1996 Edition

Description

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)

Location

46 00 N, 105 00 E -- Northern Asia, between China and Russia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than Alaska

land area

1.565 million sq km

total area

1.565 million sq km

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

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

dust storms can occur in the spring

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geographic note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

770 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

total

8,114 km

Land use

arable land

1%

forest and woodland

10%

meadows and pastures

79%

other

10%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Nayramadlin Orgil 4,374 m

lowest point

Hoh Nuur 518 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 38% (male 486,321; female 471,931) 15-64 years: 58% (male 722,485; female 723,065) 65 years and over: 4% (male 39,704; female 53,111) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

25.55 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

69.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

female

62.8 years (1996 est.)

male

58.8 years

total population

60.75 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1988 est.)

female

77.2%

male

88.6%

total population

82.9%

Nationality

adjective

Mongolian

noun

Mongolian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

2,496,617 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.69% (1996 est.)

Religions

predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4%

note

previously limited religious activity because of communist regime

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (1996 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

Data code

MG

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7117

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the State Great Hural

chief of state

President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990) was nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected in general presidential elections for a four-year term; 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) and Deputy Prime Ministers Lhamsuren ENEBISH (since NA October 1992) and Choijilsurengiyn PUREVDORJ (since NA September 1990) were appointed by the State Great Hural

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227

[976] (1) 320776

consulate(s) general

New York

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)

International organization participation

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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval of the Great Hural

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

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Mongolia

former

Outer Mongolia

local long form

none

local short form

Mongol Uls

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 June 1996); 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 of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON

embassy

inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, 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

wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Budget

expenditures

$1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$1.5 billion

Currency

1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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 has been soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid. The country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

Electricity

capacity

900,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,267 kWh (1993)

production

3.1 billion kWh

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 4465.39 (October 1995), 412.72 (1994), 42.56 (1992), 9.52 (1991), 5.63 (1990)

Exports

$400 million (f.o.b., 1995 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

$473.7 million (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

28%

industry

35%

services

37% (1993 est.)

GDP per capita

$1,970 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6% (1995 est.)

Imports

$223 million (f.o.b., 1994)

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

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

53% (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.115 million (mid-1993 est.)

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

Unemployment rate

15% (1991 est.)

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)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

638,560

males fit for military service

417,620

males reach military age (18) annually

27,386 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

220,000

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones

89,000 (1995 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (provincial repeaters 18)

Televisions

120,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

34

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

7

with paved runways under 914 m

1

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

10

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

5

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

3

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

3

with unpaved runways under 914 m

5 (1994 est.)

Highways

paved

1,000 km

total

46,700 km

unpaved

45,700 km (1988 est.)

Ports

none

Railways

broad gauge

1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)

total

1,928 km

Waterways

397 km of principal routes (1988)