About Mongolia
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Introduction to Mongolia
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Background:
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The Mongols gained fame 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 to democratize the political system. 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 has focused on social welfare and public order priorities. |
Geography of Mongolia
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Location:
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Northern Asia, between China and Russia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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46 00 N, 105 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 1.565 million sq km water: 9,600 sq km land: 1,555,400 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Alaska |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 8,162 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,485 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) |
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Terrain:
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vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m |
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Natural resources:
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oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron, phosphate |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.16% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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840 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and ?zud?, which is harsh winter conditions |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international
agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia |
People of Mongolia
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Population:
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2,712,315 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 30.7% (male 423,081; female 408,119) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 890,482; female 892,140) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 42,292; female 56,201) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 23.5 years male: 23.2 years female: 23.9 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.42% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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21.39 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 57.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 60.75 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 63.81 years male: 61.63 years female: 66.09 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence
rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 3.4% (1998) |
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Religions:
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Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 96%, Muslim (primarily in the southwest), Shamanism, and Christian 4% (1998) |
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Languages:
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Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.2% female: 99% (2003 est.) |
Government of Mongolia
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia local long form: none |
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Government type:
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parliamentary |
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Capital:
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Ulaanbaatar |
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Administrative divisions:
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21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - 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 |
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Independence:
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11 July 1921 (from China) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921) |
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Constitution:
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12 February 1992 |
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Legal system:
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blend of Soviet, German, and US 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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and
leaders:
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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 |
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Political pressure groups and
leaders:
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NA |
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International organization
participation:
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ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP (provisional), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the
US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn boldcenter chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 |
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Diplomatic representation from the
US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. Slutz embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13 mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (11) 329095 FAX: [976] (11) 320776 |
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Flag Description:
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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) |
Mongolian Economy
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Economy - overview:
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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
1990-1991 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 embraced
free-market economics, eased price controls,
liberalized domestic and international trade, and
attempted 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 1997-1999 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 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 2000-2001. Despite
drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed by a
solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first applications
under the land privatization law have been marked by a
number of disputes over particular sites. Russia claims
Mongolia owes it $11 billion from the old Soviet
period; any settlement could substantially increase
Mongolia's foreign debt burden. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $5.06 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP -
real growth rate:
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3.9% (2002 est.) |
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GDP -
per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2002 est.) |
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GDP -
composition by sector:
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agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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36% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.5% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index:
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33.2 (1995) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor
force:
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1.4 million (2001) |
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Labor
force - by occupation:
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primarily herding/agricultural |
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Unemployment rate:
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20% (2000) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $386 million expenditures: $427 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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construction materials, mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages, processing of animal products |
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Industrial production growth
rate:
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4.1% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.225 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by
source:
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fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.194 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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25 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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196 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil -
production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil -
consumption:
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8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil -
exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil -
imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses |
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Exports:
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$501 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals |
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Exports - partners:
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China 43.8%, US 33.6%, Russia 9.6% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$659 million c.i.f. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea |
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 32%, China 19.4%, South Korea 12.1%, US 9.1%, Germany 4.7%, Japan 4.3% (2002) |
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Debt
- external:
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$913 million (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$208.7 million (1999 est.) |
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Currency:
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togrog/tugrik (MNT) |
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Currency code:
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MNT |
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Exchange rates:
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togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,134 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999), 840.83 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in
use:
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104,100 (1999) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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110,000 (2001) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each thousand persons domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001) |
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Television broadcast
stations:
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4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (1999) |
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Internet country code:
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.mn |
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Internet Service Providers
(ISPs):
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5 (2001) |
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Internet users:
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40,000 (2002) |
Transportation in Mongolia
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Railways:
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1,815 km broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.524-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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400 km (1999) |
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Ports and harbors:
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none |
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Airports:
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50 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved
runways:
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total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved
runways:
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total: 40 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 12 (2002) |
