Mongolia
mixed parliamentary/presidentialIndependence 11 July 1921 (from China)
Mongolia as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 131 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.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. 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. A Communist regime was installed in 1924.
Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but 2004 elections reduced MPRP representation and, therefore, its authority.
Geography
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 1,564,116 sq km
Terrain
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Natural resources
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- 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, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues
- limited natural fresh water 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
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2000)
Religions(2004)
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 (2008 est.)
Government
Mixed parliamentary/presidential; President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005); Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November 2007)
18 fieldsLegislature, 76 seats, elected 29 June 2008one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Mongolia
- local long form:
- none
- local short form:
- Mongol Uls
- former:
- Outer Mongolia
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, Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Legal system
- blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent;
- constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November 2007);
- First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 27 September 2008); Vice 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 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009);
- following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
- election results:
- Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president;
- percent of vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT 12.59%;
- Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10
Legislative branch
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms
- elections:
- last held 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - MPRP 47, DP 26, others 3;
- note - results are disputed
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
Democratic Party or DP [Norovyn ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanji BAYAR]
International organization participation
ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT
- chancery:
- 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 333-7117
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 298-9227
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
- embassy:
- Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
- 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)
Economy
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture.
48 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2006)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and foreign direct investment. 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 was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, 7.5% in 2006, and 9.9% in 2007 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production.
Mongolia is experiencing its highest inflation rate in over a decade as consumer prices in 2007 rose 15%, largely because of increased fuel and food costs. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, 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 about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are sizable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms.
Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.
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
Exports - commodities
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Exchange rates
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,170 (2007), 1,179.6 (2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas
- domestic:
- very low fixed-line density;
- there are multiple mobile cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
- a fiber-optic network is also being installed that will improve broadband and communication services between major urban centers
- international:
- country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
Radio broadcast stations
AM 7, FM 115 (includes 20 National radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2006)
Transportation
8 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Waterways
580 km
note: 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, are open from May to September (2004)
Merchant marine
- total:
- 77
- by type:
- bulk carrier 20, cargo 44, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1
- foreign-owned:
- 53 (China 1, Germany 4, Indonesia 1, North Korea 1, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Russia 9, Singapore 9, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 23) (2008)
Military
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2008)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2008)
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)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Mongolia.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mongolia/2008.