32], County Mayo[33], County Roscommon[34], County Clare[35]
- Follows: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[36]
- Flag: flag of Ireland[37]
- Legislative body: Oireachtas[38]
- Executive body: Government of Ireland[39]
- Highest judicial authority: Supreme Court of Ireland[40]
- Coat of arms: Coat of arms of Ireland[41]
- Part of: European Economic Area[42]
- Commons category: Republic of Ireland[43]
- Licence plate code: EIR[44], IRL[45]
Why It Matters
Ireland has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[46] Ireland is known by 124 alternative names across languages and contexts.[47]
Ireland is credited with the discovery of NGC 373[48], an elliptical galaxy[49].
FAQs
What did Ireland discover?
Ireland is credited as discoverer of NGC 373[48].