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| Mongolia Main Page · World Factbook Main Page |
INTRODUCTION
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and... See More |
GEOGRAPHY
Location: | |
| Northern Asia, between China and Russia | |
Geographic Coordinates: | |
| 46 00 N, 105 00 E | |
Area: | |
| Total: 1,564,116 sq km Land: 1,553,556 sq km Water: 10,560 sq km | |
Area - Comparative: | |
| Slightly smaller than Alaska | |
Land Boundaries: | |
| Total: 8,220 km Border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km | |
Coastline: | |
| 0 km (landlocked) (Rank: 230) | |
Maritime Claims: | |
| None (landlocked) | |
Climate: | |
| Desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) | |
Terrain: | |
| Vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central | |
Elevation Extremes: | |
| Lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m Highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m | |
Natural Resources: | |
| Oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron | |
Land Use: | |
| Arable land: 0.76% Permanent crops: 0% Other: 99.24% (2005) | |
Irrigated Land: | |
| 840 sq km (2008) | |
Total Renewable Water Resources: | |
| 34.8 cu km (1999) | |
Freshwater Withdrawal: | |
| Total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%) Per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000) | |
Natural Hazards: | |
| Dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions | |
Environment - Current Issues: | |
| Limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment | |
Environment - International Agreements: | |
| Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | |
Geography - Note: | |
| Landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia | |
Nationality: | |
| Noun: Mongolian(s) Adjective: Mongolian | |
Ethnic Groups: | |
| Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000) | |
Languages: | |
| Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999) | |
Religions: | |
| Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004) | |
Population: | |
| 3,133,318 (July 2011 est.) | |
Age Structure: | |
| 0-14 years: 27.3% (male 437,241/female 419,693) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,074,949/female 1,076,455) 65 years and over: 4% (male 54,415/female 70,565) (2011 est.) | |
Median Age: | |
| Total: 26.2 years Male: 25.8 years Female: 26.6 years (2011 est.) | |
Population Growth Rate: | |
| 1.489% (2011 est.) | |
Birth Rate: | |
| 20.93 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) | |
Death Rate: | |
| 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) | |
Net Migration Rate: | |
| 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) | |
Urbanization: | |
| Urban population: 62% of total population (2010) Rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) | |
Major Cities - Population: | |
| ULAANBAATAR (capital) 949,000 (2009) | |
Sex Ratio: | |
| At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.) | |
Maternal Mortality Rate: | |
| 65 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) | |
Infant Mortality Rate: | |
| Total: 37.26 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 40.26 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 34.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) | |
Life Expectancy At Birth: | |
| Total population: 68.31 years Male: 65.85 years Female: 70.89 years (2011 est.) | |
Total Fertility Rate: | |
| 2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) | |
Health Expenditures: | |
| 9.3% of GDP (2009) | |
Physicians Density: | |
| 2.763 physicians/1,000 population (2008) | |
Hospital Bed Density: | |
| 5.89 beds/1,000 population (2009) | |
Drinking Water Source: | |
| Urban: 97% of population Rural: 49% of population Total: 76% of population Unimproved: Urban: 3% of population Rural: 51% of population Total: 24% of population (2008) | |
Sanitation Facility Access: | |
| Urban: 64% of population Rural: 32% of population Total: 50% of population Unimproved: Urban: 46% of population Rural: 68% of population Total: 50% of population (2008) | |
HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate: | |
| Less than 0.1% (2009 est.) | |
HIV/AIDS - People Living With HIV/AIDS: | |
| Fewer than 500 (2009 est.) | |
HIV/AIDS - Deaths: | |
| Fewer than 100 (2009 est.) | |
Children Under 5 - Underweight: | |
| 5.3% (2005) | |
Obesity - Adult Prevalence Rate: | |
| 9.8% (2005) | |
Education Expenditures: | |
| 5.6% of GDP (2009) | |
Literacy: | |
| Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 97.8% Male: 98% Female: 97.5% (2000 census) | |
Average Years of Schooling: | |
| Total: 14 years Male: 13 years Female: 15 years (2009) | |
Unemployment, Youth Ages 15-24: | |
| Total: 20% Male: 19.5% Female: 20.7% (2003) | |
Country Name: | |
| Conventional long form: none Conventional short form: Mongolia Local long form: none Local short form: Mongol Uls Former: Outer Mongolia | |
