n 1995-2006. Agriculture, once the most important
sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts
for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force.
Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the
economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending,
construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above
that of the four big European economies and the second highest in
the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government
has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to
curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase
labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined
in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU
nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$177.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$202.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
2.12 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 64% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
10% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.9 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $74.49 billion
expenditures: $73.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.5
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
22.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries:
steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining
processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger
and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass
and crystal; software, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
23.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.9%
hydro: 2.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)

Electr