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Geography
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Area: 70,282 sq. km. (27,136 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West Virginia. Cities: Capital--Dublin (pop.1,058,264--somewhat less than one-third the total
population). Other cities--Cork (127,187), Galway (57,241), Limerick (52,039), Waterford, (42,540). Terrain: Arable 10%, meadows and pastures 77%, rough grazing in use 11%, inland water 2%.
Climate: Temperate maritime.
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People
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Nationality: Noun--Irishman, Irishwoman. Adjective--Irish.
Population: 3,840,838
Population growth rate: 1.12%
Ethnic groups: Irish, with English minority.
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%; Church of Ireland 2.5%; other 5.9%. Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic).
Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Enrollment rates--5-14
year olds--100%; 15 year olds, 96%; 16 year olds, 92%. Literacy--98%-99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.53/1,000. Life expectancy at birth--male 74.23yrs., female 79.93yrs.
Work force: Services--56%; industry--29%; agriculture--10%; government--5%.
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Government
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Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: December 6,1921.
Constitution: December 29, 1937.
Branches: Executive--president, chief of state; prime
minister (Taoiseach--pronounced "TEE-shock"), head of government.
Legislative--bicameral National Parliament (Oireachtas--pronounced "o-ROCK-tas"): House of Representatives
(Dail--pronounced "DOIL") and Senate (Seanad--pronounced "SHAN-ad"). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 counties, 34 local authorities.
Major
political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labor, Progressive Democrats, Green Party, Sinn Fein.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
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