2001 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 note: there may be a new province named Gobi-Sumber; further, there may now be 21 provinces and 1 capital city instead of 18 provinces and 3 municipalities

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.99% (male 445,252; female 430,758) 15-64 years: 63.13% (male 837,771; female 838,384) 65 years and over: 3.88% (male 44,436; female 58,398) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

34 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2000 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 (2000 est.) Mongolia Military

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska

Background

Long a province of China, Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its monopoly on power. In 1996, the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) defeated the MPRP in a national election. Over the next four years the Coalition implemented a number of key reforms to modernize the economy and institutionalize democratic reforms. However, the former communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional reforms and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP won 72 of the 76 seats in Parliament and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues many of the reform policies, the MPRP is focusing on social welfare and public order priorities. Mongolia Geography

Birth rate

21.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $262 million expenditures: $328 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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

Currency

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code

MNT

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$760 million (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John DINGER embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: United States Embassy in Mongolia, P. O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (11) 329095

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$200 million (1998 est.)

Economy - overview

Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91, at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven into deep recession, which was prolonged by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. The Democratic Coalition (DC) government has embraced free-market economics, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade, and attempting to restructure the banking system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs were undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment through international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the ex-communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability brought about through four successive governments under the DC. Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor community pledged over $300 million per year at the last Consultative Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP government, elected in July 2000, is anxious to improve the investment climate; it must also deal with a heavy burden of external debt.

Electricity - consumption

2.767 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

80 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

363 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

2.671 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; 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 in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 3.4% (1998)

Exchange rates

togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,097.00 (December 2000), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,072.37 (1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 26 July 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation with the president elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president; percent of vote - NA%; Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected prime minister by a vote in the State Great Hural of 68 to 3

Exports

$454.3 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners

China 60%, US 20%, Russia 9%, Japan 2% (2000 est.)

FAX

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

[976] (11) 320776

Fiscal year

calendar year Mongolia Communications

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) Mongolia Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 36% industry: 22% services: 42% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,780 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-1% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia Mongolia People

Government type

parliamentary

Highways

total: 3,387 km paved: 1,563 km unpaved: 1,824 km note: there are also 45,862 km of rural roads that consist of rough, unimproved, cross-country tracks (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)

Imports

$510.7 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners

Russia 33%, China 21%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, US 4% (1999)

Independence

11 July 1921 (from China)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

53.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.6% (1999)

International organization participation

ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.mn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet users

between 10,000 and 15,000 (2001) Mongolia Transportation

Irrigated land

800 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the president)

Labor force

1.3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

primarily herding/agricultural

Land boundaries

total: 8,161.9 km border countries: China 4,676.9 km, Russia 3,485 km

Land use

arable land: 5.7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 81% forests and woodland: 11.4% other: 1.9% (2000 est.)

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Legal system

blend of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western systems of law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on 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 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPRP 72, other 4

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.26 years male: 62.14 years female: 66.5 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97.5% (2000) Mongolia Government

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Military branches

Mongolian Armed Forces (includes General Purpose Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Troops); note - Border Troops are under Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in peacetime

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$25.5 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.3% (FY01) Mongolia Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 748,779 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 486,491 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 30,230 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Natural hazards

dust and snow storms, grassland and forest fires, drought and "zud", which is a combination of drought followed by harsh winter conditions

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Citizens' Will Party or CWP (also called Civil Will Party) [Sanjaasurengyn OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [D. DORLIGAN]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party or MDNSP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIHAN] note: the MPRP is the ruling party

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

2,654,999 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.47% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

155,900 (1999)

Railways

1,815 km broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.524-m gauge (2001)

Religions

Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 96%, Muslim (primarily in the southwest), Shamanism, and Christian 4% (1998)

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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each thousand persons domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones - main lines in use

104,100 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

110,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low powered repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

168,800 (1999)

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Total fertility rate

2.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

400 km (1999)