Mongolia

republicIndependence 13 March 1921 (from China)

Mongolia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 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

Position46 00 N, 105 00 E

Area1.565 million sq km

LocationNorthern Asia, between China and Russia

Populationas each edition published it

2.5 million July 1996 est. · 2.19m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.69% 1996 est. · 2.62% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

60.75 years 1996 est. · 65.77 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.04 children per woman 1996 est. · 4.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

69.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 50 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,970 1995 est. · $800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1995 est. · -15% in 1993

Geography

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

15 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

border countries: 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

lowest point:: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point:: Nayramadlin Orgil 4,374 m

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:: dust storms 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

Geographic note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People

15 fields

Population

2,496,617

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.69% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

25.55Death

8.65Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years60.75

58.8 · 62.8

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy82.9%

88.6% · 77.2%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1988 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 38% (male 486,321; female 471,931)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 722,485; female 723,065)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 39,704; female 53,111) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

69.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 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

Government

Republic; President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990) was nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected in general presidential elections for a four-year term; Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH (since NA October 1992) and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA September 1990) were appointed by the State Great Hural

21 fields

Legislature, 76 seatsone dot, one seat

MPRP 71United Party of Mongolia 4MSDP 1

Name of country

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

Data code

Type of government

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)

National holiday

National Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution

adopted 13 January 1992

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990) was nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected in general presidential elections for a four-year term;
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) and Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH (since NA October 1992) and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA September 1990) were appointed by the State Great Hural
cabinet:: Cabinet was appointed by the State Great Hural

Legislative branch

unicameral

State Great Hural

elections held for the first time 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1996);
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, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval of the Great Hural

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

International organization participation

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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR
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:: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, 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

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

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,970

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

53%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1991 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 28%industry 35%services 37% (1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.5 billionExpenditures

$1.3 billion (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 900,000 kW

Electricity production

3.1 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,267 (1993)

Economic 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 has been soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors.

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.115 million (mid-1993 est.); 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

Industries

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

Agriculture

wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Exports

$400 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

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

Imports

$223 million (f.o.b., 1994)

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