2024 Edition Primary

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

602 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km

total

8,082 km

Land use

agricultural land

73% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 72.6% (2018 est.)

forest

7% (2018 est.)

other

20% (2018 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 kmnote – [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

sparsely distributed population 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

14.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

2.1% (2018 est.)

women married by age 15

0.9%

women married by age 18

12%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

48.1% (2018)

Current health expenditure

4.9% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.9% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7

potential support ratio

14.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.4

youth dependency ratio

51.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 64.2% of population

improved: total

total: 87.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 35.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 12.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.6% of population

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2020 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

0.91 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

8 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

16.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

22.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

19.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.2% (2020)

male

99.1%

total population

99.2%

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

39 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

32.8 years

male

30.1 years

total

31.5 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2008 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-24

Nationality

adjective

Mongolian

noun

Mongolian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Physician density

3.85 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

female

1,686,080 (2024 est.)

male

1,595,596

total

3,281,676

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.78% (2024 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 51.7%, Muslim 3.2%, Shamanist 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 40.6% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 69.9% of population

improved: total

total: 88.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 30.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.6% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2019)

male

14 years

total

15 years

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

7.1% (2020 est.)

male

51.7% (2020 est.)

total

29.4% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2024 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* (singular - 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 Red Army 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

amendments

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; amended 1999, 2000, 2019, 2023; note - an amendment passed in a referendum held in May 2023 increased the seats in the State Great Hural from 76 to 126

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Mongolia

etymology

the name means "Land of the Mongols" in Latin; 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.govhttps://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.mnhttp://mongolianembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7117

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister following a constitutional amendment ratified in November 2019; prior to the amendment, the Cabinet was nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)

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%

elections/appointments

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; election last held on 9 June 2021 (next to be held in 2027); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural

head of government

Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai OYUN-ERDENE (since 27 January 2021)

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); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes 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 upon recommendation by 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 legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description

unicameral State Great Hural or Ulsyn Ikh Khural (126 seats; 78 members directly elected in a selected constituency by simple majority vote and 48 members directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - MPP 35.0%, DP 30.1%, HUN Party 10.4%, National Coalition 5.2%, CWGP 5%, other 14.3%; seats by party - MPP 68, DP 42, HUN Party 8, National Coalition 4, CWGP 4; composition - N/A

elections

last held on 28 June 2024 (next to be held June 2028)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ

name

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

note

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

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 (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution), 11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution), 26 November (1924)

National symbol(s)

soyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow

Political parties

Democratic Party or DPMongolian 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, potatoes, lamb/mutton, goat milk, beef, goat meat, bison milk, sheep milk, horse meat (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$4.845 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$4.721 billion (2021 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B (2018)

Moody's rating

B3 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B (2018)

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.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$9.085 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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 2019

2,663.541 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$8.95 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$10.989 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$15.501 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, animal hair, iron ore (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 78%, Switzerland 15%, Singapore 3%, South Korea 2%, Russia 1% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

78% (2023 est.)

government consumption

13.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

47.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-69.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

27.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

5% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

10.2% (2023 est.)

industry

40% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

40.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.872 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

31.4 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.6% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$9.256 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$12.112 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$13.545 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, trucks, trailers, raw iron bars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 36%, Russia 29%, Japan 7%, South Korea 5%, US 3% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

12.57% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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) 2021

7.35% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

15.15% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.35% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

1.403 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

27.8% (2020 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

67.57% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$50.053 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$52.572 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$56.264 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.64% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.03% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

7.02% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$16,300 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

3.08% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.33% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.21% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$4.38 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$3.398 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.782 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.91% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

7.75% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.21% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.13% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

12.9% (2023 est.)

male

10.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

11.4% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

10.63 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.289 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

15.918 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

6.393 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

19.47 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

28.276 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

2.52 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

8.602 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

24 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

1.861 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

1.61 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.036 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

88.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

2.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

7.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

57.093 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

36,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2020 est.)

total

307,166 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to 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

84% (2021 est.)

total

2.772 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is 140 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

liberalized and competitive telecoms market comprises of a number of operators; fixed-line penetration increased steadily in the years to 2018 as more people took on fixed-line access for voice calls and to access copper-based broadband services; the number of lines fell in 2019, and again and more sharply in 2020, partly through the economic consequences of the pandemic (GDP fell 5.3% in 2020, year-on-year) and partly due to the migration to the mobile platform and to VoIP; fixed broadband penetration remains low, mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines and the dominance of the mobile platform; the attraction of fixed broadband as a preferred access where it is available is waning as the mobile networks are upgraded with greater capacity and capabilities; the growing popularity of mobile broadband continues to underpin overall broadband and telecom sector growth, with Mongolia’s market very much being dominated by mobile services, supported by widely available LTE; this will largely determine and shape the future direction of Mongolia’s developing digital economy (2021)

international

country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

475,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

142 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

4.836 million (2022 est.)

Airports

35 (2024)

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)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

7.82 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

670,360 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

4 (2020)

Railways

broad gauge

1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

note

note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway

total

1,815 km (2017)

Roadways

paved

10,600 km

total

113,200 km

unpaved

102,600 km (2017)

Waterways

580 km (2010) (the 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 ice-free from May to September)

Military - note

the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are responsible for ensuring the country's independence, security, and territorial integrity, and supporting Mongolia's developmental goals and diplomacy; it has a range of missions, including counterterrorism, disaster response, and international peacekeeping duties; the Ground Force is the military’s primary service and is centered on a motorized infantry brigade; it also has a battalion devoted to peacekeeping duties and hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; Mongolia’s primary military partner is Russia, and in addition to receiving Russian military equipment, the MAF participates in Russia’s large “Vostok” exercise, which is conducted every four years; the MAF has a growing relationship with the US militaryMongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021) (2023)

Military and security forces

Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Ground Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2024)

note

note: the National Police Agency and the General Authority for Border Protection, which operate under the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, are primarily responsible for internal security; they are assisted by the General Intelligence Agency under the prime minister; the MAF assists the internal security forces in providing domestic emergency assistance and disaster relief

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 10,000 active troops (2023)

Military deployments

875 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024)

note

note: since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 20,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the MAF's inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and Russian equipment (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (can enter military schools at age 17); 12-month conscript service obligation for men can be extended 3 months under special circumstances; conscription 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 2 or 4 years; volunteer military service for men and women is 24 months, which can be extended for another two years up to the age of 31 (2024)

Illicit drugs

NA

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

17 (2022)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

25.37 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

13.72 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws leads to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation and overgrazing increase soil erosion from wind and rain; water pollution; desertification and mining activities have a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

73% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 72.6% (2018 est.)

forest

7% (2018 est.)

other

20% (2018 est.)

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Revenue from coal

8.62% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.14% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

250 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

69.1% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.9 million tons (2016 est.)