- Ireland
National name: Eire
Land area: 26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km); total area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)
Population (2011 est.): 4,722,028 (growth rate: 1.112%); birth rate: 15.81/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.81/1000; life expectancy: 80.32 Capital and largest city (2009 est.): Copenhagen, 1,174,0000
Monetary unit: Euro (formerly Irish pound)
Government :Republic. Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)
Ethnicity/race:
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)
Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 2%, none 4%
National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $183.9 billion; per capita $40,100. Real growth rate: 0.7%. Inflation: 2.5%. Unemployment: 14.4%. Arable land: 16.82%. Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
GDP/PPP (2011 est.):$206.8 billion; per capita $40,200. Real growth rate: 1%. Inflation: 2.8%. Unemployment: 6%. Arable land: 52.59%.Agriculture:
barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products. Labor force: 2.126 million (2011 est.); agriculture 5%, industry 19%, services 76% (2011 est.).
Industries:
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism. Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
