copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 71%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from
agricultural runoff
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation
Geographic note: strategic location on major air and sea routes
between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the
population resides within 60 miles of Dublin
People
------
Population: 3,566,833 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 424,558; female 402,062)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,175,383; female 1,157,960)
65 years and over: 12% (male 173,150; female 233,720) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: -0.22% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.93 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.58 years
male: 72.88 years
female: 78.46 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,
other 1% (1981)
Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along
the western seaboard, English is the language generally used
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
Data code: EI
Type of government: republic
Capital: Dublin
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
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 Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
1990) was elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997);
results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December
1994) was nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by
the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by president with previous nomination
of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next
to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor
9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held 25
November 1992 (next to be held by NA November 1997); results -
Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive
Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party
0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine
Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left
4, Greens 1, independents 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE
ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine
Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN;
Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Mary HARNEY; The
Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER
note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting
of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 6688777
FAX: [353] (1) 6689946
Flag: 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
-------
Economic overview: The economy is small and trade dependent.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by
industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and
employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary
engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting
from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction
and business investment. Ireland has substantially reduced its
external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same
period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have
been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a
serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of
government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts
foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development
agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is
constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $15,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 35.3%
services: 57.9% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.37 million
by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%
(1992)
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $19.3 billion
expenditures: $20.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6
billion (1994)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
crystal
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 3,930,000 kW
production: 14.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; meat
and dairy products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa
to the UK and Netherlands
Exports: $29.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
machinery, live animals, animal products
partners: EU 73% (UK 27%, Germany 14%, France 9%), US 9%
Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum
and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing
partners: EU 58% (UK 36%, Germany 7%, France 4%), US 18%
External debt: $19.5 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $81 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1 - 0.6315 (January
1996), 0.6235 (1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992),
0.6190 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 1,944 km
broad gauge: 1,944 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified; 485 km
double track) (1995)
Highways:
total: 92,327 km
paved: 86,787 km (including 32 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,540 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick,
New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,027 GRT/155,371 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
tanker 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 40
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 29
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 86 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National
Police (Garda Siochana)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 939,237
males fit for military service: 761,048
males reach military age (17) annually: 35,904 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $618 million,
1.3% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Israel
------
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are
not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework
established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral
negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian
representatives, and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent
settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the
Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding
territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26
October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
Map
---
Location: 31 30 N, 34 45 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Flag
----
Description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star)
known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two
equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
Geography
---------
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 20,770 sq km
land area: 20,330 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli
troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert
areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,
sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and
crude oil
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 6%
other: 32%
Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water
resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution
from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from
industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995
est.)
People
------
Population: 5,421,995 (July 1996 est.)
note: includes 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 14,800 in
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and
153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 793,712; female 756,735)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,670,082; female 1,669,481)
65 years and over: 9% (male 230,082; female 301,903) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 20.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.01 years
male: 76.16 years
female: 79.96 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.77 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel-born 50%,
Europe/Americas/Oceania-born 20%, Africa-born 7%, Asia-born 5%),
non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab) (1993 est.)
Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian
2%, Druze and other 2%
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
total population: 95%
male: 97%
female: 93%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el
Data code: IS
Type of government: republic
Capital: Jerusalem
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
Aviv
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and
the holiday may occur in April or May)
Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),
the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli
citizenship law
Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat
that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) was
elected for a five-year term by the Knesset; election last held 24
March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results - Ezer WEIZMAN
elected by Knesset
head of government: Prime Minister Shimon PERES (since 15 November
1995) was appointed by the president following the assassination of
Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN
cabinet: Cabinet was selected from and approved by the Knesset
Legislative branch: unicameral
parliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be
held 29 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(120 total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, National
Religious Party 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front
for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party
2; note - the distribution of seats as of January 1996 is as follows
- Labor Party 45, Likud bloc 33, MERETZ 12, National Religious Party
6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for
Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2,
Yi'ud 1 (in coalition), Right of Israel 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Shimon PERES;
MERETZ, Minister of Environment Yossi SARID; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEV
not in coalition but voting with the government: Democratic Front
for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic
Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
opposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael
EITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,
Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),
Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERI; Right of Israel, leader NA
note: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising three
parties that hold 58 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Israeli
nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank
and is critical of government's Lebanon policy
International organization participation: AG (observer), BSEC
(observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin S. INDYK
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
FAX: [972] (3) 517-3227
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem
Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known
as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal
horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial
government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil,
grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited
natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural
and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs
about 22% of Israeli workers, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3.5%, and services the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in
food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology
equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are
leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits,
which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by
foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is
owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military
aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting
high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical
scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former
USSR, which topped 525,000 during the period 1990-95, increased
unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the
government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the
economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $80.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 7.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $15,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 22%
services: 74.5%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (1995)
Labor force: 1.9 million (1992)
by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce
13.9%, finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%,
construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $41 billion
expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996)
Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,
textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,
transport equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining,
high-technology electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 10.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 4,140,000 kW
production: 23 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,290 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: citrus and other fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef,
poultry, dairy products
Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin
abuse and trafficking
Exports: $28.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,
textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals
partners: US, EU, Japan
Imports: $40.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,
oil, other productive inputs, consumer goods
partners: EU, US, Japan
External debt: $18.5 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: total receipts $12.14 billion of which $11.38 billion
from the US (1990-93)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295
(January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591
(1992), 2.2791 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 526 km
standard gauge: 526 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 13,461 km
paved: 13,461 km (including 56 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural
gas 89 km
Ports: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Merchant marine:
total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 577,747 GRT/701,459 DWT
ships by type: cargo 5, container 20, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)