1992 Edition

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

none - landlocked

Comparative area

slightly larger than Alaska

Disputes

none

Environment

harsh and rugged

Land area

1,565,000 km2

Land boundaries

8,114 km; China 4,673 km, Russia 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 Russia

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast

Total area

1,565,000 km2

Birth rate

34 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Ethnic divisions

Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Infant mortality rate

47 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

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

Languages

Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

63 years male, 68 years female (1992)

Literacy

90% (male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun - Mongolian(s); adjective - Mongolian

Net migration rate

0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

425,000 members of the Central Council of Mongolian Trade Unions (CCMTU) controlled by the government (1984); independent labor organizations now being formed

Population

2,305,516 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)

Religions

predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim (about 4%); previously limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Total fertility rate

4.5 children born/woman (1992)

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

Chief of State

President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990); Vice President Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (since 7 September 1990)

Communists

MPRP membership 90,000 (1990 est.)

Constitution

12 February 1992

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAGIV; Chancery, (202) 983-1962 US: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE; Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas E. DOWLING; Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 06521-0002; telephone (800) 29095 and 29639

Executive branch

premier, deputy premiers, Cabinet, president, vice president

Flag

a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted

Head of Government

Premier Dashiyn BYAMBASUREN (since 11 September 1990)

Independence

13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)

Judicial branch

High Court; serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts

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

State Great Hural

Long-form name

Mongolia

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-77, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Mongolian People's Revolution (NAADAM) 11-13 July; observed 13 July

People's Small Hural

last held on 29 July 1990 (next to be held June 1992); results - MPRP 62.3%, MDP 24.5%, SDP 7. 5%, PNP 5.7%; seats - (50 total) MPRP 33, other 17; note - People's Small Hural will not exist after State Great Hural is assembled

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, Ts. ELBEGDORJ, chief coordinator; Mongolian Party of National Progress, GANBOLD other: Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), BATUUL; Free Labor Party, C. DUL; note -

Green Party, The Buddhist Party, The Republican Party, Mongolian People's Party, and Mongolian Revival Party; these were formed but may not be officially registered because of low rates of membership

opposition parties were legalized in May 1990; additional parties exist

The

President

last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held NA July 1994); results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural

State Great Hural

first time held June 1992; note - according to the new present Constitution, the two parliamentary bodies are to be combined into a single popularly elected house consisting of 76 members; results - NA

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Type

in transition from Communist state to republic

Agriculture

accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (primarily sheep and goats, but also cattle, camels, and horses); crops - wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Budget

deficit of $67 million (1991)

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); in 1991, $170 million in grants and technical assistance from Western donor countries, including $30 million from World Bank and $30 million from the IMF; over $200 million from donor countries projected in 1992

Electricity

1,238,000 kW capacity; 3,700 million kWh produced, 1,692 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)

Exports

$279 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals partners: USSR 75%, China 10%, Japan 4%

External debt

$16.8 billion (yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, per capita $900; real growth rate -3% (1991 est.)

Imports

$360 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea partners: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5%

Industrial production

growth rate -12% (1991 est.)

Industries

copper, processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

100% (1991 est.)

Overview

Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land have constrained economic development. 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. Timber and fishing are also important sectors. In 1991-92 Mongolian leadership is struggling with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to the economic crumbling of the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. Moscow almost certainly cut aid in 1991, and the dissolution of the USSR at yearend 1991 makes prospects for aid quite bleak for 1992. Industry in 1991-92 has been hit hard by energy shortages, mainly due to disruptions in coal production and shortfalls in petroleum imports. The government is moving away from the Soviet-style centrally planned economy through privatization and price reform.

Unemployment rate

15% (1991 est.)

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

63,000 telephones (1989); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18 provincial repeaters); repeat of Russian TV; 120,000 TVs; 220,000 radios; at least 1 earth station

Branches

Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards), Air Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million of GDP (1992 budget)

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 551,548; 359,904 fit for military service; 25,275 reach military age (18) annually