Ireland Facts and Figures

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Facts About Ireland

Reviewed by Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.


Ireland is a country with a long and interesting history. Ireland has influenced many other countries and cultures, and today there are many interesting facts to be found about Ireland.

Fact #1: Ireland is called Éire in Irish, but you will most often hear it referred to as the Republic of Ireland officially in English.

Fact #2: There are 4 provinces in Ireland: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster.

Fact #3: The world’s oldest yacht club, The Royal Cork Yacht Club, was founded in Cork, Ireland, in 1720.

Fact #4: The official language of Ireland is Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), even though English is more widely spoken.

Fact #5: The Republic of Ireland accounts for roughly five-sixth of the island of Ireland, with the remaining one-sixth of the island being made up of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).

Fact #6: Just under a quarter of Ireland’s population lives in the country’s capital city, Dublin.

Fact #7: Arthur Guinness founded Guinness, one of the world’s most famous breweries, in Dublin, Ireland, back in 1759.

Fact #8: The most popular sports in Ireland are hurling and Gaelic football.

Fact #9: The national symbol of Ireland is the shamrock. You will often see the shamrock alongside a harp, which together are a registered trademark of the country.

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Figures on Ireland

Metrics For IrelandFigures
Population4,937,786 (June 2020 est.)
Gross Domestic Product PPP (GDP)US$404.5 billion (2020 est.)
GDP Per CapitaUS$81,000 (2020 est.)
Inflation Rate0.4% (2020 est.)
CurrencyEuro
Exchange Rate Versus U.S. Dollar0.89 euro per U.S. dollar (June 2020)
LanguageEnglish (official, the language generally used), Irish— Gaelic or Gaeilge (official, spoken mainly in areas along the western coast).
CapitalDublin
Population of Capital City1.228 million (metropolitan area)(2020 est.)
Time ZoneUTC +5 (five hours ahead of Washington during Standard Time)
SeasonsTemperate maritime—modified by North Atlantic Current. Mild winters, cool summers. Consistently humid and overcast about half the time.
International Dialing Code353
Electricity230, 50 Hz
System of GovernmentRepublic, Parliamentary Democracy
Current LeaderPresident Leo Varadkar (since 2017)
Restrictions on Foreign Ownership of PropertyNone
Local Chamber of Commerce7 Clare Street
Dublin
Tel. 353-1-644-7200
American Chamber of Commerce6 Wilton Place,
Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel. 353-1-661-6201
Primary ExportsMachinery, computers, pharmaceuticals, food products, medical devices, chemicals, data processing equipment, petroleum, textiles, clothing.
Residency and Visa RequirementsPeople from certain countries need a valid Irish entry visa before arriving in the State, whether by air, sea or land. An Irish visa is a certificate placed on your passport or travel document to indicate that you are authorized to land in the State subject to any other conditions of landing being fulfilled.
This means that you will still be subject to immigration control at the point of entry to the State even if you have a visa. You may also need to register with the immigration authorities.
Special Benefits for Foreign Residents or RetireesIf you want to avoid having to pay tax in Ireland, then you’ll want to keep your stay to 182 days or less. (You will, though, have to pay property tax on any Irish property that you own).
National Airline

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