Government Type: | |
| Parliamentary | |
Capital: | |
| Name: Ulaanbaatar Geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) | |
Administrative Divisions: | |
| 21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs | |
Independence: | |
| 11 July 1921 (from China) | |
National Holiday: | |
| Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921) | |
Constitution: | |
| January 13, 1992 | |
Legal System: | |
| Civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts | |
International Law Organization Participation: | |
| Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | |
Suffrage: | |
| 18 years of age; universal | |
Executive Branch: | |
| Chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009) Head of government: Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 20 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007) Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) Elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 May 2009 (next to be held by May 2013); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural Election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3% | |
Legislative Branch: | |
| Unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms Elections: last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPP 46, DP 27, others 3 | |
Judicial Branch: | |
| Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president) | |
Political Parties and Leaders: | |
| Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Dangaasuren EHKHBAT]; Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR] | |
Political Pressure Groups and Leaders: | |
| Other: human rights groups; women's groups | |
International Organization Participation: | |
| ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: | |
| Chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT Chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 Telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 Consulate(s) general: New York | |
Diplomatic Representation From the US: | |
| Chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON Embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171 Mongolia Mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13 Telephone: [976] (11) 329-095 FAX: [976] (11) 320-776 | |
Flag Description: | |
| Three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity | |
National Symbols: | |
| Soyombo emblem | |
National Anthem: | |
| Name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia) Lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ Note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem's lyrics have been altered on numerous occasions | |
Economy - Overview: | |
| Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew 6.1% in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all time high for Mongolia. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives more than three-fourths of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. | |
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): | |
| $11.02 billion (2010 est.) $10.38 billion (2009 est.) $10.51 billion (2008 est.) Note: data are in 2010 US dollars | |
GDP (Official Exchange Rate): | |
| $6.125 billion (2010 est.) | |
GDP - Real Growth Rate: | |
| 6.1% (2010 est.) -1.3% (2009 est.) 8.9% (2008 est.) | |
GDP - Per Capita (PPP): | |
| $3,600 (2010 est.) $3,400 (2009 est.) $3,500 (2008 est.) Note: data are in 2010 US dollars | |
GDP - Composition By Sector: | |
| Agriculture: 19.7% Industry: 35.1% Services: 45.2% (2010 est.) | |
Labor Force: | |
| 1.068 million (2008) | |
Labor Force - By Occupation: | |
| Agriculture: 34% Industry: 5% Services: 61% (2008) | |
Unemployment Rate: | |
| 11.5% (2009) 2.8% (2008) | |
Population Below Poverty Line: | |
| 36.1% (2004) | |
Household Income / Consumption By Share: | |
| Lowest 10%: 3% Highest 10%: 28.4% (2008) | |
Distribution of Family Income - Gini Index: | |
| 36.5 (2008) 32.8 (2002) | |
Investment (Gross Fixed): | |
| 36.1% of GDP (2010 est.) | |
Budget: | |
| Revenues: $2.205 billion Expenditures: $2.089 billion (2010 est.) | |
Taxes and Other Revenues: | |
| 36% of GDP (2010 est.) | |
Budget Surplus / Deficit: | |
| 1.9% of GDP (2010 est.) | |
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices): | |
| 10.2% (2010 est.) 6.3% (2009 est.) | |
Central Bank Discount Rate: | |
| 10.99% (31 December 2010) 10.82% (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate: | |
| 17.9% (31 December 2010 est.) 20.8% (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Stock of Money: | |
| $451.4 million (31 December 2009) $510.7 million (31 December 2008) | |
Stock of Quasi Money: | |
| $1.545 billion (31 December 2009) $1.288 billion (31 December 2008) | |
Stock of Narrow Money: | |
