A Comprehensive Comparison of India and Ireland Historically

National name: Ireland, or Eire in the Irish language

President: Mary McAleese (1997)

Taoiseach (Prime Minister): Bertie Ahern (1997)

Area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)

Population (2004 est.): 3,969,558 (growth rate: 1.2%); birth rate: 14.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.5/1000; life expectancy: 77.4; density per sq mi: 146

Capital (2003 est.): Dublin, 1,018,500

Other large cities: Cork, 193,400; Limerick, 84,900; Galway, 67,200

Monetary units: Euro (formerly Irish pound [punt])

Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic)

Ethnicity/race: Celtic, English

Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%, Anglican 2.5%, other 5.9%

Literacy rate: 98% (1981 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2003 est.): $117 billion; per capita $29,800. Real growth rate: 2.1%. Inflation: 3.7%. Unemployment: 5%. Arable land: 19%. Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products. Labor force: 1.8 million (2001); agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 64% (2002 est.). Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal; software. Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver. Exports: $98.31 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.): machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products (1999). Imports: