Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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 later came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.
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Location:
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Northern Asia, between China and Russia
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Geographic coordinates:
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46 00 N, 105 00 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 1,564,116 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Alaska
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Land boundaries:
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total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
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Terrain:
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vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
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Natural resources:
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oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.23% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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840 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
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Population:
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2,751,314 (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 29.7% (male 415,735; female 400,560)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 916,445; female 918,235)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 43,205; female 57,134) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 23.9 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.43% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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21.44 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 55.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.17 years
male: 61.97 years
female: 66.48 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.27 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 500 (2003 est)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 200 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
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Ethnic groups:
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Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
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Religions:
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Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4% (2004)
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Languages:
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Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
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Government type:
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parliamentary
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Capital:
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Ulaanbaatar
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Administrative divisions:
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21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govi-Sumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
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Independence:
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11 July 1921 (from China)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
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Constitution:
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12 February 1992
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Legal system:
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blend of Soviet, German, and US systems of law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ (since 20 August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation with the president
elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held in May 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; election last held 27 July 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president; percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM (CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Tsakkhiagiyn ELBEGDOJ elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - 2 seats undecided
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Judicial branch:
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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 for approval by the president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil Courage Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUUN]; Democratic Party or DP [M. ENKHSAIKHAN]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIKHAN]
note: The CWRP, DP, and M-MNSDP formed the Motherland-Democracy Coalition or MDC for the 2004 elections; the leader of the coalition is M. ENKHSAIKHAN
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZ
embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776
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Flag description:
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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)
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Economy - overview:
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Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits; copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven into deep recession, prolonged by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) government embraced free-market economics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic and international trade, and attempted to restructure the banking system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs were undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment through international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the ex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability brought about through four successive governments under the DUC. Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor community pledged over $300 million per year at the Consultative Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP government, elected in July 2000, was anxious to improve the investment climate; it also had to deal with a heavy burden of external debt. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sector exports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effects of weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDP growth. Despite drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed by a solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first applications under the land privatization law have been marked by a number of disputes over particular sites. Russia claims Mongolia owes it $11 billion from the Soviet period; any settlement could substantially increase Mongolia's foreign debt burden.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5% (2003 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2002 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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33% (2003 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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44 (1998)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.5% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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1.4 million (2001)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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herding/agriculture 46%, manufacturing 6%, trade 10.3%, public sector 4.7%, other/unemployed 33% (2001)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.6% (2001)
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Budget:
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revenues: $387 million
expenditures: $428 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
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Industries:
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construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.1% (2002 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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2.225 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.194 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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25 million kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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196 million kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Exports:
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$524 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
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Exports - partners:
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China 46.1%, US 23.2%, Russia 6.7%, Singapore 5.7%, Australia 5.5%, UK 4.2% (2003)
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Imports:
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$691 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 33.1%, China 21.5%, South Korea 8.5%, Japan 7.9%, Germany 4.7% (2003)
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Debt - external:
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$885 million (2001 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$332 million (2003 est.)
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Currency:
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togrog/tugrik (MNT)
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Currency code:
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MNT
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Exchange rates:
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togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,171 (2003), 1,110.31 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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1,810 km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)
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Highways:
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total: 49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2003)
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Waterways:
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580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Khovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orkhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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none
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Merchant marine:
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total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
by type: bulk 4, cargo 53, chemical tanker 1, container 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, China 4, Cuba 1, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, North Korea 1, Lebanon 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 5, Moldova 1, Panama 3, Romania 1, Russia 14, Singapore 13, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United States 3, Vietnam 4 (2003 est.)
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Airports:
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36 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 25
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)
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Heliports:
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2 (2003 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005
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