Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Europe
total: 70,273 sq km
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
slightly larger than West Virginia
total: 490 km
border countries (1): UK 490 km
1,448 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 118 m
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
agricultural land: 66.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 50.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 10.9% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
0 sq km (2012)
52 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities
rare extreme weather events
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
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
NOTE: The information regarding Ire on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Ire 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Ire 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
This page was last modified 16 Dec 23, Copyright © 2023 ITA all rights reserved.