01
Physical geography
Mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast.
Local timeDublin ·
Europe / Northern Europe · Card 023
Ireland
Ireland is a country in Northern Europe. Its capital is Dublin.
Find Ireland
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Dublin
- Languages
- Irish & English
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 5.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 70,273 km²27,132.55 square miles
- State established
- 1922Irish Free State; republic from 1949.
Ireland in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Dublin; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Irish is the first official language and English the second. English is the most widely used language in everyday life.
03
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange
History & status
After centuries of British rule, a war of independence led to the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. The Irish Free State was established in 1922, followed by a civil war over the treaty. Ireland adopted a new constitution in 1937 and became a republic in 1949.
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The Irish Free State is established
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A new constitution takes effect
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Ireland becomes a republic
Economy
Main activities
Pharmaceuticals, technology, financial services and food production are important. Multinational companies account for a large share of exports. Their international operations can make Irish GDP differ substantially from economic activity experienced by residents.
Industry and production
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Multinational companies’ international assets and transactions can have a large effect on Irish GDP. GDP is not a direct measure of household living standards.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people5.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,957,250 | 2.957 |
| 1980 | 3,412,800 | 3.413 |
| 1990 | 3,513,974 | 3.514 |
| 2000 | 3,805,174 | 3.805 |
| 2010 | 4,560,155 | 4.560 |
| 2020 | 5,039,747 | 5.040 |
| 2025 | 5,484,367 | 5.484 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars572.72025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 82,427,285,856 | 82.427 |
| 1991 | 84,017,835,878 | 84.018 |
| 1992 | 86,826,782,446 | 86.827 |
| 1993 | 89,164,687,696 | 89.165 |
| 1994 | 94,296,853,731 | 94.297 |
| 1995 | 103,381,809,954 | 103.382 |
| 1996 | 111,010,999,493 | 111.011 |
| 1997 | 123,246,371,072 | 123.246 |
| 1998 | 134,050,299,131 | 134.050 |
| 1999 | 148,165,642,333 | 148.166 |
| 2000 | 162,098,435,202 | 162.098 |
| 2001 | 170,699,088,561 | 170.699 |
| 2002 | 180,769,250,950 | 180.769 |
| 2003 | 186,217,344,582 | 186.217 |
| 2004 | 198,858,038,462 | 198.858 |
| 2005 | 210,272,056,411 | 210.272 |
| 2006 | 220,760,118,842 | 220.760 |
| 2007 | 232,482,742,332 | 232.483 |
| 2008 | 222,058,051,544 | 222.058 |
| 2009 | 210,742,455,593 | 210.742 |
| 2010 | 214,289,191,597 | 214.289 |
| 2011 | 217,736,818,590 | 217.737 |
| 2012 | 216,854,920,424 | 216.855 |
| 2013 | 221,610,413,457 | 221.610 |
| 2014 | 242,410,308,909 | 242.410 |
| 2015 | 302,101,388,556 | 302.101 |
| 2016 | 305,795,232,417 | 305.795 |
| 2017 | 336,707,637,030 | 336.708 |
| 2018 | 362,595,940,329 | 362.596 |
| 2019 | 380,627,401,463 | 380.627 |
| 2020 | 407,856,325,068 | 407.856 |
| 2021 | 474,166,373,640 | 474.166 |
| 2022 | 509,781,668,506 | 509.782 |
| 2023 | 496,851,698,334 | 496.852 |
| 2024 | 509,767,195,342 | 509.767 |
| 2025 | 572,660,227,886 | 572.660 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.949Very High human developmentRank 11 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.776
20000.869
20100.915
20200.948
20230.949
82.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.7 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary republic. Parliament (Oireachtas) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Ireland.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Ireland: The Irish Free State is established?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.