Ireland profile
Éire (Irish); Ireland (English)
Form of government:
unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [60]; House of Representatives [158])
Head of state:
President: Michael D. Higgins
Head of government:
Prime Minister: Leo Varadkar
Irish; English
Official religion:
Monetary unit:
(2018 est.) 4,834,000
Population rank:
(2018) 122
Population projection 2030:
Total area (sq mi):
Total area (sq km):
Density: persons per sq mi:
(2018) 178.2
Density: persons per sq km:
(2018) 68.8
Urban-rural population:
Urban: (2016) 62.7%
Rural: (2016) 37.3%
Life expectancy at birth :
Male: (2017) 78.6 years
Female: (2017) 83.4 years
Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate:
Male: 100%
Female: 100%
GNI (U.S.$ '000,000):
(2017) 266,160
GNI per capita (U.S.$):
(2017) 55,290
(1) As provided by the constitution. (2) Includes 11 nonelective seats.
National anthem of Ireland Known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland is famous for its green countryside. Throughout much of its history, Ireland fought against rule by other countries. Most of the island gained independence in the 1920s. However, the United Kingdom continued to control a section called Northern Ireland. In the 1990s the independent republic of Ireland became a successful member of the European Union. The capital is Dublin.
Ireland's most famous food, the potato, is native to South America and not Ireland.