Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*,
Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly,
Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford,
Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Legal system:
based on English common law substantially modified by indigenous
concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to
a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004
presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the
House of Representatives and appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the
Progressive Democrats (disbanding), and independent members of
Parliament
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad
Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from
candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated
by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House
of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held by July
2012); House of Representatives - last held 24 May 2007 (next to be
held by May 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive
Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine
Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%,
Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail
78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6,
Progressive Democrats 2, independents 4, Speaker of the Dail 1
note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the party, but
as of January 2009, the party was still operating
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John
GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats [Ciaran
CANNON] (disbanding); Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe
HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Mick FINNEGAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian McCONNELL]
(seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against
Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil
Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG
(encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater
civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Irish Republican Army or IRA
(terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland
Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation
promoters); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 -
transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM
(supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or
UDA (terrorist group)
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROONEY; note - has not yet
presented his credentials to Ireland
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;
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
Economy ::Ireland
Economy - overview:
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. GDP growth
averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity dropped sharply in
2008 and Ireland entered into a recession for the first time in more
than a decade with the onset of the world financial crisis and
subsequent severe slowdown in the property and construction markets.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by
industry and services. Although the export sector, dominated by
foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's
economy, construction most recently fueled economic growth along
with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property
prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in
any other developed world economy. Per capita GDP also surged during
Ireland's high-growth years, and in 2007 surpassed that of the
United States. The Irish Government has implemented a series of
national economic programs designed to curb price and wage
inflation, invest in infrastructure, increase labor force skills,
and promote foreign investment. In 2008 the COWEN government moved
to guarantee all bank deposits, recapitalize the banking system, and
establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the
country's economic downturn. Ireland joined in circulating the euro
on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$189 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$194.9 billion (2007 est.)
$183.9 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$267.6 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
6% (2007 est.)
5.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$45,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$47,400 (2007 est.)
$45,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
2.241 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 27%
services: 67% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
4.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
7% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 101
35.9 (1987)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Budget:
revenues: $92.57 billion
expenditures: $109.9 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
44.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
4.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 96
5% (31 December 2007)
note: 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:
6.76% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
6.52% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$NA
Stock of domestic credit:
$738.6 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
$545.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 42
$144 billion (31 December 2007)
$163.4 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Industries:
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining
processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and
crystal; software, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - production:
26.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - consumption:
25.12 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - exports:
303 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
753 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - consumption:
188,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - exports:
22,710 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - imports:
190,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - production:
438 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - consumption:
5.217 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - imports:
4.798 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - proved reserves:
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Current account balance:
-$13.88 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
-$14.12 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$119.8 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$115.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live
animals, animal products
Exports - partners:
UK 18.6%, US 18.6%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7%, France 5.9%, Spain
4.2% (2008)
Imports:
$84.82 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$84.76 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals,
petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 37.7%, US 11.6%, Germany 8.7%, Netherlands 5.6% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.023 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$926.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.356 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 6
$2.263 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$179 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$152.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$139.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Ireland
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.202 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 56
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.048 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly
operator; increasing levels of broadband access
international: country code - 353; landing point for the
Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and
UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (many repeaters); (projected digital broadcasting scheduled to be
launched in 2009) (2008)
Internet country code:
.ie
Internet hosts:
1.303 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Internet users:
2.83 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Transportation ::Ireland
Airports:
39 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,550 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,237 km
country comparison to the world: 53
broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat
Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants)
(2008)
Roadways:
total: 96,602 km
country comparison to the world: 46
paved: 96,602 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2003)
Waterways:
956 km (pleasure craft only) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
Merchant marine:
total: 29
country comparison to the world: 85
by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1,
Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 10,
Slovakia 1, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes
Military ::Ireland
Military branches:
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval
Service and Air Corps (Aer-Chor na h-Eireann)) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military service
(17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of
age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; maximum
obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense
Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,024,635
females age 16-49: 1,024,276 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 857,162
females age 16-49: 854,416 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 28,072
female: 26,400 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Transnational Issues ::Ireland
Disputes - international:
Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe
Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Illicit drugs:
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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Isle of Man (Europe)
Introduction ::Isle of Man
Background:
Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century
when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown
in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx
Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is
not part of the UK. However, the UK Government remains
constitutionally responsible for its defense and international
representation.
Geography ::Isle of Man
Location:
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and
Ireland
Geographic coordinates:
54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 572 sq km
country comparison to the world: 194
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of
the time
Terrain:
hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland)
(2002)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air
pollution
Geography - note:
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a
bird sanctuary
People ::Isle of Man
Population:
76,512 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 6,612/female 6,300)
15-64 years: 66% (male 25,433/female 25,083)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,408/female 7,676) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39 years
female: 41.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.524% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Birth rate:
10.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Death rate:
10.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Net migration rate:
5.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Urbanization:
urban population: 51% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 184
male: 6.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.82 years
country comparison to the world: 39
male: 75.86 years
female: 81.93 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups:
Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society
of Friends
Languages:
English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Isle of Man
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with
its own elections
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution:
unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not
embody the unwritten Manx Constitution
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx statutes
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K. HADDACKS
(since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; the chief minister is elected by the Tynwald for a
five-year term; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held
in December 2011)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald
Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats;
members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of
Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by
the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held 23 November 2006 (next to be
held in November 2011)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Man Labor Party 1,
independents 21
Judicial branch:
High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor
of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter
KARRAN]; Man Labor Party; Man Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin)
[Bernard MOFFATT]
note: most members sit as independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog);
Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state and
environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to the
Tynwald
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center;
the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in
order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag,
a two-sided emblem is used
Economy ::Isle of Man
Economy - overview:
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the
economy. The government offers incentives to high-technology
companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this
has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income
industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays
of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The
Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film
industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free
access to EU markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.719 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 83
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
39,690 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 190
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%,
construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and
retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%,
public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%,
entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10% (2001)
Unemployment rate: