Mongolia

lowest point:

Hoh Nuur 518 m

highest point:

Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

total:

0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)

per capita:

166 cu m/yr (2000)

• dust storms;
• grassland and forest fires;
• drought;
• "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

• 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

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

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 (2009 est.)

noun:

Mongolian(s)

adjective:

Mongolian

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Mongolia

local long form:

none

local short form:

Mongol Uls

former:

Outer Mongolia

name:

Ulaanbaatar

geographic coordinates:

47 55 N, 106 55 E

time difference:

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

• 21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot);
• Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

• blend of Soviet and German systems that employ "continental" or "civil" code;
• case-precedent may be used to inform judges, but all decisions must refer to the law as written;
• constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts;
• has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

chief of state:

President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)

head of government:

• Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009);
• First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 20 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 24 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2013);
• following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural

election results:

in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.24%, Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 47.44%, others 1.32%

chief of mission:

Ambassador Khasbazaryn BEKHBAT

chancery:

2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 333-7117

FAX:

[1] (202) 298-9227

consulate(s) general:

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mark C. MINTON

embassy:

Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171 Mongolia

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

• 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)

agriculture:

34%

industry:

5%

services:

61% (2008)

lowest 10%:

2.9%

highest 10%:

24.9% (2005)

• 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

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 has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services

international:

country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

total:

1,810 km

country comparison to the world: 76

broad gauge:

1,810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

total:

49,249 km

country comparison to the world: 80

paved:

2,671 km

unpaved:

46,578 km (2008)

• 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)

males age 16-49:

865,425

females age 16-49:

860,669 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

706,774

females age 16-49:

740,550 (2009 est.)

male:

28,251

female:

27,344 (2009 est.)