2020 Edition

Background

The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C., and the name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan), emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued to conquer Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China, where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. After Manchu rule collapsed in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, finally winning it in 1921 with help from the Soviet Union. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Mongolia was a Soviet satellite state and relied heavily on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period was also marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China. Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free-market economy. Since the country's transition, it has conducted a series of successful presidential and legislative elections. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party -- which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 -- has competed for political power with the Democratic Party and several other smaller parties. For most of its democratic history, Mongolia has had a divided government, with the presidency and the parliamentary majority held by different parties but that changed in 2021, when the MPP won the presidency after having secured a supermajority in parliament in 2020. Mongolia’s June 2021 presidential election delivered a decisive victory for MPP candidate Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH.  Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia, while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.

Area

land

1,553,556 sq km

total

1,564,116 sq km

water

10,560 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m

lowest point

Hoh Nuur 560 m

mean elevation

1,528 m

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Irrigated land

796 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km

total

8,082 km

Land use

agricultural land

69% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)

forest

9.1% (2023 est.)

other

21.9% (2023 est.)

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;

salt water lake(s)

Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

25.7% (male 429,867/female 412,943)

15-64 years

68.4% (male 1,087,487/female 1,156,547)

65 years and over

5.9% (2024 est.) (male 78,242/female 116,590)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

18.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

2.1% (2018)

women married by age 15

0.9% (2018)

women married by age 18

12% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.9% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.2% (2020 est.)

Death rate

5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

11.2 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.1 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

50.2 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 83.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 16.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.8% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, other 4.1% (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.27 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

10.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

16.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

22.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Mongolian 90% (official, Khalkha dialect is predominant), Turkic, Russian (1999)

major-language sample(s)

Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.3 years

male

67.8 years

total population

71.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

98.9% (2023 est.)

male

98.3% (2023 est.)

total population

98.6% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

32.8 years

male

30.1 years

total

28.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Mongolian

noun

Mongolian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Physician density

4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

1,686,080

male

1,595,596

total

3,281,676 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.08% (2025 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 51.8%, no religion 40.6%, Muslim 3.2%, Shaman 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, Other 0.6% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 78.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 21.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2023 est.)

male

13 years (2023 est.)

total

14 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

7.2% (2025 est.)

male

51.9% (2025 est.)

total

28.9% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

69.1% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September

etymology

the name means "red hero" in Mongolian and honors national hero Damdin SUKHBAATAR, leader of the partisan army that, with Soviet help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s

geographic coordinates

47 55 N, 106 55 E

name

Ulaanbaatar

time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note

Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

both parents must be citizens of Mongolia; one parent if born within Mongolia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the State Great Hural, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; conducting referenda on proposed amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the State Great Hural; passage of amendments by the State Great Hural requires at least three-quarters majority vote; passage by referendum requires majority participation of qualified voters and a majority of votes

history

several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Mongolia

etymology

name comes from the Mongol people, whose name derives from the Mongol root word mengu or mongu, meaning "brave" or "unconquered;" the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State"

former

Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic

local long form

none

local short form

Mongol Uls

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard L. BUANGAN (since November 2022)

email address and website

UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov https://mn.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190

FAX

[976] 7007-6174

mailing address

4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC 20521-4410

telephone

[976] 7007-6001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 2021)

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

email address and website

washington@mfa.gov.mn http://mongolianembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7117

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)

election results

2021: Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH elected president in first round; percent of vote - Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (MPP) 68%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (RPEC) 20.1%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (DP) 6% 2017:  Khaltmaa BATTULGA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA (DP) 38.1%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD (MPP) 30.3%, Sainkhuu GANBAATAR (MPRP) 30.2%, invalid 1.4%; percent of vote in second round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA 55.2%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD 44.8%

election/appointment process

presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for one 6-year term; following legislative elections, the State Great Hural usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

expected date of next election

2027

head of government

Prime Minister Gombojavyn ZANDANSHATAR (since 13 June 2025)

most recent election date

9 June 2021

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), blue, and red; centered on the left-side red band is the national emblem in yellow, the soyombo, which is an abstract representation of fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol meaning: blue stands for the sky, and red for progress and prosperity

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of the chairman and 8 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the General Council of Courts -- a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials -- to the State Great Hural; appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed from nominations by the State Great Hural - 3 each by the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term

subordinate courts

aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

June 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

State Great Hural (Ulsiin Ih Hural)

most recent election date

6/28/2024

number of seats

126 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Mongolian People's Party (MPP) (68); Democratic Party (DP) (42); HUN Party (8); Other (8)

percentage of women in chamber

25.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions

lyrics/music

Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ

title

"Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)

National color(s)

red, blue, yellow

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n); Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (c)

total World Heritage Sites

6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

Naadam (games) holiday, 11-15 July; Constitution Day, 26 November (1924)

National symbol(s)

Soyombo character (from the Soyombo writing system)

Political parties

Democratic Party or DP Mongolian People's Party or MPP  National Coalition (consists of Mongolian Green Party or MGP and the Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP) National Labor Party or HUN  Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$5.623 billion (2021 est.)

revenues

$4.721 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$2.108 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.303 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$121.266 million (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$8.379 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower middle-income East Asian economy; large human capital improvements over last 3 decades; agricultural and natural resource rich; export and consumption-led growth; high inflation due to supply bottlenecks and increased food and energy prices; currency depreciation

Exchange rates

Currency

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

2,813.29 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2,849.289 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3,140.678 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3,465.737 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

3,389.982 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$8.95 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$10.989 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$15.501 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)

Exports - partners

China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

69.1% (2024 est.)

government consumption

16.3% (2024 est.)

household consumption

49.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-69.8% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.8% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

7.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

7.4% (2024 est.)

industry

38.1% (2024 est.)

services

44.2% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.586 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

31.4 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.6% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$9.256 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$12.112 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$13.545 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)

Imports - partners

China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

15.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

6.8% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.449 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

27.1% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2021

67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$52.572 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$56.474 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$59.221 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

7.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$16,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$16,800 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$3.398 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.916 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$5.508 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

10.8% (2024 est.)

male

15.9% (2024 est.)

total

13.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

55.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

900 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

64.824 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

2.52 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

8.997 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

24 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

2.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

1.51 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.113 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

90.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

39,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2023 est.)

total

499,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run radio and TV provider is now a public-service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.mn

Internet users

percent of population

83% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

524,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

142 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

4.84 million (2023 est.)

Airports

37 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JU

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93

total

318 (2023)

Railways

broad gauge

1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

total

1,815 km (2017)

Military - note

the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are responsible for ensuring the country's independence, security, and territorial integrity, as well as supporting Mongolia's developmental goals and diplomacy; it has a range of missions, including counterterrorism, international peacekeeping duties, and assisting the internal security forces in providing emergency aid and disaster relief; Mongolia hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; it has no formal military alliances, but has defense ties and conducts training exercises with several regional countries and others, such as China, India, Russia, and the US Mongolia actively cooperates with NATO on issues such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and cybersecurity through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program; it supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan from 2009-2021; Mongolia also is an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025)

Military and security forces

Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Land Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 10-20,000 active Mongolian Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the MAF's inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and secondhand Russian equipment (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial service 24 months; compulsory service for men at 18; service obligation is 12 months in the military or police, which can be extended to 15 months under special circumstances; compulsory service can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a cash payment determined by the Mongolian Government; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for up to 4 years (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

22 (2024 est.)

refugees

26 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

17 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

13.489 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.714 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

19.203 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; air pollution from coal-burning power plants and lax regulations in Ulaanbaatar; soil erosion from deforestation and overgrazing; water pollution; desertification; effects from mining

International environmental agreements

party to

Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

525.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

532.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

2.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

14.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

250.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

166.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

45.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.9 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13% (2022 est.)