National name: Éire
President: Mary McAleese (1997)
Taoiseach (Prime Minister): Brian Cowen (2008)
Land area: 26,598 sq mi (68,889 sq km)
total area: 27,135 sq mi (70,280 sq km)
Population (2008 est.): 4,156,119 (growth rate: 1.1%)
birth rate: 14.3/1000
infant mortality rate: 5.1/1000
life expectancy: 78.0
density per sq km: 60
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) (both official)
Ethnicity/race: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 2%, none 4%
National Holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