| $921.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) $451.4 million (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Stock of Broad Money: | |
| $3.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.047 billion (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Stock of Domestic Credit: | |
| $1.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.375 billion (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares: | |
| $1.093 billion (31 December 2010) $430.2 million (31 December 2009) $407 million (31 December 2008) | |
Agriculture - Products: | |
| Wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses | |
Industries: | |
| Construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing | |
Industrial Production Growth Rate: | |
| 3% (2006 est.) | |
Electricity - Production: | |
| 3.896 billion kWh (2008 est.) | |
Electricity - Production By Source: | |
| Fossil fuel: 100% Hydro: 0% Nuclear: 0% Other: 0% (2001) | |
Electricity - Consumption: | |
| 3.023 billion kWh (2010) | |
Electricity - Exports: | |
| 20.7 million kWh (2010) | |
Electricity - Imports: | |
| 214.1 million kWh (2010) | |
Oil - Production: | |
| 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | |
Oil - Consumption: | |
| 17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) | |
Oil - Exports: | |
| 5,834 bbl/day (2010 est.) | |
Oil - Imports: | |
| 15,730 bbl/day (2010) | |
Oil - Proven Reserves: | |
| 0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) | |
Natural Gas - Production: | |
| 0 cu m (2009 est.) | |
Natural Gas - Consumption: | |
| 0 cu m (2010 est.) | |
Natural Gas - Exports: | |
| 0 cu m (2010 est.) | |
Natural Gas - Imports: | |
| 11,790 cu m (2010 est.) | |
Natural Gas - Proven Reserves: | |
| 0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) | |
Current Account Balance: | |
| -$378.8 million (2010 est.) -$341.8 million (2009 est.) | |
Exports: | |
| $2.899 billion (2010) $1.885 billion (2009 est.) | |
Exports - Commodities: | |
| Copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal | |
Exports - Partners: | |
| China 84.8%, Canada 3.6%, Russia 2.7% (2010 est.) | |
Imports: | |
| $3.3 billion (2010) $2.074 billion (2009 est.) | |
Imports - Commodities: | |
| Machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea | |
Imports - Partners: | |
| Russia 33.2%, China 30.5%, Japan 6%, South Korea 5.5% (2010 est.) | |
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold: | |
| $2.288 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.327 billion (31 December 2009 est.) | |
Debt - External: | |
| $1.86 billion (2009) $1.6 billion (2008) | |
Exchange Rates: | |
| Convert Mongolian Tugrik to Any Currency Togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - | |
Telephones - Main Lines In Use: | |
| 193,200 (2010) | |
Telephones - Cellular: | |
| 2.51 million (2010) | |
Telephone System: | |
| General assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services Domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly; International: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 | |
Broadcast Media: | |
| Following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008) | |
Radio Broadcast Stations: | |
| AM 7, FM 108 (includes 20 national radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2009) | |
Television Broadcast Stations: | |
| 99 (2009) | |
Internet Country Code: | |
| .mn | |
Internet Hosts: | |
| 7,942 (2010) | |
Internet Users: | |
| 330,000 (2008) | |
Airports: | |
| 46 (2010) | |
Airports - With Paved Runways: | |
| Total: 14 Over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010) | |
Airports - With Unpaved Runways: | |
| Total: 32 Over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 1 Under 914 m: 1 (2010) | |
Heliports: | |
| 1 (2010) | |
Railways: | |
| Total: 1,908 km Broad gauge: 1,908 km 1.520-m gauge Note: the railway is 50 percent owned by the Russian State Railway (2010) | |
Roadways: | |
| Total: 49,249 km Paved: 3,015 km Unpaved: 46,234 km (2010) | |
Waterways: | |
| 580 km (the only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, they are open from May to September) (2010) | |
Merchant Marine: | |
| Total: 58 By type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1 Foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010) | |
Military Branches: | |
| Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010) | |
Military Service Age and Obligation: | |
| 18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006) | |
Manpower Available For Military Service: | |
| Males age 16-49: 898,546 Females age 16-49: 891,192 (2010 est.) | |
Manpower Fit For Military Service: | |
| Males age 16-49: 726,199 Females age 16-49: 756,628 (2010 est.) | |
Manpower Reaching Militarily Significant Age Annually: | |
| Male: 30,829 Female: 29,648 (2010 est.) | |
Military Expenditures: | |
| 1.4% of GDP (2006) | |
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