Number and population of Northern Ireland.

The official name is the Republic of Ireland. The unofficial name is widespread - Emerald Island. It is located in Western Europe and occupies 5/6 of the territory of the island of I. in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Great Britain. The area is 70.280 thousand km2, the population is 3.917 million people. (2002). The official languages ​​are Irish (Gaelic) and English. The capital is Dublin (495.1 thousand people, with the nearest suburbs 1122.600 thousand people, 2002). National holiday - St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. The monetary unit is the euro (before January 1, 1999 - the Irish pound).

Member of international organizations: UN (since 1955), EU (since 1973), IAEA, Council of Europe, OECD, OSCE, WTO, WHO, ILO, EBRD and a number of others.

Landmarks of Ireland

Geography of Ireland

It is located between 5.5° and 10.5° west longitude and 51.5° and 55.5° north latitude. From the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the east - by the Irish Sea. The coasts of Ireland and Great Britain are separated by the Strait of St. George. The coastline, relatively flat on the east coast, is heavily indented in the south and west of the island, where there are many bays, bays and small islands. The deepest inland bays are Galway, Donegal and Loch Foyle.

Ireland borders only on Great Britain (the length of the land border with Northern Ireland is 360 km).

The landscape of the country is a rolling lowland with a limestone base, framed by coastal cliffs, the highest of which is Carrantuhill (1040 m). 10% of the territory is occupied by peatlands. The longest river is the Shannon (370 km). There are many lakes on the island, the largest of which are the Loch Corrib lake system: Loch Mask - Loch Carra, Loch Ree and Loch Derg lakes.

The climate of Ireland is temperate maritime, even throughout the year thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream; mild winters, cool summers, humid and often rainy. The coldest months are January and February with an average temperature of +4-7°C. The warmest months are July and August with average temperatures of +14-16°C. The sunniest months are May and June. The average annual rainfall for the most part is between 800 and 1200 mm, in mountainous areas precipitation can exceed 2000 mm per year.

The flora of Ireland is similar to that found in most of Europe, but much less diverse. The Burren area in County Clare is unique, where species of the Arctic-Alpine zone, preserved from the time of the Ice Age, coexist with Mediterranean ones. Common tree species are oak, ash, birch, alder, willow, walnut. Extensive natural forests in the past were brought down in most of the country as early as the 17th century. and now occupy approx. 6% of the country's territory, mainly in the center and east of the island. State policy is aimed at expanding plantings, mainly of unpretentious and fast-growing conifers, which take root even in peatlands. The 1976 Wildlife Protection Act protects 68 native flora species.

The fauna includes approximately 380 species of wild birds recorded in Ireland, 135 species nest on the territory of Ireland. Among freshwater fish there are salmon, char, whitefish, eel, pike. Amphibians are represented by frog, newt, toad (1 species each). Of the reptiles, only the common lizard lives. There are 31 species of mammals in the country, including red deer, fox, badger, common squirrel, beaver, gray and harbor seal and many cetaceans.

Ireland has rather modest mineral reserves. Of industrial importance are the reserves of peat (Ireland is one of the first places in the world in its extraction), natural gas (mined on the shelf), lead-zinc ores (near Navan in County Meath - one of the largest deposits in the world) and copper ore. Sand, gravel and stone are mined for the needs of the construction industry, there are dolomite, silver, barite, limestone, small deposits of coal, iron ore, and pyrites.

Population of Ireland

In 1996 - 2002, the population increased by 291,249 people, or 8%. The average annual population growth rate is 1.3% (compared to 0.6% in 1991-96). Population growth due to immigration in recent years has exceeded its natural increase (on average 6.8% versus 6.1%). In terms of fertility, Ireland ranks first in Europe. The birth rate is 14.62%, the death rate is 8.01%. Infant mortality 5.43 pers. per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy for men is 74.41 years; women - 80.12 years.

The ratio between men and women has not actually changed over the past 10 years and is 986 men per 1000 women (2002). Age structure: 0-14 years old - 21.3% of the population, 15-64 years old - 67.3%, 65 years and older - 11.4%.

The retirement age is 65 years. Number of marriages approx. 5%. Literacy of the population is 98%. More than 70% of young people receive higher education.

The ethnic composition is quite homogeneous and practically does not change: the main groups are the Irish (Celts) and the British. There are two official languages ​​- Irish (Gaelic) and English. Before the beginning 19th century Irish was the language of the vast majority of the population, but by 1891 more than 85% of the inhabitants spoke only English. With the formation of the Irish state, the situation with the study of the national language has improved significantly, and now 43% of the population speak it. It is the main spoken language in areas along the west coast called Galtakht.

91.6% of the population are Catholics, adherents of the Irish Anglican Church 2.5%, representatives of other faiths 5.9% (Presbyterians - 4%, Methodists - 0.1%, Jews - less than 0.1%, etc.) .

History of Ireland

The island position and proximity to Britain largely determined the history of Ireland. The island has been inhabited for approximately 7 thousand years.

The Mesolithic culture was brought with them by hunters from Britain, who were the first settlers on the island. Behind them, in the 3rd millennium BC, came the farmers and pastoralists of the Neolithic era. A wave of Celtic invasions swept the island in the 6th century. BC. The country was fragmented into more than 150 kingdoms, and although the Celts failed to unite Ireland politically, they laid the foundations of linguistic and cultural unity.

The introduction of Christianity in the 5th c. associated with the name of St. Patrick. Ireland did not know the barbarian invasions of the early Middle Ages, and this is partly why the 6th and 7th centuries. were marked by the flourishing of learning, art and culture, the centers of which were concentrated in monasteries.

In the 9th-10th centuries. the country was subjected to regular Viking raids, which, due to its fragmentation, could not resist. The Vikings imposed tribute throughout Ireland, but at the same time, being engaged in trade, they contributed to the development of urban life in Dublin, Cork and Waterford. The end of the domination of the Vikings was put by the victory of the High King ("Ardriag") Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014, but the emerging trend towards the creation of a single state was stopped in 1168 by the invasion of the "Normans" - English barons, descendants of the northern French knights. It was they who placed almost 3/4 of Ireland under the political control of the English crown and for 400 years planted their own culture, introducing their own laws and institutions of power (including parliament). 1297 was marked by the opening of the session of the first Irish Parliament in Dublin. In 1315, Ireland was occupied by the Scots and Edward the Bruce proclaimed himself king, but soon died. In 1348, approx. 1/3 of the population of the island. In 1541, Henry VIII of England proclaimed himself King of Ireland. Since that time, the erosion of the Irish clan system has accelerated sharply. The religious changes that took place in England were reflected in Ireland, and although the descendants of the Normans, called the "old Englishmen", did not accept the Protestant Reformation, the Irish Anglican Church was formed in the country.

Revolts broke out in the country more than once, which had a national and religious background, but they all ended in defeat, and in 1603 the Gaelic resistance was finally broken, and the English crown for the first time managed to politically unite all of Ireland.

Another uprising in 1649 ended with the complete defeat of the Irish by the troops of Oliver Cromwell and massive land confiscations. In 1688, most of the Irish Catholics came out in support of the deposed English Catholic King James II, but they were defeated at the Battle of the Boyne (1690). Protestants belonging to the Anglican Church monopolized power and land ownership in the country.

In 1798, under the influence of the French Revolution, a new uprising broke out in Ireland, led by Wolf Tone, aimed at creating an independent republic. It was suppressed and Ireland lost the remnants of political autonomy.

In con. 1840s As a result of a poor potato harvest, famine struck Ireland: in 1846-56, the country's population decreased from 8 to 6 million people. (1 million people died and 1 million people emigrated). The Great Famine had significant political implications.

In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, according to which 6 counties of northeastern Ulster were constituted as Northern Ireland, and the remaining 26 counties formed the Irish Free State with its capital in Dublin, which was part of the British Empire as a dominion. The first government of the new state was headed by William Cosgrave. In 1937 a new constitution was adopted.

Ireland remained neutral during World War II.

In 1948, the fully independent Republic of Ireland was proclaimed.

State structure and political system of Ireland

Ireland is a democratic constitutional state with a republican form of government (parliamentary republic). The Constitution adopted in 1937 is in force.

Administrative divisions: 26 counties (Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Lowth, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Meath, Westmeath, Galway, Offaly, Kildare, Dublin, Clare, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford, Kerry, Cork, Waterford) and 5 county cities (Galway, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin). The largest cities: Dublin, Cork (123.3 thousand), Galway (65.8 thousand), Limerick (54 thousand).

The highest legislative body is the Parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Commons (Doyle) and the Senate (Shenad). The supreme body of executive power is the government, headed by the prime minister (it consists of 16 departments headed by ministers). The head of state is the president (since November 11, 1997 - Mary McAleese).

The President is elected by universal and direct suffrage for a term of 7 years with the possibility of re-election. Doyle is made up of 166 members elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation. Citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote. Elections are held every 5 years. The Senate is also renewed every 5 years and consists of 60 members. 11 of them are appointed by the prime minister, 6 by the largest universities in the country, 43 are elected by professional "colleges" from among specialists in the field of management, business, agriculture, representatives of workers and other professions.

For the last 20 years, Ireland has been in power in a coalition government formed either by Fianna Fáil or Finegal in alliance with one of the less influential parties: Labor, Democratic Left or Progressive Democrats.

Political parties: Fianna Fail - founded in 1926, Fine Gal - in 1933, Labor Party - in 1912, Labor Party - in 1969, Green Party, Progressive Democrats, Socialist Party, Sinn Fein.

The leading business organization is the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. Among other public organizations, trade unions stand out, of which there are approx. 50. They unite more than half of those employed in production. The national coordinator for most of them is the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Ireland's foreign policy is aimed at achieving peaceful and friendly cooperation between countries, based on international law and morality. Officially, the country pursues a policy of neutrality and non-participation in military blocs. At the same time, in many important international issues, Ireland is guided by the United States and Great Britain. The country shows particular interest in the problem of Northern Ireland, advocating its peaceful solution and playing the role of an intermediary between part of the Northern Irish political forces and the British government.

Within the framework of the UN, Ireland seeks to support international efforts in areas such as disarmament, peacekeeping, human rights, economic and cultural development. Twice it was represented in the Security Council, since 1958 it has been participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

As a member of the EU, Ireland is a signatory to the 1992 Maastricht Accords and has agreed to the provisions contained therein on a joint policy in the field of international security and international relations. Thus, Ireland takes a full part in the formulation and implementation of the EU's foreign policy.

Ireland actively provides assistance to developing countries. Being a member of a number of international organizations, it is involved in many development programs and currently spends approx. 0.3% of GNP. A number of Irish organizations ("Concern", "Troker", "Goal", "Gorta", etc.) promote actions related to humanitarian aid and the development of the countries of the world as a whole.

Ireland maintains relations with 102 countries of the world, in 40 of them it has embassies, incl. in the Russian Federation (diplomatic relations with the USSR were established in 1973).

The regular Armed Forces, including the ground forces, the Navy and the Air Force, number 12,750 people. There are also reserve troops numbering 16,200 people. The draft age is 17-49 years. The service is voluntary. In 2002 there were approx. 1.014 million men fit for military service. An average of 32,000 men reach military age every year. Spending on the Armed Forces in 2001 amounted to $700 million and did not exceed 1% of GDP.

The national police force (Garda Shiohana, founded in 1922) is made up of men and women (11,700). The Commissioner is appointed by the Government and reports to the Minister of Justice. With the exception of some special units, the police are unarmed.

Economy of Ireland

Ireland is one of the small economically developed industrial and agricultural countries, largely dependent on foreign trade. In the 1990s The Irish government implemented a series of national economic programs aimed at curbing inflation, reducing government spending, improving the skills of the workforce and attracting foreign investment, resulting in high (average 8%) economic growth in 1995-2000. In 2001-02, the country's economy was hit by the global economic downturn, which affected mainly high-tech export industries, as a result of which growth rates were almost halved.

GDP in 2001 at current prices was 114,479 million euros (at constant prices in 1995 - 88,170 million euros); GNP - 96,802 million and 75,089 million euros, respectively; gross national income - 97,712 million and 75,961 million euros. Compared to the previous year (2000), GDP grew by 5.75%, and GNP - by 1.25%. There has been a significant gap between the growth rates of GDP and GNP, due to the fact that the impact of the rapid growth of individual sectors of the economy on national income turned out to be limited, since these sectors belong mainly to foreign capital and are not labor intensive. In addition, there was a marked decrease in the income of Irish companies received abroad. GDP per capita in 2001 reached 29,820 euros, GNP per capita - 25,216 euros, gross national income per capita - 25,453 euros; these figures per worker are 69,499, 58,768 and 59,320 euros. The share of industry in GDP (2002) - 36%, agriculture - 4%, services - 60%. The structure of GDP is characterized by trends typical of most developed countries: the shares of industry and agriculture are declining, and the share of services is growing. The economically active population in 2002 was estimated at 1.9 million people; of these, 1.8 million people worked, were unemployed approx. 90 thousand people, incl. unemployed for a long time - 22 thousand people. The unemployment rate was 4.6% (including long-term unemployment - 1.2%) and practically did not change compared to 2001. There were slightly more unemployed men than women (4.8% and 4.3%). The highest unemployment rate was observed in the age group from 15 to 24 years. The service sector employs 65% of the workforce, industry 28%, and agriculture 7%.

In 1993-2000, inflation remained relatively low, averaging 2.4% per year. However, in 2001-02 the situation worsened somewhat both compared to previous years, and with the situation in other countries - its main trading partners, while in the eurozone countries inflation slowed down from 2.4 to 2.2%, in Ireland it in 2002 increased from 4 to 4.7%. The prices for services grew especially fast. At the same time, wage growth slowed down in almost all sectors, with the exception of construction.

Industry began to develop mainly from the beginning. 1960s Ireland has traditional food, textile, garment, glass, engineering, chemical and energy industries, but the most rapidly developing high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and the information and communication technology sector, the formation of which was due to a consistent policy of attracting foreign investment. Currently, more than 1,000 foreign companies operate in the country, accounting for approx. 90 thousand jobs and approx. 70% of exports of industrial products. Electronics, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, automotive, metalworking, and telecommunications equipment production are largely under foreign control. In 2002, the volume of industrial production increased by 7.9%. The growth of the manufacturing industry amounted to 8.5% and was almost completely determined by the increase in the output of the chemical, primarily pharmaceutical, industry by 24%. Excluding this sector, industrial production actually fell by 3.8%. The decline in production in the information technology sector reached 5.1%, the volume of food production increased by 3.7%, and all other industries showed a reduction in production by an average of 7.6%. In the coming years, the growth of industrial production will largely depend on the situation on world markets and on the implementation of several new large-scale projects with the participation of foreign capital and will be provided at the expense of the high-tech sector.

The energy sector is based on the consumption of natural gas, coal, peat and oil and is represented mainly by thermal power plants, which produce 95% of electricity. Ireland has the world's largest peat-fired power plants (more than 15% of electricity). Hydroelectric power plants account for only 4% of total electricity generation. There are no nuclear power plants in the country. Ireland is a net importer of electricity.

The high technology sector includes a wide range of industries. For example, the electronics industry consists of the following industries: components, computers, semiconductors, software development and production, telecommunications and information communications, services. Pharmaceuticals play an important role in the chemical industry.

Agriculture is an important sector of the Irish economy, accounting for 4% of GDP and approx. 7% employed. For agriculture, including forestry, 5 million hectares are used (out of a total area of ​​approximately 7 million hectares). The dominant industry is meat and dairy farming, which accounts for more than 80% of the gross agricultural product, while poultry farming is much less developed. Cattle and dairy farming is predominantly concentrated in the south and east of the country, while pig farming is common in the western counties. In 2001, the country produced 2576.9 thousand tons of beef, 82.9 thousand tons of lamb and 226.4 thousand tons of pork; milk production reached 611 thousand tons, butter - 138 thousand tons, cheese - 123 thousand tons. Ireland fully meets its needs in meat and dairy products and exports a significant part of them.

Plant growing is developing in the southern, central and eastern regions of the country. Cereals (barley, wheat and oats), potatoes, and sugar beets are grown. The country surplus provides its own needs for barley and oats, but is forced to import wheat (self-sufficiency rate - 91%).

Agriculture in Ireland as a whole is subsidized: in 1990-2001, government subsidies increased from 408.9 million to 710.8 million euros. In 2001, 72% of subsidies (€512.6 million) went to livestock, 15.2% (€108.4 million) to cereals.

The coastal waters are heavily fished. 1421 fishing vessels caught 294 thousand tons of fish for a total value of 206.2 million euros (2001). Main commercial species: cod, haddock, herring, mackerel. Aquaculture is also rapidly developing: salmon, trout, mussels, lobsters are bred on an industrial scale.

The main part of external cargo transportation falls on the merchant fleet, consisting of 26 large-capacity vessels with a total displacement of 127 thousand tons. The length of internal shipping routes is small - approx. 700 km. The main ports are Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick. Domestic transportation, both freight and passenger, is carried out mainly by road and to a lesser extent by rail. The total length of railways is 3.3 thousand km, of which 1.4 thousand are narrow-gauge railways, used mainly for the delivery of peat to thermal power plants. Only 38 km are electrified. In 2001, 2.6 million tons of cargo was transported by rail. The length of motor roads is 92.5 thousand km. On average, approx. 160 thousand cars and 30 thousand new trucks per year. There are regular intercity bus routes. 41 airports, the largest in Dublin, Cork and Shannon. The length of gas pipelines is 7.6 thousand km (1.2 thousand km - main and 6.4 thousand km - distribution).

The Irish telecommunications system is one of the most modern and developed in Europe. There are 1.6 million telephone subscribers (about 80 numbers per 100 households), there are 3 million mobile phones, 2.55 million radios, and 1.82 million televisions. There are 115 radio stations and 4 television stations in the country. In 2002 there were 1.31 million Internet users in Ireland.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing service industries. Now the country is visited by approx. 6 million people per year, 75% of them for tourism purposes. More than 50% of tourists come from the UK, 20% from continental Europe and 15% from North America. Eco-tourism is very popular.

Ireland is a member of the Eurozone, and its contribution to the total money supply is 134 billion euros, or 2.5%. After Ireland joined the European monetary system, the main task of its Central Bank was to carry out the unified monetary policy developed by the ECB. The bank regularly operates on the open market, lends to the country's largest financial institutions, monitors compliance with minimum reserve requirements, operates Ireland's real-time electronic payment system, through which domestic and international payments of approx. 20 billion euros, acts as an agent and "banker" of the government, controls the activities of the country's financial institutions, including banks and building societies. The Central Bank's interest rate on both loans and deposits is the same as the rate set by the ECB's Governing Council for the entire eurozone. Mortgage rates fluctuate around 4.5%, the bank's prime rate is in the range of 3-4%. Ireland operates the Dublin-based Irish Stock Exchange, which spun off from the London Stock Exchange in 1995. The movement of the rates of securities circulating on it generally corresponds to the trends of the world stock market.

Ireland's public finances are in good shape. Since 1997, the country's budget has had a positive balance, which in 2002 was 95 million euros, or 0.1% of GDP. However, in recent years, the positive balance tends to decrease and already in 2003, it is likely to be replaced by a negative one. Public debt in 1990 reached 94% of GDP, but was continuously declining and in 2002 amounted to approx. 37% of GDP.

The standard of living of the Irish is constantly growing: if in 1987 it was approximately 65% ​​of the average level for the EU, then in 2000 it had already reached it. In 2002, the population's expenditures on the consumption of goods and services amounted to a total of 58,864 million euros (in 1995 - 29,315 million euros) and continue to grow by 2.5-3% per year. Wages are also growing, although the rate of growth has slowed down significantly. In 1998, the average wage of industrial workers was 387.6 euros per week, and in 2001 - 470.96 euros, skilled construction workers - 539.68 and 681.08 euros, bank employees - 541.52 and 650.16 euros, workers insurance spheres - 553.28 and 681.2 euros. Household savings rate - approx. 5%. The richest 10% of households accounted for 27% of income, the poorest 10% for 2%. The number of people living below the poverty line is approx. 7%.

Ireland trades with almost every country in the world. Commodity exports 92,655.2 million euros (2001), dominated by machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, livestock, livestock products. The main partners are the EU countries and the USA. 63% of exports went to the EU (Great Britain - 19.8%, Germany - 11.3%, France - 7.7%, the Netherlands - 5.6%, Belgium - 4.8%), to the USA - 17.1% . Merchandise imports (€57,353.5 million in 2001) consist of engineering products (especially information processing equipment), chemicals, oil and oil products, textiles and clothing. 61.4% of imports came from the EU countries (33.4% - from the UK, 5.9% - from Germany, 4.5% - from France, 3.5% - from the Netherlands), from the USA - 16.2% , from Japan - 4%. The trade balance reached EUR 35,301.6 million, or 35.5% of GNP. During 1990 - 2001, the country's exports increased 5 times, imports - 3.6 times. In trade in services, the country is a net importer: in 2001, its balance sheet deficit was 17,380 million euros. The current account balance was also negative (-345 million euros, or 0.25% of GNP).

Ireland actively attracts foreign capital and invests abroad itself. In 1998-2001, cumulative foreign direct investment in Ireland increased from €53,315 million to €156,889 million, and Irish investment abroad increased from €17,342 million to €38,293 million. Foreign portfolio investments in Ireland 495,688 million euros (end 2001), foreign portfolio investments in Ireland - 414,217 million euros. In general, the country is a net importer of capital and its net international investment position is characterized by a deficit of 12,103 million euros.

Science and culture of Ireland

Public spending on education exceeds 6% of GDP. Compulsory education lasts from 6 to 15 years of age. Education in primary, secondary and - since 1996 - higher education is free. Primary and secondary schools are parochial and receive financial support from the state. The second stage is represented by private and state general education and specialized vocational schools, the curriculum of which is designed for 5 years. Upon reaching the age of 15, students take an exam for the so-called. junior certificate. Those wishing to continue their education after 2 years receive a "certificate of graduation", which entitles them to enter the university. There are four universities in Ireland. The oldest of them - Trinity College - was founded in 1591. Other universities are the National University of Ireland, the University of Limerick and Dublin City University. Developed evening and correspondence education. Regional technical and technological colleges offer a wide range of applied sciences and the acquisition of related work skills, especially in the field of new technologies. 74% of young Irish people get knowledge at universities, 60% specialize in exact sciences and business.

The oldest Irish art is represented by carvings on megalithic monuments from 2500-2000 BC. Celtic art reached its zenith in the illustrated manuscripts The Book of Durrow (7th century) and The Book of Kells (8th century).

In painting of the 19th century. dominated by neoclassicism, romanticism and naturalism. At the end of the century, impressionism prevailed. The major artists of that era are Nathaniel Hohn (1831-1917), Walter Osborne (1859-1903), John Lavery (1881-1922), William Orlen (1878-1931). The first modernist experiences are associated with the names of Evie Hon (1894-1955) and Mani Jellett (1897-1994). The new trend was supported by the Irish Living Art Exposition, founded in 1943. Louis Le Broca, Patrick Scott, Michael Farrull and Robert Balla, Patrick Collins, Tony O'Malley, Camille Suter, Barry Cook worked in close contact with world trends in contemporary art.

Monumental sculpture of the 19th century. represented by the work of John Hogan (1800-58) and John Henry Foley (1819-74), who laid the foundations of a tradition that influenced the work of the masters of the 20th century. Oshina Kelly (1915-81), Seamus Murphy (1907-74), Hilary Heron (1923-77). Mention should also be made of the sculptors Brian King, John Bean, Michael Buffin, Michael Warren and Eiglish O'Connell.

Music has always been an important part of Irish culture. One of the famous early composers is Thorlock O'Caroline (1670-1738), a representative of the bard culture. Modern classical music is represented by such influential figures as E. J. Potter (1918-80) and Gerald Victory (1921-95).

The literature of Ireland is known as the land of legends and fairy tales. From the 6th c. sagas about the deeds of Cuhalan and Fionn have come down to us. Reviving fiction in the Irish language, Patrick Pierce (1879-1916) and Porick O'Conaire opened it up to the world. Outstanding writers of our time are Martin O'Kine, Sean O'Riordan, Myra Wak an Toi, Liam O'Flaherty, Brendan Bian. Anglo-Irish literature also gave the world George Russell, George Moore. James Joyce, with his novels Ulysses and The Dubliners, is one of the most significant writers of the century. Playwrights include Oliver Goldsmith (1728-74), Richard Sheridan (1751-1816), Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950). The novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett enjoys international recognition. Beckett, Shaw, Yeats and Heaney have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, while the novelist Rody Doyle is the recipient of the world famous Booker Prize.

Ireland is a country with a rich historical past. The Irish are considered direct descendants of the Celts, who settled down and entrenched themselves in the northern lands from the beginning of the second millennium BC. Their established proto-state, however, did not occupy the entire territory of the island, but in parallel with the growth of the population of Ireland, the boundaries of its possessions expanded.

It has been established that the Irish are the heirs of the peculiarities of the culture of the Celtic people. And they are still successfully coping with this role, because, despite centuries of pressure and attempts at intervention by the British, they managed to maintain their originality, uniqueness, language and devotion to Catholicism.

Goals and objectives

The objectives of this article are to analyze how the population of Ireland has changed quantitatively and qualitatively in the course of history, to trace the dependence of its changes on historical processes. In addition, it is worth considering the demographic situation that is currently observed in this country, to draw certain conclusions.

Let's turn to history

The Celts, who are considered the descendants of the modern Irish, are in fact not quite the indigenous population of Ireland: they came from the Mediterranean and permanently settled in new lands. And the people who originally lived on the island were expelled by them from there.

Large-scale external threats and cataclysms in Ireland were not noted until the twelfth century, except for the occasional Viking raids. However, soon its territories arouse the interest of the British, who need new lands. It makes no sense to enumerate all the clashes of these two warring nations from century to century. In 1801, England conquered and finally subjugated the Irish lands, incorporating them into the British kingdom. The consequences of this event are sad: by the middle of the 19th century, due to crop failure and, as a result, famine, mass emigration, the Reformation with its persecution of Catholics, almost a third of the population died or was killed.

Moreover, British influence led to the territorial division of the island: in 1919, the northern part, Ulster, where Protestants prevail, was recognized by Great Britain. And the Catholic population of Ireland remained to live in a sovereign separate state with the former name and capital in the city of Dublin. Naturally, this division was also reflected in demographic indicators, because the population (whose number was considerable due to the greater degree of development of this territory) was lost.

Irish population dynamics since 1801

Let's move on to statistics and numbers. It is known that the maximum population of the country was recorded during the years of Ireland's entry into the British kingdom and amounted to approximately 8.2 million. Literally a decade later, it underwent a rapid decline and further recession until the sixties of the twentieth century.

In numbers, it looks like this: 1850s - 6.7 million; 1910s - 4.4 million; 1960s - 2.81 million (minimum); 1980s - 3.5 million. In the 2000s, the most active population growth was observed, associated with both increasing natural growth and stable immigration. Therefore, in the first decade of the 21st century, the number of people has increased from 3.8 to 4.5 million people. The current population for this year is 4,706,000. Experts calculated that the figure is increasing by 40 people every day, taking into account those migrating and the dead. Of all European countries, Ireland boasts the highest

Age and gender characteristics

During the last census of the country's inhabitants in April 2016, information appeared on the internal structure of the population. The following percentages were calculated:

• Firstly, it turned out that approximately the same number of men and women live in the country, the former are literally 5,000 more.
• Secondly, the current age ratio was derived: from 0 to 15 years old, about 993 thousand people were recorded, starting from 16 years old and ending with the retirement age (65 years old), 3.2 million residents were registered, and only 544 people were over 66 years old. thousands. Interestingly, there are approximately equal numbers of male and female residents in each age category. Moreover, the weaker sex in Ireland lives an average of 3 years more than the strong (82 years and 78 years, respectively). Such a high life expectancy is due to the considerable government spending on health care.

National composition, language factor

In the course of the already mentioned census, it was determined what nationalities people inhabit the island. It is logical that the majority of citizens are Irish (88%). The second in the ranking are the British (3%). By the way, the influence of the British has not weakened over the past century, and Ireland is still under pressure in all spheres of life. This is understandable, because the great historical past of England and its ambitions are known to all. Yes, and Northern Ireland is ten times larger than Irish (64.7 million), so assimilation can be traced to the naked eye.

There are also significant diasporas of immigrants from EU countries in the country: Germans, Poles, Latvians, Lithuanians, Romanians. There are many citizens of the Chinese nation, immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, and the Philippines. In general, all peoples other than the Irish and the British are considered national minorities and together they make up 9% of the total population.

Despite the dominance of the Irish nation in the country, not every representative of it speaks his own language. Now a lot of work is being done to spread it, and Irish has been given the status of a state language along with English. But still, the latter is still the most common on the island.

religious question

Initially, the Celts professed Catholicism. However, the Reformation, pursuing a mission to spread Protestantism, also affected them. That is why there was a split into Northern Ireland with a Protestant population and a southern state devoted to Catholicism (they are now about 91% of the population). However, there is now an increase in the number of Protestant families in Ireland, which is alarming the government.

Additional indicators

It is necessary to define another demographic feature that Ireland has - population density. Due to the fact that the western regions of the country are less developed and developed than the northern lands, people unevenly populate the island. But on average, the population density is about 66-67 people per square kilometer. It is worth considering that in metropolitan areas (Dublin, Cork, Limerick) it is much larger. For example, in Dublin, up to 4,000 people are concentrated on one square kilometer.

The Irish are almost completely literate (about 97%), and young people are really interested in getting a higher education (75% of young people are students).

In general, the population of Ireland is successfully growing every year, and the country is developing a rather favorable demographic situation, when the birth rate exceeds the death rate. Projections are only going to get better: in a hundred years, the population is expected to pass the 6 million mark, and life expectancy will be at least 90 years.

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Is London, and the country consists of four provinces: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. The population, its size and features are the subject of this article. Each of these regions has its own system of administrative divisions and enjoys a significant degree of autonomy. The population of Northern Ireland, like the inhabitants of other provinces of Great Britain, is distinguished by a number of features. Therefore, it is advisable to consider each of the regions separately.

United Kingdom: general characteristics

Considering such provinces as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, whose population differs from each other in a number of features, it is important to remember the history. In 1801, the Act of Union was signed. Then all of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. This continued until 1921. Southern Ireland became an independent state, while Northern Ireland remained a province of Great Britain.

The total population of the United Kingdom, as of 2015, is 54.9 million people. According to this indicator, the UK is in 78th place in the world. In terms of population density, the country is the fourth in the European Union. The last census showed that the majority (87.1%) are "white". Among national minorities, the following groups stand out: Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Chinese. The total share of Asians in the UK population is 7%. "Black" - 3%. For 95% of the inhabitants of the state, English is their native language.

population in dynamics

Consider historical data on the number of inhabitants of the province. In 1841, 1.649 million people lived in Northern Ireland. The natural increase was negative. During the period from 1841 to 1851, the population of the province decreased by 12.5%. Over the next ten years, another 3.2%. In 1861 it was 1.397 million people. The natural increase was still negative. During the period from 1861 to 1871, the population decreased by 2.7%. Then over the next ten years by another 4%.

From 1881 to 1891 the population of Northern Ireland declined by 5.3%. In 1891, there were already 1.236 million in the province. From that time until today, the natural increase has been positive. In 1901, 1.237 million people lived in Northern Ireland. The highest growth rate was recorded in the 1960s. Then for 10 years the population increased by 7.8%. In 2001, it was 1.685 million people. Over the next ten years, the population of Northern Ireland grew by 7.5%. According to forecasts, in 2017, 1.869 million people will live in the country.

Northern Ireland: population and numbers

This province is by far the smallest in the UK. Its area does not exceed 2.9% of the total, and the population of Northern Ireland is 5.7% of the total. Before 1921 the province was considerably larger. The whole island was part of Great Britain. Now Ireland (Southern) is an independent country. She was in from 1801 to 1921.

With a population of over 1.8 million according to the 2011 census, Northern Ireland is only 28.3% of the island's inhabitants. Over the past ten years, it has increased by 7.5%. The population density is 133 people per square kilometer. This figure is two times less than the average for the UK. However, the population density is only about 68 people per square meter. Most people live in the Belfast metropolitan area.

From 2001 to 2011, it increased from 34 to 37 years. The population is aging. The number of residents over the age of 65 has increased by 2% over the past decade. This leads to an increase in the burden on taxpayers. However, this trend is typical for all developed countries, including the UK. The largest group in the population of Northern Ireland are people aged 40 to 49 years. Their share exceeds 14.6%. The average family in the province has two children. Life expectancy for men is 77.2 years, for women - 80.8.

Ethnic composition

According to the results of the latest census, about 98.21% of the province's population is "white". The share of Asians does not exceed 1%. "Black" - 0.2%.

Language groups

The population of Northern Ireland speaks mostly English. The two regional languages ​​fall under the protection of the European Charter. Some immigrants also speak Polish. If we consider how many people in Northern Ireland consider English as their native language, then this is 98.86%. Some people also know Irish or Scottish. The second most common is Polish. It is spoken by 1.02% of the population. Residents also speak Lithuanian, Gaelic, Portuguese, Slovak, Chinese, Tagalog, Latvian, Russian, Malay and Hungarian.

Religious denominations

2011 showed what the population in Northern Ireland is based on religion. 40.8% consider themselves Catholics. The proportion of Presbyterians is 19.1%. In the UK, the opposite is true. The majority of the population of the latter are Protestants.

13.7% of the population identify themselves with the Church of Ireland. This is almost 2% less than in 2001. The proportion of Methodists is 3%. Christians of various denominations are 82.3% of the population. The share of representatives of other religions is 0.8%. Atheists are 10.1% of the population of Northern Ireland. In the 2011 census, 6.8% of the province's residents did not indicate their religious affiliation. Only the number of Catholics has increased in the last ten years. Other denominations have declined. It should be noted that the 2001 census does not provide data on the number of atheists.

Passports

National identity remains a complex topic for people in Northern Ireland. Many consider themselves British. They regard the inhabitants of other provinces and themselves as members of one common nation. Others believe that the English, Welsh and Scots are foreigners. They believe that the Irish nation is one.

There is a connection between the religious beliefs of the inhabitants and their views on national identity. Most Protestants see themselves as part of a single nation with the English, Welsh and Scots. Catholics often consider themselves Irish.

All residents of the province automatically receive a British passport at birth. It is no different from what is given in any other part of the UK. However, all those born in the province can also obtain an Irish passport. And you can have both documents at the same time. It should be noted that 18.9% of the population do not have a passport. Most of the population draws up British documents. A Republic of Ireland passport holds 20.8% of residents. Polish - 1%.

Celtic tribes arrived on the island in 600-150 BC.

English invasions began in the 12th century and continued for more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish strife, marked by violent uprisings and harsh reprisals.

In 1921 Ireland became independent from Great Britain; independent Ireland included 26 southern districts; the sixth northern (Ulster) district remains part of the UK.

In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth;

in 1973 it joined the European Economic Community.

The Irish authorities sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and cooperated with Britain in the fight against terrorist groups.

Geography of Ireland

Location:

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the islands of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographical coordinates:

4,203,200 (July 2009 est.)

14.23 births/1,000 (2009 est.)

0.2% (2007 estimate)
Place of the country in the world: 103

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,500 (est. 2007)
Place of the country in the world: 121

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Less than 100 (est. 2007)
Place of the country in the world: 130

Nationality (ethnic groups):

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, Black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Catholic Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, atheist 4.2% (2006 census)

Languages:

English (official state language), Irish (Gaelic or Gaelge) (official), spoken mainly in areas along the west coast

Education spending:

4.7% of GDP (2005)
Place of the country in the world: 80

Government of Ireland

The name of the country : Ireland

Government type:

Republic, parliamentary democracy

Capital: Dublin

geographical coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W

Administrative districts:

Ireland is administratively divided into four provinces - Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. Each of the provinces, in turn, is divided into counties.

There are 26 counties in Ireland.

The province of Leinster is located in the east of Ireland, uniting twelve counties - Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Lishsh, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow. Leinster area - 19.8 thousand square meters. kilometers, population - 2.1 million people. It is the most populous of all the provinces. The largest cities are Dublin, Carlow, Dun Leary, Sorde, Neiss, Trim, Daldalk. The flag of Leinster is a golden harp on a green background.

In the south of Ireland is the province of Munster, which includes six counties. These are the counties of Clare, Cork, Carrie, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. County Tipperary comprises two administrative counties, North and South Tipperary. On the territory of the province in 24.6 thousand square meters. kilometers is home to 1.1 million people. The largest cities are Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Waterford. The flag of Munster features three golden crowns on a blue background, symbolizing the three ancient kingdoms of Munster - Thomond, Desmond and Ormond.

The most sparsely populated province of Ireland - Connaught - is located in the west of the country. This is an agricultural region. Its population is only 460 thousand people, and the area is 17.7 thousand square meters. kilometers. Administratively, Connaught is divided into counties Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The only true city of Connaught is Galway. The flag of Connacht is a black eagle on a white background and a sword hand on a blue background.

The province of Ulster, which occupies the north of Ireland, goes beyond the borders of the state of Ireland, uniting three Irish counties (Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan) and six counties belonging to Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. These are the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone. The area of ​​Ulster is 24.5 thousand square meters. kilometers, population - about 2 million people. The largest city of Ulster is Belfast (Northern Ireland). The flag of Ulster is a red cross on an orange background, in the center is a white shield with the image of a palm.

In addition to the official administrative division, there is an informal division of Ireland into North, Northwest, West, South, Southwest, Southeast, East, Hinterlands.

Independence:

National holiday:

Constitution:

Executive Power:

Head of State: President Mary McAleese (since November 11, 1997)
head of government: Teoisich (Prime Minister Brian COWAN) (since May 7, 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous appointment by the prime minister and approval by the House of Representatives

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president approved by cabinet council)

Economy of Ireland

Economics at a Glance:

Ireland - has a modern economy dependent on foreign trade.
Ireland entered the Eurozone on 1 January 2002.
GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but business activity dropped sharply in 2008-09 as GDP fell by 3% in 2008 and nearly 8% in 2009.