Mongolia

parliamentaryIndependence 11 July 1921 (from China)

Mongolia as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 148 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, UTC+8
Position46 00 N, 105 00 E
Area1,564,116 sq km
LocationNorthern Asia, between China and Russia
Populationas each edition published it
3.13 million July 2011 est. · 2.19m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.489% 2011 est. · 2.62% in 1993
Median ageyears
26.2 years 2011 est. · 23.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
68.31 years 2011 est. · 65.77 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.21 children per woman 2011 est. · 4.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
37.26 deaths per 1,000 live births 2011 est. · 50 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$3,600 2010 est. · $800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.1% 2010 est. · -15% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. 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 and a Communist regime was installed in 1924.

The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. 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.

The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPP members.

Geography

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

20 fields

Land useshare of 1,564,116 sq km

arable land 0.76%permanent crops 0%other 99.24% (2005)irrigated 840 sq km (2008)
Area
1,564,116sq km
country comparison to the world: 19land: 1,553,556 sq kmwater: 10,560 sq kmslightly smaller than Alaska
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Land boundaries
8,220km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation extremes

lowest point:
Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point:
Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

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;
  • "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues

  • limited natural freshwater 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

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People and Society

32 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)

54,415
65 and over4%
70,565
1,074,949
15-6468.7%
1,076,455
437,241
0-1427.3%
419,693
MaleFemale
Population
3,133,318
(July 2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 135growth rate: 1.489% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 80

Per 1,000 population

Birth
20.93 (2011 est.)Death
6.04 (July 2011 est.)Net migration
0 (2011 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2011 est.)68.31
65.85 · 70.89Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)37.26
40.26 · 34.11Literacy (2000 census)97.8%
98% · 97.5%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2011 est.)26.2
25.8 · 26.6School life expectancy years (2009)14
13 · 15Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2003)20%
19.5% · 20.7%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 153 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 67 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 58

Ethnic groups(2000)

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions(2004)

Buddhist Lamaist 50%Shamanist and Christian 6%Muslim 4%none 40% (2004)
Urban population
62%of total population
(2010)rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major cities - population: ULAANBAATAR (capital) 949,000 (2009)
Improved drinking water
76%of population
improved: urban: 97% of populationrural: 49% of populationunimproved: urban: 3% of populationrural: 51% of populationtotal: 24% of population (2008)
Improved sanitation
50%of population
improved: urban: 64% of populationrural: 32% of populationunimproved: urban: 46% of populationrural: 68% of populationtotal: 50% of population (2008)
Maternal mortality rate
65deaths/100,000 live births
(2008)country comparison to the world: 87

Nationality

noun:
Mongolian(s)
adjective:
Mongolian

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

2.763 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 45

Hospital bed density

5.89 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 27

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 57

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.3% (2005) country comparison to the world: 83

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 39

Government

Parliamentary; President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009); Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009)

21 fields

Legislature, 76 seats, elected 29 June 2008one dot, one seat

MPP 46DP 27others 3

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary

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 (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution

13 January 1992

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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); Deputy 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); (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
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 on 24 May 2009 (next to be held by May 2013);
  • following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results:
in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms

elections:
last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPP 46, DP 27, others 3

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

  • Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Dangaasuren EHKHBAT];
  • Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG];
  • Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD];
  • Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups; women's groups

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
chancery:
2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-7117
FAX:
[1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general:
New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
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

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);
  • blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

National symbol(s)

soyombo emblem

National anthem

name:
"Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music:
Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ

note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem's lyrics have been altered on numerous occasions

Economy

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors.

52 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$11.02billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 148$10.38 billion (2009 est.) · $10.51 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $6.125 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,600
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 161$3,400 (2009 est.) · $3,500 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
6.1%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 52-1.3% (2009 est.) · 8.9% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 3% (2006 est.)country comparison to the world: 114
Inflation, consumer prices
10.2%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 2026.3% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 19.7%industry 35.1%services 45.2% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

84.8%
China
30.5%
2.7%
Russia
33.2%
Japan
6%
South Korea
5.5%
3.6%
Canada
Exports $2.899 billion (2010)Imports $3.3 billion (2010)(2010 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$2.205 billionExpenditures
$2.089 billion (2010 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
3.896 billion (2008 est.)Electricity consumption
3.023 billion (2010)Electricity exports
20.7 million (2010)Electricity imports
214.1 million (2010)

Economy - overview

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues.

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 averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production.

In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending.

In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's largest untapped copper deposits.

The economy grew 6.1% in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all time high for Mongolia. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. 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 more than three-fourths of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.

Labor force

1.068 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 140

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
34%
industry:
5%
services:
61% (2008)

Unemployment rate

11.5% (2009) · 2.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 123

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3%
highest 10%:
28.4% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.5 (2008) · 32.8 (2002) country comparison to the world: 85

Investment (gross fixed)

36.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Taxes and other revenues

36% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Central bank discount rate

10.99% (31 December 2010) · 10.82% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.9% (31 December 2010 est.) · 20.8% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Stock of narrow money

$921.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $451.4 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Stock of broad money

$3.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.047 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Stock of domestic credit

$1.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.375 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.093 billion (31 December 2010) · $430.2 million (31 December 2009) · $407 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110

Agriculture - products

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

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Oil - consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Oil - exports

5,834 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Oil - imports

15,730 bbl/day (2010) country comparison to the world: 126

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - imports

11,790 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Current account balance

-$378.8 million (2010 est.) · -$341.8 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Exports

$2.899 billion (2010) · $1.885 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Exports - commodities

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal

Imports

$3.3 billion (2010) · $2.074 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.288 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.327 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Debt - external

$1.86 billion (2009) · $1.6 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 141

Exchange rates

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,357.5 (2010) · 1,442.8 (2009) · 1,170 (2007) · 1,165 (2006)

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
2.51 million
(2010)
Internet users
7,942
(2010)
Fixed lines
193,200
(2010) · country code .mn

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas;
  • 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
domestic:
very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
international:
country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Broadcast media

  • following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider;
  • also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers;
  • more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster;
  • transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet users

330,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 125

Transportation

8 fields

Merchant marine, 58 ships by typeone square, one ship

bulk carrier 20cargo 29chemical tanker 2liquefied gas 2passenger/cargo 1roll on/roll off 3vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1
3 (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

over 3,047 m
1under 914 m
1

Networkskm

Roadways
49,249Railways
1,908
Roadways: paved: 3,015 km · unpaved: 46,234 km (2010) · Railways: broad gauge: 1,908 km 1.520-m gauge note: the railway is 50 percent owned by the Russian State Railway (2010)

Airports

46 (2010) country comparison to the world: 95

Heliports

1 (2010)

Railways

total:
1,908 km

country comparison to the world: 74

broad gauge:
1,908 km 1.520-m gauge

note: the railway is 50 percent owned by the Russian State Railway (2010)

Roadways

total:
49,249 km

country comparison to the world: 81

paved:
3,015 km
unpaved:
46,234 km (2010)

Waterways

580 km (the 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, they are open from May to September) (2010) country comparison to the world: 82

Military

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.4%of GDP
(2006)country comparison to the world: 106

Military branches

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)

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)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
898,546
females age 16-49:
891,192 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
726,199
females age 16-49:
756,628 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
30,829
female:
29,648 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mongolia.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mongolia/2011.