Ireland

Ireland is a country located in Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain, covering an area of approximately 70,273 square kilometers. As of 2024, Ireland has a population of over 5.2 million, with English as the primary language and Irish as the official language spoken by about 37.7% of the population. The country features a mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains with sea cliffs on the west coast, experiencing a temperate maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers. Dublin serves as the capital, and the government operates as a parliamentary republic.

Ireland has a high-income, export-oriented economy with a GDP of $577.39 billion and a GDP per capita of $115,300, one of the highest in the world, driven by pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, and medical devices. Key agricultural products include milk, barley, beef, wheat, and potatoes, while natural resources include natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, and gypsum. The unemployment rate is 4.6% as of 2025, and Ireland enjoys a life expectancy of 83 years with a poverty rate of 14%. Ireland is home to many multinational corporations due to its favorable corporate tax rate, though its economy faces risks from over-reliance on foreign direct investment and skill shortages.