1993 Edition

Area

total area: 1.565 million km2 land area: 1.565 million km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

harsh and rugged

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

770 km2 (1989)

Land boundaries

total 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%

Location

East Central Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

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

Birth rate

33.41 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate

7.16 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

44.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force

NA by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural note: over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.77 years male: 63.53 years female: 68.13 years (1993 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population

2,367,054 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate

2.62% (1993 est.)

Religions

predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Total fertility rate

4.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)

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,

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

Chief of State

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

Constitution

adopted 13 January 1992

Digraph

MG

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAGIV chancery: NA telephone: (301) 983-1962

Executive branch

president, vice president, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, cabinet

FAX

(301) 983-2025

Telex 080079253 AMEMB MH

Flag

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)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992); First Deputy Prime Minister Puntsagiyn JASRAY (since NA)

Judicial branch

Supreme 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

unicameral State Great Hural

Member of

AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Names

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

National holiday

National Day, 11 July (1921)

Political parties and leaders

Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, presidium chairman; Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), Erdenijiyn BAT-UUL, general coordinator; National Progress Party (NPP), S. BYAMBAA and Luusandambyn DASHNYAM, leaders; Social Democratic Party (SDP), BATBAYAR and Tsohiogyyn ADYASUREN, leaders; Mongolian Independence Party (MIP), D. ZORIGT, leader; United Party of Mongolia (made up of the MDP, SDP, and NPP); Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP; merger of the MDP, United Party, Renaissance Party, and PNP), D. GANBOLD note:

Mongolian Green Party, The Buddhist Believers' Party, The Republican Party, Mongolian People's Party, and United Herdsmen and Farmers Party (MHFUP), Mongolian Bourgeois Party (BP), Mongolian Private Property Owners Party, Mongolian Workers Party

opposition parties were legalized in May 1990; additional parties exist

The

President

last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held 6 June 1993); results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural; other candidate Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP)

State Great Hural

first time held 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - MPRP 56.9%; seats - (76 total) MPRP 71, MDP/PNP 3, SDP 1, independent 1 note: the People's Small Hural no longer exists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

republic

Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs, Independence

13 March 1921 (from China)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE embassy: address NA, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region II, Big Rind Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (1) 329095, 329606

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

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

1,248,000 kW capacity; 3,740 million kWh produced, 1,622 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 40 (1992), 7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)

Exports

$347 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) 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

Imports

$501 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) 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 -15% (1992 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

325% (1992 est.)

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.8 billion (1992 est.)

National product per capita

$800 (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate

-15% (1992 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 1992 the Mongolian leadership continued its struggle with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to the crumbling of the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. Moscow cut almost all aid in 1991, and little was provided in 1992. Industry in 1992 was hit hard by energy shortages, mainly due to disruptions in coal production and shortfalls in petroleum imports. By the end of the year, the country was perilously close to a complete shutdown of its centralized energy supply system, due to critical coal shortages. The government is moving away from the Soviet-style, centrally planned economy through privatization and price reform.

Unemployment rate

15% (1991 est.)

Airports

total: 81 usable: 31 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: fewer than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: fewer than 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12

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 Internal Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million of GDP, 1% of GDP (1992)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 569,135; fit for military service 371,162; reach military age (18) annually 25,406 (1993 est.)