Ireland

About

The Republic of Ireland is the second-largest island in the British Isles located in Northwest Europe and third largest in Europe. It is separated from the United Kingdom by the North Channel to the east.
Ireland is often referred to as the "32 countries” comprising two states 'Northern Ireland', and "The Republic of Ireland'.
Irish culture has had strong influence over other cultures, particularly in literature, music, the language, and Gaelic games. The Irish culture shares close similarities with the UK in terms of the English language and sports like football, rugby, golf, and horse racing.
Ireland does not have any official religion but Christianity is the most widely followed religion, with over 80% population being Roman Catholic.
Ireland is a snake-free island and due to its separation from mainland Europe, the island is missing several common animal species like moles, whales, deer, and polecats.
Some of the most famous symbols of Ireland are the Harp, The Green Shamrock, and the Celtic cross.

Ireland is situated in the Northwest of Europe and separated from the United Kingdom by the Irish Sea and the North Channel. To the west of the island is the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and to the South is the Celtic Sea.
Ireland has total land area of 84,421 square kilometers of which the Republic of Ireland is 83%, and the rest in Northern Ireland.
It is also known as the Emerald Isle, for its rolling hills, lush greenery, plains, rivers, woodland, and rich vegetation, encompassing a total land area of 84,421 square kilometers, it is the 20th biggest island in the world.

Ireland experiences an oceanic climate which is mild with a few extremities. Due to frequent rainfall and mild climate on the island, Ireland has extremely lush vegetation.
Winters are from December to February, winters are cold but not freezing, with frequent rain and cloudy skies. The minimum temperature in inland areas averages between 7-8 ºC.
Spring from March to May is cold but becomes milder once it reaches May. It is the sunniest time of the year and the least rainy period.
Summers from June to August, the temperatures are cool, with daily averages around 17-20 º C.
Autumn from September to November is cloudy, rainy, and windy, with very little sunshine.
Precipitation occurs throughout the year; however, it is mostly light.

Ireland is not rich in minerals and resources, but there are few remains of silver, lead, zinc and gypsum.
Ireland exports food products, including potatoes, lamb, and beef, as well as machinery, pharmaceuticals, zinc, and lead in large numbers. The biggest imports are oil, vehicles, petroleum gases, and aircraft parts.
The USA is the biggest importer of Irish products, while the biggest imports are brought in from the UK.

The per capita GDP of Ireland is $47,478 while the nominal GDP is $217.3 billion.
Ireland's economy is based mainly around Life Sciences, high tech services, financial services, and agribusiness.
Ireland follows an open plan economy and ranks first in high-value foreign direct investment (FDI). The Economic Freedom Index ranks Ireland 6th, 5th in the IMF table, and 6th in the World Bank ranking.
It is the foreign-owned multinationals that contribute in the most significant way to the Irish Economy, employing 23% of the private-sector labour force, and making up 14 of the top 20 Irish firms; in terms of turnover, as well as paying 80% of the corporation tax.

Ireland is home to 6.4 million people which includes the population of Northern Ireland as well. Dublin is the largest city and also the capital of Ireland and comprises 1.27 million of the total Irish population, making Ireland the 124th most populated country in the world.
Almost two-thirds of the population of Ireland lives in urban areas. The 2nd biggest city is Cork with a population of 399,216 people. Other large cities with over 100,000 people include Galway, Limerick, and Swords.
The biggest religious following in Ireland is Christianity; Roman Catholics in particular, which account for 84% of the population of Ireland.