Polity · 1937 CE – present
Republic of Ireland
Éire · Eire
Also recorded as Ireland, Éire
- Peak recorded area
- 74,880 km²
- 1973 CE
- Rulers on record
- 49
- from 1937 CE
- Data series
- 370
- 1938 CE–2025 CE
Overview
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a country in Northwestern Europe. It consists of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. Its capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island, with a population of over 1.5 million. The sovereign state shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
11 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before the last complete year, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 60 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population228 obs · 1938 CE–2025 CE | 5.3Mpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy165 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 82.75years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Net Migration141 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 35.4Kpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population Growth141 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 0.958% annual2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Female140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 84.72years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Male140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 80.79years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Economy
6 of 135 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| GDP Current Usd112 obs · 1960 CE–2025 CE | 721.7Bcurrent US$2025 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| GDP per capita85 obs · 1938 CE–2022 CE | 60.3K2011 int'l $2022 CE · Maddison Project Database 2023 |
| GDP per capita PPP82 obs · 1938 CE–2019 CE | 47.4Kint'l $ (inflation adj.)2019 CE · Gapminder |
| Total Exports77 obs · 1938 CE–2014 CE | 110.9Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
| Total Imports77 obs · 1938 CE–2014 CE | 69.7Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
| Trade Balance77 obs · 1938 CE–2014 CE | 41.2Kmillion USD (current)2014 CE · CoW Bilateral Trade v4.0 |
Military
6 of 33 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| CINC Score79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 0.0005CINC (share of world capability)2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Energy Consumption79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 17.5Mcoal-ton equivalents2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Iron Steel Production79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 0tons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Expenditure79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 1Bcurrent USD2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Personnel79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 9,000persons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Expenditure % GDP66 obs · 1960 CE–2024 CE | 0.2391% of GDP2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Territory & resources
6 of 57 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Arable Land %126 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 6.37% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Coal Production79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 0TWh2016 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Gas Production79 obs · 1938 CE–2016 CE | 32.25TWh2016 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Forest Area %68 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 11.53% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Agricultural Land %63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 60.81%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Arable Land per capita Ha63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 0.0827hectares per person2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Governance
6 of 26 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Electoral Democracy Index87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 0.895index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Liberal Democracy Index87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 0.83index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Participatory Democracy Index87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 0.631index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Regime Type87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 3RoW index (0-3)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Rule Of Law Index87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 0.983index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Polity275 obs · 1938 CE–2012 CE | 10index (-10 to 10)2012 CE · Clio-Infra |
Development
