2002 est.)

Birth rate: 14.62 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 0.77
male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 80.12 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2002 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%

Government Ireland

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
Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997) cabinet: prime minister
and approval of the House of Representatives elections: held 31 October
1997 (next to be held NA November 2004); prime minister
nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats