Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 68% forests and woodland: 5% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
Geography-note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin
@Ireland:People
Population: 3,619,480 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 406,741; female 384,459) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,218,514; female 1,200,214) 65 years and over: 11% (male 173,978; female 235,574) (July 1998 est.)