Mongolia

republicIndependence 13 March 1921 (from China)

Mongolia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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 million sq km

LocationNorthern Asia, north of China

Populationas each edition published it

2.49 million July 1995 est. · 2.19m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.58% 1995 est. · 2.62% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.54 years 1995 est. · 65.77 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.26 children per woman 1995 est. · 4.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

41.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 50 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,800 1994 est. · $800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1994 est. · -15% in 1993

Geography

Northern Asia, north of China

14 fields

Area

1.565million sq km

land area: 1.565 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

8,114km

total · China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

Irrigated land

770sq km

(1989)

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%

Environment

current issues:: limited natural fresh water resources;
policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment;
the burning of soft coal and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air;
deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification
natural hazards:: duststorms can occur in the spring
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People

15 fields

Population

2,493,615

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.58% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

32.65Death

6.82Net migration

Ethnic divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40% (female 495,919; male 511,464)
15-64 years:: 56% (female 693,037; male 693,776)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 54,991; male 44,428) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 66.54 years
male:: 64.28 years
female:: 68.92 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Mongolian(s)
adjective:: Mongolian

Religions

predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Labor force

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

Government

Republic; President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990); Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992)

21 fields

Legislature, 76 seatsone dot, one seat

MPRP 71United Party of Mongolia 4MSDP 1

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Mongolia
local long form:: none
local short form:: Mongol Uls
former:: Outer Mongolia

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

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

chief of state:: President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990);
election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) elected directly with 57.8% of the vote;
other candidate Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP)
head of government:: Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA)
cabinet:: Cabinet; appointed by the Great Hural

State Great Hural

elections held for the first time 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (76 total) MPRP 71, United Party of Mongolia 4, MSDP 1

note: the People's Small Hural no longer exists

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, secretary general;
Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP), D. GANBOLD, chairman;
Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP), B. BATBAYAR, chairman;
United Party of Mongolia, leader NA

note: opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAAGIW
chancery:: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 333-7117

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227; consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy:: address NA, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address:: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone:: [976] (1) 329095, 329606

FAX

[976] (1) 320776

Flag

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)

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,800

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for about 42% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

70%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1991 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 900,000 kW

Electricity production

3.1 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,267 (1993)

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. In past years extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support;

total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP. 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. The Mongolian leadership has been gradually making the transition from Soviet-style central planning to a market economy through privatization and price reform, and is soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors.

The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid, and the country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

note: deficit of $67 million

Exports

$360 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
partners:: former CMEA countries 62%, China 17%, EC 8% (1992)

Imports

$361 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
partners:: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5% (1991)

External debt

$NA

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for about 35% 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

Currency

1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 415.34 (January 1995), 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990)

note: the exchange rate 40 tughriks = 1US$ was introduced June 1991 and was in force to the end of 1992; beginning 27 May 1993 the exchange rate is the midpoint of the average buying and selling rates that are freely determined on the basis of market transactions between commercial banks and the nonbank public