Ireland is a country in western Europe covering about five-sixths of the island of Ireland. Its capital is Dublin, its official languages are Irish and English, and it uses the euro. The 2022 census counted 5,149,139 people. The other sixth of the island, Northern Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom.
Ireland quick facts
- Ireland covers about five-sixths of the island of Ireland.
- The 2022 census counted 5,149,139 people in Ireland.
- Ireland has two official languages, Irish and English.
- The River Shannon is Ireland’s longest river, at about 260 km.
- Ireland became a republic in 1949 and joined the EEC in 1973.
What is Ireland?
Ireland is a country in western Europe. It covers about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, the westernmost of the large islands of the British Isles.
The rest of the island, in the north-east, is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. So the word Ireland can mean the whole island or the country, which is also called the Republic of Ireland.
Ireland is famous for its green countryside, which gives it the nickname the Emerald Isle. Britannica says plenty of rain keeps its grasslands green all year round.
Ireland fact file
- Capital city
- Dublin
- Population
- 5,149,139 at the 2022 census
- Languages spoken
- Irish and English
- Currency
- The euro
- Continent
- Europe, on its western edge
- Bordering countries
- The United Kingdom. Northern Ireland shares the only land border
- Mountain ranges
- MacGillycuddy's Reeks and the Wicklow Mountains, in a ring of hills near the coast
- Rivers and bodies of water
- The River Shannon, the longest in Ireland at about 260 km (160 miles)
- Climate
- Mild and damp. The Atlantic keeps winters gentle and summers cool, and rain is common all year
- Government type
- A republic, with a parliament of two houses
- Head of state
- The president. The Taoiseach leads the government
- Famous landmark
- The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare
- Flag
- Three stripes: green, white and orange
And a few things no report form asks for:
| Official names | Éire (Irish) and Ireland (English) |
| Area | 71,118 sq km (27,459 sq miles) |
| Counties | 26 |
Where is Ireland?
Ireland lies in the Atlantic Ocean, to the west of Great Britain. The Irish Sea separates the two islands.
Its west coast faces the open Atlantic. Britannica says there are about 3,200 km (2,000 miles) of ocean between Ireland and North America.
Ireland’s closest neighbour is the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic, and across the Irish Sea are Wales, Scotland and England.
Where in the World?
- Why is Ireland nicknamed the Emerald Isle?
- Which sea separates Ireland from Great Britain?
- Which ocean does Ireland's west coast face?
- Which part of the island of Ireland shares a land border with the Republic?
How big is Ireland?
Britannica says the Republic of Ireland covers 71,118 square kilometres (27,459 square miles). That makes it a fairly small country, a little bigger than the US state of West Virginia.
The island of Ireland is divided into 32 counties. Twenty-six of them make up the Republic, and six are in Northern Ireland.
The people of Ireland
The Central Statistics Office, which runs Ireland’s census, counted 5,149,139 people in the country on Sunday 3 April 2022. That was 8% more than in 2016.
The average age was 38.8 years. About 12% of people living in Ireland, 631,785 people, were citizens of other countries.
Britannica estimates the population had grown to about 5.65 million by 2026. Most people live in towns and cities, especially around Dublin.
Many more people around the world have Irish roots. Britannica says about 40 million Americans trace their families back to Ireland.
Dublin, the capital
Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city, and by far its busiest place. It lies on the east coast, where the River Liffey flows into the Irish Sea.
The River Liffey runs right through the middle of the city. Dublin is the centre of Irish government, business and culture. It has a famous university, Trinity College, old streets and many theatres, museums and music venues.
Irish and English
Ireland has two official languages, Irish and English. Irish, also called Irish Gaelic or Gaeilge, is one of the oldest written languages in Europe.
Britannica says Irish is a compulsory subject in schools and is needed for some government jobs. Even so, most people use English in their daily lives.
Road signs in Ireland are usually in both Irish and English. The Irish name for the country is Éire.
Landscape and weather
Much of the middle of Ireland is low, flat land with fields, bogs and lakes, surrounded by a ring of hills and mountains near the coast.
The River Shannon is Ireland’s longest river. Britannica says it flows slowly for about 260 km (160 miles) before reaching the sea near Limerick.
Ireland has a mild, damp climate. The warm waters of the Atlantic keep winters fairly gentle and summers cool, and rain is common all year round. Along the west coast are dramatic sea cliffs, such as the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.
Two ranges of mountains are the best known. One is called MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. The other is the Wicklow Mountains.
Land and Water
- River Shannon — Ireland's longest river, reaching the sea near Limerick
- River Liffey — Flows through the middle of Dublin
- Cliffs of Moher — Dramatic sea cliffs in County Clare
- MacGillycuddy's Reeks — One of Ireland's best-known mountain ranges
- The middle of Ireland — Low, flat land with fields, bogs and lakes
A short history of Ireland
People have lived in Ireland for thousands of years. Over the centuries, the island was settled by Celtic peoples, and later visited and invaded by Vikings, Normans and the English.
Britannica says Ireland effectively became an English colony in the early 1600s, and it was made part of the United Kingdom in 1801. Irish leaders such as Theobald Wolfe Tone, in the 1790s, campaigned for Ireland to rule itself.
In the 1800s, famine struck Ireland again and again. The worst was the Great Famine of the 1840s, when the potato crop failed. Huge numbers of people died, and many more left to start new lives abroad, especially in America.
In 1920 the island was divided, and Northern Ireland was created. Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 6 December 1921, the other 26 counties became the Irish Free State, which governed itself.
Ireland adopted a new constitution in 1937, and in 1949 it became the Republic of Ireland. It joined the European Economic Community, which later became the European Union, in 1973.
Ireland Through Time
- Part of the UK Ireland is made part of the United Kingdom.
- The Great Famine The potato crop fails and many people leave for America.
- The island divided Northern Ireland is created.
- The Anglo-Irish Treaty Twenty-six counties become the Irish Free State.
- A new constitution Ireland adopts a new constitution.
- A republic Ireland becomes the Republic of Ireland.
- Joining Europe Ireland joins the European Economic Community.
How Ireland is governed
Ireland is a republic. It has a president, who is the head of state, and a prime minister, called the Taoiseach, who leads the government.
Its parliament has two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Ireland uses the euro, the money shared by many European Union countries.
Irish culture
Ireland has a rich culture of music, dance, stories and sport. Britannica says traditional Irish music uses instruments such as the fiddle, the tin whistle and the uilleann pipes, a kind of Irish bagpipes.
The Celtic harp is a national emblem, and it appears on Irish coins. The shamrock, a small plant with three leaves, is another symbol of Ireland.
The Irish flag has three stripes: green, white and orange. Britannica says green stands for Catholics, orange for Protestants, and white for peace between them.
Festivals and folklore
St Patrick’s Day, on 17 March, celebrates Ireland’s patron saint. People around the world join in with parades, music and lots of green.
Legends say St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to teach about the Christian Trinity. Ireland is also famous for its folk tales, such as stories of leprechauns guarding hidden pots of gold.
Halloween has deep roots in Ireland too. It grew partly from Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the start of winter. Discover more in our Halloween facts.
True or False: Irish Culture
- The uilleann pipes are a kind of Irish bagpipes.
- The shamrock appears on Irish coins as a national emblem.
- On the Irish flag, the white stripe stands for peace between Catholics and Protestants.
- St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March.
- Legends say St Patrick used the harp to teach about the Christian Trinity.
Life in Ireland today
Most people in Ireland live in towns and cities. Britannica says about 69% of people lived in urban areas in 2019, and about 31% in the countryside.
People in Ireland live long lives. Britannica gives a life expectancy at birth of about 80 years for men and 83 years for women.
Ireland was once one of the poorest parts of Europe, and many people had to leave to find work. Today it has a busy, modern economy that sells goods and services all over the world.
It has had hard times in recent years too. In 2008 a financial crisis struck. In 2010, Ireland needed a costly rescue from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Sport in Ireland
The Irish love sport. Gaelic football and hurling are traditional Irish games, played by local clubs in every county.
Hurling is one of the fastest field games in the world. Players use a wooden stick, called a hurley, to hit a small ball, called a sliotar.
Rugby, football and horse racing are also very popular. Big matches can bring the whole country together. Many children in Ireland start playing Gaelic games at school or at their local club when they are very young.
Ireland and Europe
Ireland joined the European Economic Community in 1973, and it is now a member of the European Union. It uses the euro, like many other EU countries.
Irish voters sometimes get to decide big questions directly. In 2008 they voted against an EU agreement called the Lisbon Treaty, but they approved it in a second vote the following year.
Irish words to know
Dia duit: hello. It means “God be with you”.
Sláinte: cheers, or good health.
Go raibh maith agat: thank you. It means “may there be good at you”.
Craic: fun and good company, as in “the craic was mighty”. It is said like the word crack.
Taoiseach: the prime minister of Ireland.
Éire: the Irish name for Ireland.
Gaeltacht: the areas of Ireland where Irish is still spoken as an everyday language, mostly along the west coast.
Speak a Little Irish
- Dia duit — Hello
- Sláinte — Cheers, or good health
- Go raibh maith agat — Thank you
- Craic — Fun and good company
- Gaeltacht — Areas where Irish is an everyday language
Three things people get wrong
Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country; only Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
Irish is not a kind of English. It is a separate Celtic language, and one of Ireland’s two official languages.
Ireland does not use the pound. The Republic of Ireland uses the euro.
Did you know? About 40 million Americans trace their families back to Ireland.
Try it
Find Ireland and Northern Ireland on a map. Can you find Dublin, the River Shannon and the Cliffs of Moher?
Knowledge check
What is the capital of Ireland?
Show answer
Dublin.
What are Ireland’s two official languages?
Show answer
Irish and English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Ireland?
The capital of Ireland is Dublin, its largest city. It lies on the east coast, where the River Liffey flows into the Irish Sea.
How many people live in Ireland?
Ireland’s 2022 census counted 5,149,139 people, 8% more than in 2016. Britannica estimates the population was about 5.65 million in 2026.
Is Ireland part of the United Kingdom?
No. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country. Northern Ireland, which covers the north-east of the island, is part of the United Kingdom.
What language do people speak in Ireland?
Ireland’s official languages are Irish and English. Irish is taught in all schools, but most people use English in daily life.
How many counties are in Ireland?
The island of Ireland has 32 counties. Twenty-six are in the Republic of Ireland, and six are in Northern Ireland.
When did Ireland become independent?
Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, 26 counties became the self-governing Irish Free State. Ireland became the Republic of Ireland in 1949.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Ireland — location, landscape, counties, language, culture, flag, the River Shannon, history and the Irish diaspora
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Ireland facts and stats — capital, area, official languages, currency, government and population estimate
- Central Statistics Office: Census of Population 2022 summary results — census population, growth since 2016, average age and non-Irish citizens
- National Geographic Kids: Ireland — major mountain ranges MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and the Wicklow Mountains.
Ireland Facts Quiz
- What is the prime minister of Ireland called?
- What money does the Republic of Ireland use?
- What is the small ball used in hurling called?
- Which of these is NOT a traditional Irish game?
- What caused the Great Famine of the 1840s?
- Which of these best describes the Irish language?
- Which famous university is in Dublin?
- What happened when Irish voters first voted on the Lisbon Treaty in 2008?
- Which ancient Celtic festival did Halloween partly grow from?
- Why are Ireland's winters fairly gentle?
