1998 Edition

Area

total: 1.565 million sq km land: 1.565 million sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m

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

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography-note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Irrigated land

800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 8,114 km border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 80% forests and woodland: 9% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 37% (male 483,795; female 468,700) 15-64 years: 59% (male 764,665; female 764,825) 65 years and over: 4% (male 41,488; female 55,057) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

23.56 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

66.34 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.46 years male: 59.4 years female: 63.61 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male: 88.6% female: 77.2% (1988 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

2,578,530 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.54% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.75 children born/woman (1998 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

Constitution

12 February 1992

Country name

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

Data code

MG

Executive branch

chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tsahiagiyn ELBEGDORJ (since 23 April 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 18 May 1997 (next to be held summer 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI elected president; percent of vote-Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 60.8%, Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) 29.8%, Jambyn GOMBOJAV (MUTP) 6.6%; following a vote of no-confidence against former Prime Minister Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN, Tsahiagiyn ELBEGDORJ was elected prime minister on 23 April 1998 by a vote in the State Great Hural of 61 to 6 (nine members abstained)

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA 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

[976] (1) 320776

Flag 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)

Government type

republic

Independence

13 March 1921 (from China)

International organization participation

AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

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 by the Great Hural Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), N. ENKHBAYAR, general secretary; Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN, general secretary (includes Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP, T. ELBEGDORJ, chairman; Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ, chairman; Green Party, NYAM; and Mongolian Democratic Party of Believers or MDPB, leader NA); Mongolian Conservative Party (MCP), JARGALSAIHAN; Democratic Power Coalition, D. BYAMBASUREN, chairman (includes Mongolian Democratic Renaissance Party or MDRP, BYAMBASUREN, chairman, and Mongolian People's Party or MPP, leader NA); Mongolian National Solidarity Party (MNSP), leader NA; Bourgeois Party/Capitalist Party, VARGALSAIHAN, chairman; United Heritage Party (UHP), B. JAMTSAI (includes United Party of Herdsman and Farmers, leader NA; Independence Party, leader NA; Traditional United Conservative Party, leader NA; and Mongolian United Private Property Owners Party, leader NA); Workers' Party, leader NA

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 (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party - DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1

National capital

Ulaanbaatar

National holiday

National Day, 11 July (1921)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Currency

1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos

Debt-external

$500 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA $250 million (1998 est.)

Economy-overview

The government has embraced free-market economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade. Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land, however, 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, but disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. The Mongolian leadership has been soliciting support from foreign donors, who pledged some $250 million in aid in October 1997. Economic growth picked up in 1997 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere.

Electricity-capacity

901,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

1,303 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

3.15 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

tughriks (Tug) per US$1-812.09 (December 1997), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996), 448.61 (1995), 412.72 (1994)

Exports

total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals partners: Russia 21%, China 18% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$5.6 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 34% industry: 32% services: 34% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,200 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3.3% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $443.4 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea partners: Russia 34%, China 15% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

17.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.115 million (mid-1993 est.) by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural

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.)

Unemployment rate

15% (1997 est.)

Airports

34 (1994 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 46,470 km paved: 3,730 km unpaved: 42,740 km (1997 est.) note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough cross-country tracks

Railways

total: 1,928 km broad gauge: 1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)

Waterways

397 km of principal routes (1988) Ports and harbors: none

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$22.8 million (1992)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

1% (1992)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 680,345 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 443,668 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 28,112 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none (dependent territory of the UK)