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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2003) - Ireland (2001)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2003) z Ireland (2001)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2003)Ireland (2001)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryIreland
Administrative divisions - 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Age structure - 0-14 years:
21.57% (male 425,328; female 403,204)

15-64 years:
67.08% (male 1,290,002; female 1,286,312)

65 years and over:
11.35% (male 188,868; female 247,124) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products - turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Airports 1 (2002) 44 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
total:
17

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
7 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
27

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
Area total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
total:
70,280 sq km

land:
68,890 sq km

water:
1,390 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than West Virginia
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for the 26 southern counties; the six northern counties (Ulster) remained part of Great Britain. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, approved in 1998, was implemented the following year.
Birth rate - 14.57 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget - revenues:
$25.7 billion

expenditures:
$19.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $2 billion (2000)
Capital - Dublin
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Coastline 698 km 1,448 km
Constitution - 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Ireland
Currency - Irish pound (IEP); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Ireland at a fixed rate of 0.787564 Irish pounds per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Death rate - 8.07 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external - $11 billion (1998)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael J. SULLIVAN

embassy:
42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[353] (1) 668-7122/668-8777

FAX:
[353] (1) 668-9946
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINN

chancery:
2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 462-3939

FAX:
[1] (202) 232-5993

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain Northern Ireland issue with the UK (historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); disputes with Iceland, Denmark, and the UK over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $245 million (2000)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 9% in 1995-2000. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP and about 80% of exports and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations. The Irish economy is in danger of overheating, with the tight labor market driving up wage demands and inflation.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 18.414 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 50 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports - 290 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 19.542 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
94.42%

hydro:
4.23%

nuclear:
0%

other:
1.35% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Environment - current issues NA water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements - party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, 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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups - Celtic, English
Exchange rates - Irish pounds per US dollar - 1.0658 (January 2001), 1.0823 (2000), 0.9374 (1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state:
President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November 2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president

election results:
Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%

note:
government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats
Exports - $73.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities - machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
Exports - partners - EU 59% (UK 19%, Germany 9%, France 7%), US 20% (2000)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture:
4%

industry:
38%

services:
58% (1999)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 9.9% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 53 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin
Highways total: NA km


paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km
total:
92,500 km

paved:
87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways)

unpaved:
5,457 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%:
2%

highest 10%:
27.3% (1997)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe
Imports - $45.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities - data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals; petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
Imports - partners - EU 54% (UK 29%, Germany 6%, France 5%), US 18%, Japan 5%, Singapore 4% (2000)
Independence - 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Industrial production growth rate - 14% (2000 est.)
Industries - food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal; software
Infant mortality rate - 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 5.6% (2000)
International organization participation - Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 22 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch - Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)
Labor force - 1.82 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - services 64%, industry 28%, agriculture 8% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
360 km

border countries:
UK 360 km
Land use arable land: NEGL


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
68%

forests and woodland:
5%

other:
14% (1993 est.)
Languages - English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch - bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held NA August 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); House of Representatives - last held 6 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 29, Fine Gael 16, Labor Party 4, Progressive Democrats 4, others 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19, Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Green Alliance 2, Sinn Fein 1, independents 7; note - seats by party in the House of Representatives as of 1 January 2001 were as follows: Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 54, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 4, Green Alliance 2, Socialist Party 1, Sinn Fein 1, independents 7
Life expectancy at birth - total population:
76.99 years

male:
74.23 years

female:
79.93 years (2001 est.)
Literacy - definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98% (1981 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Map references Political Map of the World Europe
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
continental shelf:
not specified

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 115,554 GRT/135,391 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 4, cargo 22, container 2, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $738 million (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.75% (2001 est.)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,004,469 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
809,808 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 17 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
32,287 (2001 est.)
National holiday - Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Nationality - noun:
Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

adjective:
Irish
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Net migration rate - 4.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - natural gas 7,592 km (transmission 1,158 km; distribution 6,434 km) (2000)
Political parties and leaders - Democratic Left [Proinsias DE ROSSA]; Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Michael NOONAN]; Green Party [Mary BOWERS]; Labor Party [Ruairi QUINN]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Tom FRENCH]
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960's and 1970's, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2003 est.)
3,840,838 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line - 10% (1997 est.)
Population growth rate - 1.12% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 2.55 million (1997)
Railways - total:
1,947 km

broad gauge:
1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km double track) (1998)
Religions - Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
Sex ratio - at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment:
modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay

domestic:
microwave radio relay

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 1.59 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 2 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Total fertility rate - 1.9 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate - 4.1% (2000)
Waterways none 700 km (limited facilities for commercial traffic) (1998)
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