Ireland Demographics

What is the population of Ireland?

Population 5,233,461
Population: Male/Female male: 2,590,542

female: 2,642,919
Population Growth Rate 0.93%
Population Distribution population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration being in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, lack of good transport routes, and fewer job opportunities
Urban Population urban population: 64.5% of total population

rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change
Population in Major Urban Areas 1.270 million DUBLIN (capital)
Nationality Noun noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

adjective: Irish
Ethnic Groups Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6%
Language Note English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population as of 2022; mainly spoken in areas along Ireland's western coast known as gaeltachtai, which are officially recognized regions where Irish is the predominant language)

Ireland Population Comparison

Ireland Health Information

What are the health conditions in Ireland?

Life Expectancy at Birth total population: 82 years

male: 80.3 years

female: 83.9 years
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 7.4
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP 7.1%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population 3.49
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population 3
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved improved: urban: 97% of population

rural: 98.1% of population

total: 97.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 3% of population

rural: 1.9% of population

total: 2.6% of population
Tobacco Use total: 20.8%

male: 22.5%

female: 19%
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 5
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49) 30.9
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 1.72
Gross reproduction rate 1
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 25.3%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved improved: urban: 97.8% of population

rural: 99.1% of population

total: 98.3% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population

rural: 0.9% of population

total: 1.7% of population
Alcohol consumption per capita total: 10.91 liters of pure alcohol

beer: 4.92 liters of pure alcohol

wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol

spirits: 2.29 liters of pure alcohol

other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol
Currently married women (ages 15-49) 52.1%

Ireland Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Ireland?

Life Expectancy at Birth total population: 82 years

male: 80.3 years

female: 83.9 years
Median Age total: 40.2 years

male: 39.7 years

female: 40.6 years
Gross reproduction rate 1
Infant Mortality Rate total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 5
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 1.72

Ireland median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population 11
Median Age total: 40.2 years

male: 39.7 years

female: 40.6 years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population 5.6
Population Growth Rate 0.93%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female
Age Structure 0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)

15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)

65 years and over: 15.8% (male 390,738/female 437,030)
Gross reproduction rate 1
Infant Mortality Rate total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 5
Mother's mean age at first birth 30.9
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 1.72

Ireland Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Ireland?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Modern medical facilities and highly skilled medical practitioners are available in Ireland, but due to high demand, access to medical specialists and admissions to hospitals for certain non-life-threatening medical conditions may result in extensive waiting lists. It is not unusual for emergency room (ER) services to be very busy or for post-treatment admissions to include a long wait (sometimes overnight) on a gurney in a hallway rather than in a shared or private room.

Over-the-counter medications of most types are available, but many U.S. brands are not. (Ask the pharmacist about substitutes.) Some medications available over the counter in the United States may require a prescription in Ireland. Irish pharmacists may not be able to dispense medication prescribed by U.S. physicians and may direct you to obtain a prescription from an Irish doctor before providing your required medication.

If you are traveling to Ireland and may require medical treatment while in the country, consult your personal physician prior to traveling. A list of Irish general practitioners in each area of Ireland may be obtained from the website of the Irish College of General Practitioners. Emergency services usually respond quickly.

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

7.1%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

3

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

3.49

Ireland Education

What is school like in Ireland?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP 3.1%
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary) total: 19 years

male: 18 years

female: 19 years

Ireland Crime

Is Ireland a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

A Garda Síochána (Garda), translated as "Guardians of the Peace of Ireland,” is the national police force providing all state security, policing and immigration enforcement duties countrywide. Ireland has a relatively low rate of violent crime. Petty crime and residential crime is much more common, especially in urban and tourist areas. Rates for residential break-ins, theft, burglary, and purse-snatching have all risen in recent years, and thieves often target rental cars and tourists, particularly in the vicinity of tourist attractions. In rare cases, these crimes have involved physical assault or violence, more commonly in Dublin. Avoid parks after dark and avoid showing signs of affluence in addition to guarding your valuables, passport and wallet. We recommend you leave your passport in a secure location separate from your purse or luggage. Do not leave your drinks unattended at bars or restaurants, as there have been reported incidents of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to robbery and sexual assaults. Please practice sound personal security practices and maintain an awareness of your surroundings during your stay in Ireland.

ATM Fraud: Crimes involving ATMs are a concern. Protect your PIN at all times and look closely at ATMs for evidence of tampering before use. Criminals have used “skimmers” on ATMs, especially in tourist areas. Skimmers are usually small electronic devices attached to the outside of an ATM to steal the ATM or credit card data. Most ATMs in Ireland now have signs or electronic warnings that advise customers to look closely at the ATM for evidence of tampering before using. Be aware that in busy areas, thieves use distraction techniques such as waiting until the PIN has been entered and then pointing to money on the ground or asking for loose change. While the ATM user is distracted, another person will quickly withdraw the cash and leave. If you are distracted in any way, cancel the transaction immediately. If the machine does not return your card, report the incident to the issuing bank right away.

Internet scams: Online fraud scams have been reported in recent years, and travelers should verify through local authorities, family, or friends, the authenticity of any solicited or unsolicited requests for assistance. If you receive an email from family or friends requesting assistance, we advise you to try first to contact the loved one at the last known phone number and/or to verify the story/circumstances with a neutral third party you know and trust before sending any funds.You should view with skepticism any unsolicited invitations to travel to Ireland to collect winnings or an inheritance. There are no licenses or fees required when transiting Irish airports, emergency medical treatment is never withheld pending payment of fees, and hotels in Ireland will not detain guests for lack of funds without involving the police. A claim that a hospital or hotel will not let someone depart until the bill is settled is usually a sign of a scam. Visit the U.S. Department of State's website for more information on International Internet Financial Scams and how to protect yourself.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, you may be breaking local law, too.

Ireland Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Ireland, you are subject to local laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. If you break local laws in Ireland, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. In some circumstances, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime in Ireland and also prosecutable in the United States.

Persons violating Ireland’s laws, including its tough drunk-driving rules, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned and/or deported. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Ireland are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in host country: Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Ireland you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest.

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