Official Name: Éire (Irish); Ireland (English)

Area: Europe

Size: 70,273 km² 

Coastline: 1,448 km

Independence: from the UK 24 April, 1916

Form of Govt.: Unitary multiparty republic

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Dublin    

Largest City: Dublin

Demographics (2005): 4,239,848.   60.3 /km²

Non-Irish nationals now make up 10% of the population

GDP per Capita (2005): $43,600

Languages: English is the more commonly used language, Irish (Gaelic) is spoken mainly in the Gaeltacht located along the western seaboard

Geography: The country consists of an undulating central limestone plateau which is almost completely surrounded by coastal highlands. The central lowland plain is characterized by many lakes and scattered low ridges. The Mourne and Wicklow Mountains in the east and Macgilly cuddy's Reek in the southwest are the principal mountain ranges. The rivers of Ireland cross the central lowlands and the principal ones include the Shannon, Boyne, Barrow, Slaney, Bann, Lagan, Foyle, Erne, Moy and Corib.

Climate: Ireland has a temperate climate which is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift and characterized by mild, moist and changeable conditions. Rainfall is heaviest in the west where it can exceed 3,000 mm (120 inches) per annum while 60% of the country has an average annual precipitation between 762 mm and 1,270 mm. Extremes in temperatures are uncommon, although the weather can be changeable as a result of temperate depressions. Average temperature ranges are from 4 to 7 degrees in January or February to 14 to 16 degrees in July or August.