Reuters AlertNet

Ireland

$Small country map\n© Microsoft Virtual Earth$

Capital:	Dublin
Area size:	68890 sq. km Slightly smaller than Scotland
Time zone:	GMT
Currency:	Euro
Area code:	(+) 353
Driving:	Left
Climate description:	Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time.

People

Standard of living

Economy & aid

Health

Disasters, conflict & migration

Language
Irish, English and Shelta (a Roma language)
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2007	4.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	4.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	4.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	4.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	4.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	3.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	3.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	3.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
6.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)

Ethnic groups
The Irish comprise 94 percent of the population, with a small English minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Catholic 92 percent, Anglican 2 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2006	60.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	60.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	60.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	59.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	59.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	59.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	59.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1918 1928
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	20.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	20.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	20.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	20.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	21.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	21.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Average life expectancy

2005	78.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	76.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	74.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	74.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	80.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	79.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	1 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	5 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	5	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	4	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	8	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	10	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	12	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	18	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2002-2004 average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water
No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation
No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2006	498 per 1,000 people	International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007
2005	495 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	498 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	491 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	502 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	485 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	484 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Cellular telephone subscribers

2006	1114 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2005	1029 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	955 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	880 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	763 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	774 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	650 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Internet users

2006	341 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2005	338 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	296 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	317 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	280 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	233 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	179 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)

2007	17 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	18 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	19 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	17 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	18 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	23	Transparency International
2001	18 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	19	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2006	44830� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	41330� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	35070� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	28550� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	23610� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	23020� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	23160� current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country�s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2006	220.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	200.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	183.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	156.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	122.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	104.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	96.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual GDP growth

2005	5.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	4.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	6.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	9.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Annual inflation

2005	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	5.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	5.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
27.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	279 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	279 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	239 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	226 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2005	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2006
2003	0.2 percent	UNAIDS 2006

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2006	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2005	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2004	12 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2003	12 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2002	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2001	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2000	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008

Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Number of refugees originating here

2006	4	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	21	UNHCR
2004	3	UNHCR
2003	No data available
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2006	7917	UNHCR
2005	7113	UNHCR
2004	7201	UNHCR
2003	5971	UNHCR
2002	5380	UNHCR
2001	3598	UNHCR
2000	2543	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	4.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	4.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	4.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	5.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	5.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	4.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.

Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

Breaking stories

Middle East