Mongolia

in transition from Communist state to republicIndependence 13 March 1921 (from China

Mongolia as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalUlaanbaatar

Area1,565,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

2.25 million July 1991 · 2.19m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.62% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 65.77 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.6 children per woman 1991 · 4.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

48 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 50 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -15% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

1,565,000km2

land area: 1,565,000 km2Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries

8,114km total

China 4,673 km, USSR 3,441 km

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains;
mountains in west and southwest;
Gobi Desert in southeast

Natural resources

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Land use

arable land 1%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 79%;
forest and woodland 10%;
other 10%;
includes irrigated NEGL%

Note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Soviet Union

People

14 fields

Population

2,247,068

(July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

34Death

8Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Mongol 90%Kazakh 4%Chinese 2%Russian 2%other 2%

Literacy

90%

(male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun--Mongolian(s); adjective--Mongolian

Religion

predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim (about 4%), limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Language

Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese

Labor force

NA, but primarily herding/agricultural;
over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women;
shortage of skilled labor

Organized labor

425,000 members of the Central Council of Mongolian Trade Unions (CCMTU) controlled by the government (1984)

Government

In transition from Communist state to republic

16 fields

People's Great Hural, 430 seats, elected 29 July 1990seats by party

MPRP 343

Long-form name

Mongolian People's Republic; abbreviated MPR

Type

in transition from Communist state to republic

Administrative divisions

18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot);
Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence

13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)

Legal system

blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law;
no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chairman and deputy chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural, premier, deputy premiers, Cabinet

Legislative branch

People's Great Hural, People's Small Hural

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State--President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990);
Vice President Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (since 7 September 1990);
Head of Government--Premier Dashiyn BYAMBASUREN (since 11 September 1990);
ruling party--Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, general secretary;
opposition--Social Democratic Party (SDP), Batbayar;
Mongolian Democratic Association, Sanjasuren DZORIG, chief coordinator;
Mongolian Party of National Progress, Ganbold;
other--Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), Batuul;
Free Labor Party, Maam;
note--opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held July 1994);
results--Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural;
People's Great Hural--last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held July 1994);
results--MPRP 84.6, MDP 3.8%, PNP 1.4%, SDP 1%, independents 9.2%;
seats--(430 total) MPRP 343;
People's Small Hural--last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held July 1994);
results--MPRP 62.3%, MDP 24.5%, SDP 7.5%, PNP 5.7%;
seats--(50 total) MPRP 33

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMF, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Gendengiyn NYAMDOO;
Chancery, Tel. (202) 983-1962;
US--Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE;
Deputy Chief of Mission Michael J. SENKO;
Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing;
Tel. 29095 and 29639

Flag

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is a five-pointed star above the national emblem (soyombo--a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representations for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy

Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$2.2billion

per capita $1,000 (1990 est.); real growth rate NA%

Unemployment rate

10%

(February 1991)

External debt

$16.8billion

(yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR

Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world. In recent years extensive mineral resources have been developed with Soviet support. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production.

In early 1991 the Mongolian leadership was struggling with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to chaotic economic conditions in the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. For example, the government doubled most prices in January 1991, and industrial production dropped 10% in the first quarter of 1991. Moscow almost certainly will be cutting aid in 1991.

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Budget

deficit of $240 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$784 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar, nonferrous metals, minerals;
partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

Imports

$1.14 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea;
partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

657,000 kW capacity; 2,950 million kWh produced, 1,380 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

copper, processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)

Agriculture

accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population;
livestock raising predominates (sheep, goats, horses);
crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Communications

6 fields

Networkskm · (1988)

Highways

46,700Railroads

1,750Inland waterways

397

Highways: ; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces

81 total, 31 usable;
11 with permanent-surface runways;
fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m;
fewer than 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

stations--12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial relays);
relay of Soviet TV;
120,000 TVs;
186,000 radios;
at least 1 earth station

Defense Forces

Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards), Air Force

3 fields

Branches

Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards), Air Force

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 535,376;
349,548 fit for military service;
25,275 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mongolia.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mongolia/1991.

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