World Factbook
Ireland
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
68,883 sq km
water
1,390 sq km
total
70,273 sq km
Climate
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Land use
other
27.3% (2023 est.)
forest
11.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
60.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Coastline
1,448 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
mean elevation
118 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
490 km
border countries
UK 499 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
rare extreme weather events
Geography - note
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin
Natural resources
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Area - comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Geographic coordinates
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Population distribution
population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes