GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND

Tuesday - 16/12/2025

Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a sovereign nation located in northwestern Europe, occupying about five-sixths of the island of Ireland.

Some key facts:

Capital: Dublin
Country code: +353
Area: 70,273 km²
Population: 4,977,400 (2020)
Official languages: English, Irish
Government: Unitary constitutional republic
Independence / historical development: since 1916
Map:

Ireland’s location (dark green)
– in Europe (dark green & dark gray)
– in the European Union (green)

Ireland shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, the Saint George’s Channel to the southeast, and the Irish Sea to the east.

Additional information

The Irish Free State was formed in 1922 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Ireland held dominion status until it adopted a new constitution in 1937, renaming the state “Ireland” and becoming a de facto republic with an elected president as head of state.

Ireland was officially declared a republic in 1949. It became a member of the United Nations in December 1955 and joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973. The Republic of Ireland had no formal relationship with Northern Ireland for most of the 20th century, but during the 1980s and 1990s, the British and Irish governments worked with Northern Irish parties to find a resolution to the armed conflict there. Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the Irish government and the Northern Ireland Executive have cooperated in various policy areas through the North-South Ministerial Council.

Ireland is ranked among the world’s 25 most prosperous nations by GDP per capita and was ranked the tenth most prosperous country globally in 2015. After joining the EEC, Ireland adopted a series of liberal economic policies, resulting in rapid growth.

The country achieved remarkable prosperity during the “Celtic Tiger” period from 1995 to 2007. This period was interrupted by the financial crisis beginning in 2008, combined with the global economic downturn. Nevertheless, Ireland recorded the fastest economic growth in the European Union in 2015 and quickly returned to top positions in global wealth and prosperity rankings.

In 2015, Ireland tied with Germany at sixth place in the United Nations Human Development Index. Ireland also performs well in indicators such as press freedom, economic freedom, and civil liberties. It is a member of the European Union and a founding member of the Council of Europe and the OECD. The Irish government follows a policy of military neutrality through non-alignment, a stance dating back to just before World War II. Ireland is not a NATO member but participates in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.

The capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland is Dublin, located on the eastern side of the island, with its metropolitan population making up roughly one-third of the nation’s 4.75 million people. The four other major cities are Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford.

References:

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND

Tuesday - 16/12/2025

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND

Tuesday - 16/12/2025

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