Ireland
Europe · 18 specs
Direct Answer
Ireland (IE / IRL / 372) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using BS 1363 (Type G) fused sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT) with speeds posted in km/h. The official currency is the Euro (EUR, €), country calling code is +353, emergency dispatch is 112 / 999, and paper standard is I.S. EN ISO 216 A4.
Source: NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) / IS 201 / ComReg / ISO 3166-1 / An Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Ireland ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Éire (Irish) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | IE |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | IRL |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 372 UN M49 (Code 150) |
| Country Calling Code | +353 ComReg (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .ie .ie Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | IRL EU Euroband Plate (Year-County-Number) |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Euro (EUR, €) 100 Cent (Cash rounds to 5c) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz I.S. 10101 / Safe Electric |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type G (I.S. 401 / BS 1363 standard) 13 A / 230 V (fused) |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Road Traffic Act (Metric km/h since 2005) |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) NSAI Legal Metrology |
| Standard Office Paper Format | I.S. EN ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 112 / 999 Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 7 Characters (Eircode: A65 F4E2) An Post Unique Address Identifier |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+0 (WET / IST Summer UTC+1) Irish Standard Time |
The Eircode System & Left-Hand Driving
- Unique Eircode Postal Architecture: Unlike traditional area postcodes, Ireland's Eircode assigns a unique 7-character alphanumeric code to every individual building/delivery point in the country.
- Metric Speed Transition (2005): In 2005, Ireland switched road signage completely to Metric (km/h) while maintaining Left-Hand Traffic (LHT).
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type G (I.S. 401 / BS 1363 standard). Uses standard British Type G 3-pin rectangular blade plugs with internal fuse protection and child safety shutters.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +353. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 112 / 999. Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Euro (EUR, €).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize I.S. EN ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+0 (WET / IST Summer UTC+1).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 7 Characters (Eircode: A65 F4E2).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Ireland.