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The Mongols entered history in the 13th century when under GENGHIS 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 came under Chinese rule. 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 to the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Over the next four years the DUC put forward a number of key reforms to modernize the economy and democratize the political system. However, the former Communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional restructuring and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP won an overwhelming victory in the legislature - with 72 of the 76 seats - and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues many of the reform policies, the MPRP is focusing on social welfare and public order priorities.

[edit] Geography

Location 

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates 

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references 

Asia

Area 

total: 1.565 million sq km
water: 9,600 sq km
land: 1,555,400 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries 

total: 8,162 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,485 km

Coastline 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims 

none (landlocked)

Climate 

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain 

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

Elevation extremes 

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

Natural resources 

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

Land use 

arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.16% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

840 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

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

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

Geography - note 

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

[edit] People

Population 

2,694,432 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 32% (male 438,176; female 422,960)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 864,033; female 865,172)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 45,080; female 59,011) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.48% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

21.8 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

7.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

51.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 64.62 years
female: 66.87 years (2002 est.)
male: 62.47 years

Total fertility rate 

2.37 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

NA

Nationality 

noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian

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)

Religions 

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

Languages 

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Literacy 

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

[edit] Government

Country name 

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

Government type 

parliamentary

Capital 

Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions 

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

Independence 

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday 

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution 

12 February 1992

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

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal

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 - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM (CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected prime minister by a vote in the State Great Hural of 68 to 3

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

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)

Political parties and leaders 

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

Political pressure groups and leaders 

NA

International organization participation 

ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, CP (provisional), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, 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
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador John DINGER
embassy: inner northeast part of the Big Ring Road, 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
FAX: [976] (11) 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)

[edit] Economy

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, 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. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sector exports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effects of weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDP growth in 2000-01.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

2.4% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $1,770 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 32%
industry: 30%
services: 38% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line 

36% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25% (1995) (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

33 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

11.8% (2000 est.)

Labor force 

1.4 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation 

primarily herding/agricultural

Unemployment rate 

20% (2000)

Budget 

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

Industries 

construction materials, mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages, processing of animal products

Industrial production growth rate 

2.4% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production 

2.77 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

2.732 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

25 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

181 million kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

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

Exports 

$466.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities 

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

Exports - partners 

China 59%, US 20%, Russia 10%, Japan 2% (2000)

Imports 

$614.5 million c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities 

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

Imports - partners 

Russia 34%, China 21%, Japan 12%, South Korea 9%, US 4% (2000)

Debt - external 

$760 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$208.7 million (1999 est.)

Currency 

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code 

MNT

Exchange rates 

togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,101.29 (December 2001), 1,097.70 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,072.37 (1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997)

Fiscal year 

calendar year

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

104,100 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

110,000 (2001)

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)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios 

155,900 (1999)

Television broadcast stations 

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

Televisions 

168,800 (1999)

Internet country code 

.mn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

5 (2001)

Internet users 

40,000 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

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

Highways 

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

Waterways 

400 km (1999)

Ports and harbors 

none

Airports 

34 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

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 (2002)

[edit] Military

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 manpower - military age 

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 772,619 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 501,493 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 30,230 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$24.3 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

2.5% (FY01)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none