1995 Edition

Area

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

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues: limited natural fresh 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: duststorms can occur in the spring international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

770 sq km (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

Northern Asia, north of China

Map references

Asia

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 40% (female 495,919; male 511,464) 15-64 years: 56% (female 693,037; male 693,776) 65 years and over: 4% (female 54,991; male 44,428) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate

32.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

6.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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: 66.54 years male: 64.28 years female: 68.92 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

NA%

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

2,493,615 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

2.58% (1995 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

4.26 children born/woman (1995 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, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

Constitution

adopted 13 January 1992

Digraph

MG

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAAGIW chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

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

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York

[976] (1) 320776

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)

Independence

13 March 1921 (from China)

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

Member of

AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, 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, secretary general; Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP), D. GANBOLD, chairman; Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP), B. BATBAYAR, chairman; United Party of Mongolia, leader NA note: opposition parties were legalized in May 1990

State Great Hural

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON embassy: address NA, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (1) 329095, 329606

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Economic aid

NA

Electricity

capacity: 900,000 kW production: 3.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,267 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 415.34 (January 1995), 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990) note: the exchange rate 40 tughriks = 1US$ was introduced June 1991 and was in force to the end of 1992; beginning 27 May 1993 the exchange rate is the midpoint of the average buying and selling rates that are freely determined on the basis of market transactions between commercial banks and the nonbank public

Exports

$360 million (f.o.b., 1993 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

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

Imports

$361 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea partners: USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5% (1991)

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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

70% (1994 est.)

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994 est.)

National product per capita

$1,800 (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate

2.5% (1994 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. 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 has been gradually making 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, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

Unemployment rate

15% (1991 est.)

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: 220,000

Telephone system

63,000 telephones (1989) local: NA intercity: NA international: at least 1 satellite earth station

Television

broadcast stations: 1 (provincial repeaters - 18) televisions: 120,000

Airports

total: 34 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5

Highways

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

Inland waterways

397 km of principal routes (1988)

Ports

none

Railroads

total: 1,750 km broad gauge: 1,750 km 1.524-m gauge (1988)

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million, 1% of GDP (1992) ________________________________________________________________________ MONTSERRAT (dependent territory of the UK)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 605,633; males fit for military service 394,433; males reach military age (18) annually 25,862 (1995 est.)