Mongolia

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

Mongolia as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalUlaanbaatar
Area1,565,000 km2
1992

Every edition of Mongolia

Populationas each edition published it
2.31 million July 1992 · 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
4.5 children per woman 1992 · 4.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
47 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields
Total area
1,565,000km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries
8,114km
China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

Land area

1,565,000 km2

Coastline

none - landlocked

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%

Environment

harsh and rugged

Note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People

14 fields
Population
2,305,516
(July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth
34Death
7Net migration
0

Ethnic divisions

Mongol 90%Kazakh 4%Chinese 2%Russian 2%other 2%
Literacy
90%
(male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)

Infant mortality rate

47 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth

63 years male, 68 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate

4.5 children born/woman (1992)

Nationality

noun - Mongolian(s); adjective - Mongolian

Religions

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

Languages

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); independent labor organizations now being formed

Government

In transition from Communist state to republic

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

62.3%
MPRP 62.3%MDP 24.5%SDP 7. 5%PNP 5.7%

Type

in transition from Communist state to republic

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

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)

Constitution

12 February 1992

National holiday

Mongolian People's Revolution (NAADAM) 11-13 July; observed 13 July

Executive branch

premier, deputy premiers, Cabinet, president, vice president

Legislative branch

State Great Hural

Judicial branch

High Court; serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts

Leaders

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)

Political parties and leaders

ruling party:
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, general secretary
opposition:
  • Social Democratic Party (SDP), BATBAYAR;
  • Mongolian Democratic Association, Ts. ELBEGDORJ, chief coordinator;
  • Mongolian Party of National Progress, GANBOLD
other:
  • Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), BATUUL;
  • Free Labor Party, C. DUL;
  • note - opposition parties were legalized in May 1990;
  • additional parties exist:
    • The Green Party,
    • The Buddhist Party,
    • The Republican Party,
    • Mongolian People's Party,
    • and Mongolian Revival Party
    ;
  • these were formed but may not be officially registered because of low rates of membership

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Elections

President:
last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held NA July 1994); results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural
State Great Hural:
  • first time held June 1992;
  • note - according to the new present Constitution, the two parliamentary bodies are to be combined into a single popularly elected house consisting of 76 members;
  • results - NA
People's Small Hural:
  • last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held June 1992);
  • results - MPRP 62.3%, MDP 24.5%, SDP 7. 5%, PNP 5.7%;
  • seats - (50 total) MPRP 33, other 17;
  • note - People's Small Hural will not exist after State Great Hural is assembled

Communists

MPRP membership 90,000 (1990 est.)

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-77, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAGIV; Chancery, (202) 983-1962

US:
  • Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE;
  • Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas E. DOWLING;
  • Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing;
  • PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 06521-0002;
  • telephone (800) 29095 and 29639

Flag

a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted

Economy

Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of | unproductive land have constrained economic development.

16 fields
Unemployment rate
15%
(1991 est.)
External debt
$16.8billion
(yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR

Overview

Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land have constrained economic development. 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. Timber and fishing are also important sectors. In 1991-92 Mongolian leadership is struggling with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to the economic crumbling of the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner.

Moscow almost certainly cut aid in 1991, and the dissolution of the USSR at yearend 1991 makes prospects for aid quite bleak for 1992. Industry in 1991-92 has been hit hard by energy shortages, mainly due to disruptions in coal production and shortfalls in petroleum imports. The government is moving away from the Soviet-style centrally planned economy through privatization and price reform.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, per capita $900; real growth rate -3% (1991 est.)

Budget

deficit of $67 million (1991)

Exports

$279 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:
copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
partners:
USSR 75%, China 10%, Japan 4%

Imports

$360 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
partners:
USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5%

Industrial production

growth rate -12% (1991 est.)

Electricity

1,238,000 kW capacity; 3,700 million kWh produced, 1,692 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 (primarily sheep and goats, but also cattle, camels, and horses);
  • crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Economic aid

  • about $300 million in trade credits and $34 million in grant aid from USSR and other CEMA countries, plus $7.4 million from UNDP (1990);
  • in 1991, $170 million in grants and technical assistance from Western donor countries, including $30 million from World Bank and $30 million from the IMF;
  • over $200 million from donor countries projected in 1992

Currency

tughrik (plural - tughriks); 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Networkskm · (1988)

Highways
46,700Railroads
1,750Inland waterways
397
Highways: ; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces

Highways

46,700 km total; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces (1988)

Civil air

25 major transport aircraft

Airports

  • 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

  • 63,000 telephones (1989);
  • broadcast stations - 12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial repeaters);
  • repeat of Russian TV;
  • 120,000 TVs;
  • 220,000 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, 551,548;
  • 359,904 fit for military service;
  • 25,275 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million of GDP (1992 budget)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mongolia.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mongolia/1992.

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →