Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire

Capital City: Dublin

Population: 4,062,235 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $43,600 (2006 est.)

Currency: euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Languages: English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Total Area: total: 70,280 sq km land: 68,890 sq km water: 1,390 sq km slightly larger than West Virginia

Region: Europe

Industries: steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Resources: natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Labor Force: 2.12 million (2006 est.)
agriculture: 8% industry: 29% services: 64% (2002 est.)

Exports: $119.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Imports: $87.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 6% in 1995-2006. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $43,105,967 in goods to Ireland. This ranks Ireland 28^th among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Ireland decreased from the previous year by $17,559,095 a change of -23.55%. State exports to Ireland have decreased over the last 5 years by $81,094,790 a change of -58.73%. Missouri exports account for .42%. of all 2007 US exports to Ireland.