1994 Edition

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

Agriculture

accounts for about 35% 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

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

Area

total area: 1.565 million sq km land area: 1.565 million sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Birth rate

33.04 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) note: deficit of $67 million

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

adopted 13 January 1992

Currency

1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Death rate

6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

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

Digraph

MG

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAGIV chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-7117

Economic aid

NA

Electricity

capacity: 1,248,000 kW production: 3,740 kWh consumption per capita: 1,622 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: limited water resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Ethnic divisions

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

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 150 (1 January 1993), 40 (1992), 7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989) note: the exchange rate 40 tughriks = 1US$ was introduced June 1991 and was in force to the end of 1992

Executive branch

chief of state: President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990); election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) elected directly with 57.8% of the vote; other candidate Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP) head of government: Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the Great Hural

Exports

$355 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals partners: former CMEA countries 62%, China 17%, EC 8% (1992)

External debt

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

FAX

(202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York

[976] (1) 320-776

Fiscal year

calendar year

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)

Highways

total: 46,700 km paved: 1,000 km unpaved: 45,700 km (1988)

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%

Independence

13 March 1921 (from China)

Industrial production

growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for about 42% of GDP

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

43.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

325% (1992 est.)

Inland waterways

397 km of principal routes (1988)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

770 sq km (1989)

Judicial branch

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

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

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%

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.16 years male: 63.9 years female: 68.52 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

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

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 587,113; fit for military service 382,633; reach military age (18) annually 25,261 (1994 est.)

Map references

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

Member of

AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), 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)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.8 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$1,200 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

-1.3% (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Natural resources

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

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 past years extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP. 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. The Mongolian leadership is trying to make the transition from Soviet-style central planning to a market economy through privatization and price reform, and is soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid, and the country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships.

Political parties and leaders

Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON, secretary general; 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), D. GANBOLD, chairman; Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP), B. BATBAYAR, chairman; Mongolian Conservative Party, O. ZOYA; Mongolian Green Party (MGP), M. GANBAT note: opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

Population

2,429,762 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.61% (1994 est.)

Ports

none; landlocked

Railroads

1,750 km 1.524-meter broad gauge (1988)

Religions

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

State Great Hural

elections first time held 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total) MPRP 71, United Party 4, MSDP 1 note: the People's Small Hural no longer exists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

4.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

republic

Unemployment rate

15% (1991 est.)

US diplomatic representation

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