1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Coastline
none--landlocked
Comparative area
slightly larger than Alaska
Environment
harsh and rugged
Land boundaries
8,114 km total; China 4,673 km, USSR 3,441 km
Land use
arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 79%; forest and woodland 10%; other 10%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Maritime claims
none--landlocked
Natural resources
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
Note
landlocked; strategic location between China and Soviet Union
Terrain
vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Total area
1,565,000 km2; land area: 1,565,000 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
34 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Ethnic divisions
Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Infant mortality rate
48 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
NA, but primarily herding/agricultural; over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor
Language
Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese
Life expectancy at birth
63 years male, 67 years female (1991)
Literacy
90% (male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)
Nationality
noun--Mongolian(s); adjective--Mongolian
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
425,000 members of the Central Council of Mongolian Trade Unions (CCMTU) controlled by the government (1984)
Population
2,247,068 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)
Religion
predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim (about 4%), limited religious activity because of Communist regime
Total fertility rate
4.6 children born/woman (1991)
Government
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
Capital
Ulaanbaatar
Communists
MPRP membership 90,000 (1990 est.)
Constitution
6 July 1960
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador Gendengiyn NYAMDOO; Chancery, Tel. (202) 983-1962; US--Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE; Deputy Chief of Mission Michael J. SENKO; Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing; Tel. 29095 and 29639
Elections
President--last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held July 1994); results--Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural; People's Great Hural--last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held July 1994); results--MPRP 84.6, MDP 3.8%, PNP 1.4%, SDP 1%, independents 9.2%; seats--(430 total) MPRP 343; People's Small Hural--last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held July 1994); results--MPRP 62.3%, MDP 24.5%, SDP 7.5%, PNP 5.7%; seats--(50 total) MPRP 33
Executive branch
chairman and deputy chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural, premier, deputy premiers, Cabinet
Flag
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is a five-pointed star above the national emblem (soyombo--a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representations for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)
Independence
13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State--President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990); Vice President Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (since 7 September 1990); Head of Government--Premier Dashiyn BYAMBASUREN (since 11 September 1990);
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
Legislative branch
People's Great Hural, People's Small Hural
Long-form name
Mongolian People's Republic; abbreviated MPR
Member of
AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMF, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
National holiday
People's Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Political parties and leaders
ruling party--Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, general secretary; opposition--Social Democratic Party (SDP), Batbayar; Mongolian Democratic Association, Sanjasuren DZORIG, chief coordinator; Mongolian Party of National Progress, Ganbold; other--Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), Batuul; Free Labor Party, Maam; note--opposition parties were legalized in May 1990
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
in transition from Communist state to republic
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (sheep, goats, horses); crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage
Budget
deficit of $240 million (1991 est.)
Currency
tughrik (plural--tughriks); 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Economic aid
about $300 million in trade credits and $34 million in grant aid from USSR and other CEMA countries, plus $7.4 million from UNDP (1990)
Electricity
657,000 kW capacity; 2,950 million kWh produced, 1,380 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
tughriks (Tug) per US$1--7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)
Exports
$784 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar, nonferrous metals, minerals; partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)
External debt
$16.8 billion (yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
$2.2 billion, per capita $1,000 (1990 est.); real growth rate NA%
Imports
$1.14 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea; partners--nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
copper, processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Overview
Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world. In recent years extensive mineral resources have been developed with Soviet support. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. In early 1991 the Mongolian leadership was struggling with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to chaotic economic conditions in the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. For example, the government doubled most prices in January 1991, and industrial production dropped 10% in the first quarter of 1991. Moscow almost certainly will be cutting aid in 1991.
Unemployment rate
10% (February 1991)
Communications
Airports
81 total, 31 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; fewer than 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
25 major transport aircraft
Highways
46,700 km total; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces (1988)
Inland waterways
397 km of principal routes (1988)
Railroads
1,750 km 1.524-meter broad gauge (1988)
Telecommunications
stations--12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial relays); relay of Soviet TV; 120,000 TVs; 186,000 radios; at least 1 earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards), Air Force
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP _%_
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 535,376; 349,548 fit for military service; 25,275 reach military age (18) annually