Judicial branch:
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
Political parties and leaders:
Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Nuri al-MALIKI]; General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid MAJID]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI]
note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag
Economy ::Iraq
Economy - overview:
Decreasing insurgent attacks and an improving security environment in many parts of the country are helping to spur economic activity. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided over 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom. Total government revenues have benefited from high oil prices in recent years; however, revenues have declined significantly since the oil price drop in fall 2008. Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy. In March 2009 Iraq concluded a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF that details economic reforms. The SBA allows an 80% reduction of the debt owed to Paris Club creditor nations. The International Compact with Iraq was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although both are still under contentious political negotiation. Some foreign entities have expressed interest in reinvigorating Iraq's industrial sector. The government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to gain foreign participation in joint ventures with State-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils are also using their own budgets to promote and facilitate investment at the local level. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar. However, Iraq's challenge will be to use macroeconomic gains to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic success.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$90.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $83.7 billion (2007 est.)
$82.46 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.45 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 1.5% (2007 est.)
6.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $3,000 (2007 est.)
$3,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 68%
services: 27% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
7.74 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
18.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 18% (2006 est.)
note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $42.4 billion
expenditures: $49.9 billion (FY08 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 4.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 6 20% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 19.74% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$26.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 $18.81 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$5.415 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 $3.67 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.878 billion (31 March 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate:
10.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - production:
36.92 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - consumption:
39.88 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.95 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.385 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - consumption:
638,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - exports:
1.83 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Oil - imports:
116,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Oil - proved reserves:
115 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - production:
1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - consumption:
9.454 billion cu m country comparison to the world: 48 note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Current account balance:
$14.05 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $4.909 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$58.81 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $36.08 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
Exports - partners:
US 37.3%, India 13.8%, Italy 9.4%, South Korea 6.8% (2008)
Imports:
$37.22 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $25.67 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Syria 26.4%, Turkey 19.7%, US 10.7%, Jordan 6.5%, China 6% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$49.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $30.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$67.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Communications ::Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.082 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 76
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.529 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 40
Telephone system:
general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly and its subscribership base approached 18 million in 2008
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran (terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
52 (station frequency types NA) (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
47 (2008)
Internet country code:
.iq
Internet hosts:
11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 219
Internet users:
300,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 126
Transportation ::Iraq
Airports:
104 (2009) country comparison to the world: 57
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 8 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 6 (2009)
Heliports:
21 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,637 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,272 km country comparison to the world: 68 standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 44,900 km country comparison to the world: 81 paved: 37,851 km
unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)
Waterways:
5,279 km country comparison to the world: 23 note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 14 country comparison to the world: 107 by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr
Military ::Iraq
Military branches:
Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special OperationsForce, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi CoastalDefense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,086,200
females age 16-49: 6,808,954 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,203,425
females age 16-49: 6,065,009 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 313,500
female: 304,923 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 4
Transnational Issues ::Iraq
Disputes - international:
coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)
IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence) (2007)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Ireland (Europe)
Introduction ::Ireland
Background:
Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is gradually being implemented despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.
Geography ::Ireland
Location:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 70,273 sq km country comparison to the world: 119 land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Total renewable water resources:
46.8 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin
People ::Ireland
Population:
4,203,200 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760)
65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 35.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.12% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Birth rate:
14.23 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 188 male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.24 years country comparison to the world: 47 male: 75.6 years
female: 81.06 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)
Languages:
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic orGaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas along the western coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 81
Government ::Ireland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
Government type:
republic, parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*,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 [JohnGORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats [CiaranCANNON] (disbanding); Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [JoeHIGGINS]; 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
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
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:
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:
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 NavalService 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 FaroeIslands' 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:
Geography ::Isle of Man
Location:
Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain andIreland
Geographic coordinates:
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