6 of 59 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Freedom Of Expression Index87 obs · 1938 CE–2024 CE | 0.974index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Tech Electricity Production64 obs · 1938 CE–2001 CE | 24.6BGWh2001 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Passenger Cars63 obs · 1938 CE–2000 CE | 1.3Mcount2000 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Aviation Passenger Km56 obs · 1938 CE–1993 CE | 4,209passenger-km1993 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Commercial Vehicles56 obs · 1938 CE–1993 CE | 143count1993 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Merchant Shipping Tonnage56 obs · 1938 CE–1993 CE | 114gross tons1993 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
Rulers
49 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Éamon de ValeraTaoiseach1937 CE – 1948 CE
- Douglas HydePresident of Ireland1938 CE – 1945 CE
- Seán LemassTánaiste1945 CE – 1948 CE
- Seán T. O'KellyPresident of Ireland1945 CE – 1959 CE
- John A. CostelloTaoiseach1948 CE – 1951 CE
- William NortonTánaiste1948 CE – 1951 CE
- Éamon de ValeraPresident of Ireland1959 CE – 1973 CE
- Seán LemassTaoiseach1959 CE – 1966 CE
- Seán MacEnteeTánaiste1959 CE – 1965 CE
- Frank AikenTánaiste1965 CE – 1969 CE
- Jack LynchTaoiseach1966 CE – 1973 CE
- Brendan CorishTánaiste1973 CE – 1977 CE
- Erskine Hamilton ChildersPresident of Ireland1973 CE – 1974 CE
- Liam CosgraveTaoiseach1973 CE – 1977 CE
- Cearbhall Ó DálaighPresident of Ireland1974 CE – 1976 CE
- Patrick HilleryPresident of Ireland1976 CE – 1990 CE
- George ColleyTánaiste1977 CE – 1981 CE
- Charles HaugheyTaoiseach1979 CE – 1981 CE
- Garret FitzGeraldTaoiseach1981 CE – 1982 CE
- Michael O'LearyTánaiste1981 CE – 1982 CE
- Dick SpringTánaiste1982 CE – 1987 CE
- Ray MacSharryTánaiste1982 CE
- Brian Lenihan SnrTánaiste1987 CE – 1990 CE
- Peter BarryTánaiste1987 CE
- John P. WilsonTánaiste1990 CE – 1993 CE
- Mary RobinsonPresident of Ireland1990 CE – 1997 CE
- Albert ReynoldsTaoiseach1992 CE – 1994 CE
- Bertie AhernTánaiste1994 CE
- John BrutonTaoiseach1994 CE – 1997 CE
- Bertie AhernTaoiseach1997 CE – 2008 CE
- Mary HarneyTánaiste1997 CE – 2006 CE
- Mary McAleesePresident of Ireland1997 CE – 2011 CE
- Michael McDowellTánaiste2006 CE – 2007 CE
- Brian CowenTánaiste2007 CE – 2008 CE
- Brian CowenTaoiseach2008 CE – 2011 CE
- Mary CoughlanTánaiste2008 CE – 2011 CE
- Eamon GilmoreTánaiste2011 CE – 2014 CE
- Enda KennyTaoiseach2011 CE – 2017 CE
- Michael D. HigginsPresident of Ireland2011 CE – 2025 CE
- Joan BurtonTánaiste2014 CE – 2016 CE
- Frances FitzgeraldTánaiste2016 CE – 2017 CE
- Simon CoveneyTánaiste2017 CE – 2020 CE
- Leo VaradkarTánaiste2020 CE – 2022 CE
- Micheál MartinHead of Government2020 CE – 2022 CE
- Leo VaradkarHead of Government2022 CE – 2024 CE
- Micheál MartinTánaiste2022 CE – 2025 CE
- Simon HarrisHead of Government2024 CE – 2025 CE
- Catherine ConnollyHead of State2025 CE –
- Simon HarrisTánaiste2025 CE –
Language & currency
- Official & national languages
- English, Irish
- Currency
- Irish pound (IEP), Irish euro coin, euros (EUR), euro (EUR)
Memberships
- United NationsUNInternational organisation · member1955 CE –
- European UnionEUEconomic bloc · member1973 CE –
- EECEECEconomic bloc · member1973 CE – 1993 CE
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
CHAT (Comin-Hobijn)2009 (FinalCHAT_72909)
Comin, D. & Hobijn, B. (2009). The CHAT Dataset. NBER Working Paper 15319.
NBER research data, freely downloadable
Clio-Infra2017 datasets
Clio-Infra project (2017). Reconstructions of global inequality and well-being. International Institute of Social History.
Academic use, attribution
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
Correlates of War NMC v6.0v6.0
Singer, J.D. (1987). National Material Capabilities Data (NMC), v6.0. Correlates of War Project.
Free academic use, citation
Barbieri, K. & Keshk, O. (2016). Correlates of War Project Trade Data Set, v4.0.
Free academic use, citation
Gapminderv14 / systema globalis
Gapminder Foundation. Gapminder systema globalis dataset.
CC BY 4.0
Maddison Project Database 20232023
Bolt, J. & van Zanden, J.L. (2024). Maddison Project Database 2023. University of Groningen GGDC.
CC BY 4.0
Our World in Data (2024). Energy dataset. Based on Energy Institute & Ember.
CC BY 4.0
UN World Population Prospects 20242024
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
CC BY 3.0 IGO
V-Dem v15v15
Coppedge, M. et al. (2025). V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v15. Varieties of Democracy Project.
Free academic/non-commercial use, attribution
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
World Bank World Development Indicators2024 release
World Bank (2024). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
CC BY 4.0
Republic of Ireland is one of the polities with a sourced record deep enough to publish.