FACTS & FIGURES

POPULATION 3,797,257 (July 2000 est.)

AREA 27,137 sq. miles Slightly larger than West Virginia

CURRENCY Irish Punt (IEP)

EXCHANGE 1 U.S. dollar=0.866 IEP (August 2001 est.)

CAPITAL Dublin

GDP Ireland’s GDP is US$73.7 billion (1999 est.)

INDUSTRIES The country’s top industries include food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, software, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal