2008 Edition

Background

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000, but 2004 elections reduced MPRP representation and, therefore, its authority.

Area

total: 1,564,116 sq km land: 1,554,731 sq km water: 9,385 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: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities 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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%) per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Irrigated land

840 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Land use

arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

34.8 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.4% (male 433,835/female 416,549) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,013,215/female 1,015,221) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 51,093/female 66,168) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

21.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2003 est)

Infant mortality rate

total: 41.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 44.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.32 years male: 64.92 years female: 69.84 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98% female: 97.5% (2000 census)

Median age

total: 24.9 years male: 24.6 years female: 25.3 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

2,996,081 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.493% (2008 est.)

Religions

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Capital

name: Ulaanbaatar geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13 telephone: [976] (11) 329-095

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR (since 22 November 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 27 September 2008); Vice Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT 12.59%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227

[976] (11) 320-776

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

mixed parliamentary/presidential

Independence

11 July 1921 (from China)

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 and approved by the president)

Legal system

blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; 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 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPRP 47, DP 26, others 3; note - results are disputed

National holiday

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP [Norovyn ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sanji BAYAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups; women's groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.58 billion expenditures: $1.497 billion (2007)

Central bank discount rate

9.87% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.54% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code

MNT

Current account balance

-$23 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.438 billion (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.8 (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$159.5 million (2006)

Economy - overview

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten account for a large part of industrial production and foreign direct investment. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, 7.5% in 2006, and 9.9% in 2007 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. Mongolia is experiencing its highest inflation rate in over a decade as consumer prices in 2007 rose 15%, largely because of increased fuel and food costs. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives about 70% of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are sizable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.

Electricity - consumption

2.638 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

10 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

195 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

3.078 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,170 (2007), 1,179.6 (2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003)

Exports

$1.889 billion f.o.b. (2007)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 71.9%, Canada 10.7%, US 4.8% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 18.8% industry: 40.4% services: 40.8% (2006)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.9% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.905 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.542 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 24.6% (2002)

Imports

$2.117 billion c.i.f. (2007)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 32%, Russia 29.4%, South Korea 7.9%, Japan 7.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2006 est.)

Industries

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2007)

Labor force

1.042 million (2006)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 39.9% industry: 11.7% services: 49.4% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$613.3 million (2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,860 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

12,630 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

36.1% (2004)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.191 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$504.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.539 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

3% (2007)

Internet country code

.mn

Internet hosts

356 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet users

320,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 115 (includes 20 National radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2006)

Radios

155,900 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas domestic: very low fixed-line density; there are multiple mobile cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly; a fiber-optic network is also being installed that will improve broadband and communication services between major urban centers international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Telephones - main lines in use

158,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

775,300 (2006)

Television broadcast stations

456 (including provincial and low-power repeaters) (2006)

Televisions

168,800 (1999)

Airports

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 31 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 77 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 44, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 53 (China 1, Germany 4, Indonesia 1, North Korea 1, South Korea 1, Lebanon 2, Russia 9, Singapore 9, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 23) (2008)

Railways

total: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Waterways

580 km note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 865,425 females age 16-49: 860,669 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 696,652 females age 16-49: 731,480 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 29,990 female: 29,256 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)

Mongolian Armed Forces

Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2008)

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008