001 est.)

Death rate: 8.07 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.99 years

male: 74.23 years

female: 79.93 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2,200 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish
(collective plural)

adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups: Celtic, English

Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9%
(1998)

Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic)
spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98% (1981 est.)

male: NA%

female: NA%

Ireland Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Ireland

Government type: republic

Capital: Dublin

Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11
November 1997)

head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous
nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of
Representatives

elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA