Mongolia

Mongolia

Introduction

Background

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols’ historical homeland

more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPP members.

Geography

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 1,564,116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 19 land:1,553,556 sq km
water:10,560 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries

total: 8,220 km
border countries:China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 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 560 m
highest point:Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

Irrigated land

840 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

34.8 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

dust storms

grassland and forest fires

drought

“zud,” which is harsh winter conditions

Environment – current issues

limited natural freshwater resources in some areas

the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment

the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar

deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain

desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

landlocked

strategic location between China and Russia

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective:Mongolian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Religions

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

Population

3,133,318 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 437,241/female 419,693)
15-64 years:68.7% (male 1,074,949/female 1,076,455)
65 years and over:4% (male 54,415/female 70,565) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 26.2 years
male:25.8 years
female:26.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.489% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Birth rate

20.93 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Death rate

6.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

ULAANBAATAR (capital) 949,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.77 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

65 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87

Infant mortality rate

total: 37.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 67 male:40.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female:34.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.31 years
country comparison to the world: 153 male:65.85 years
female:70.89 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

2.763 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45

Hospital bed density

5.89 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 76% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 24% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 64% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 50% of population
unimproved:
urban: 46% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 50% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

9.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 83

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male:13 years
female:15 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20%
country comparison to the world: 58 male:19.5%
female:20.7% (2003)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary

Capital

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

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

Independence

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution

13 January 1992

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems

constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)
head of government:Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009)

First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 20 September 2008)

Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007)
cabinet:Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 24 May 2009 (next to be held by May 2013)

following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results:in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president

percent of vote – Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms
elections:last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – MPP 46, DP 27, others 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people’s and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts

judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)

Political parties and leaders

Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Dangaasuren EHKHBAT]

Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]

Mongolian People’s Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]

Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: human rights groups

women’s groups

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
chancery:2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:[1] (202) 333-7117
FAX:[1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general:New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
embassy:Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171 Mongolia
mailing address:PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002

P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone:[976] (11) 329-095
FAX:[976] (11) 320-776

Flag description

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red

centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem (“soyombo” – a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

National symbol(s)

soyombo emblem

National anthem

name: “Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal” (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music:Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note:music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006

the anthem’s lyrics have been altered on numerous occasions

Economy

Economy – overview

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture – Mongolia’s extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia’s primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% – the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew 6.1% in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all time high for Mongolia. Mongolia’s economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia’s total external trade – China receives more than three-fourths of Mongolia’s exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis

money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 $10.38 billion (2009 est.)
$10.51 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.125 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 -1.3% (2009 est.)
8.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$3,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161 $3,400 (2009 est.)
$3,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 19.7%
industry:35.1%
services:45.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.068 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 34%
industry:5%
services:61% (2008)

Unemployment rate

11.5% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123 2.8% (2008)

Population below poverty line

36.1% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%:28.4% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

36.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 85 32.8 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed)

36.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Budget

revenues: $2.205 billion
expenditures:$2.089 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202 6.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.99% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 26 10.82% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.9% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 20.8% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$921.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141 $451.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129 $2.047 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 $1.375 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.093 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 110 $430.2 million (31 December 2009)
$407 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops

sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Industries

construction and construction materials

mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold)

oil

food and beverages

processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity – production

3.896 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity – consumption

3.023 billion kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity – exports

20.7 million kWh (2010)

Electricity – imports

214.1 million kWh (2010)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Oil – consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Oil – exports

5,834 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Oil – imports

15,730 bbl/day (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas – imports

11,790 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Current account balance

-$378.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 -$341.8 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$2.899 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123 $1.885 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

China 84.8%, Canada 3.6%, Russia 2.7% (2010 est.)

Imports

$3.3 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 135 $2.074 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Russia 33.2%, China 30.5%, Japan 6%, South Korea 5.5% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.288 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111 $1.327 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$1.86 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141 $1.6 billion (2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
1,357.5 (2010)
1,442.8 (2009)
1,170 (2007)
1,165 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

46 (2010)
country comparison to the world:95

Airports – with paved runways

total: 14
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:10
1,524 to 2,437 m:3 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 32
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:25
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Railways

total: 1,908 km
country comparison to the world: 74 broad gauge:1,908 km 1.520-m gauge
note:the railway is 50 percent owned by the Russian State Railway (2010)

Roadways

total: 49,249 km
country comparison to the world: 81 paved:3,015 km
unpaved:46,234 km (2010)

Waterways

580 km (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 freeze in winter, they are open from May to September) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82

Merchant marine

total: 58
country comparison to the world: 67 by type:bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned:44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)

Military

Military branches

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force

there is no navy (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service

conscript service obligation – 12 months in land or air defense forces or police

a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers

women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 898,546
females age 16-49:891,192 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 726,199
females age 16-49:756,628 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 30,829
female:29,648 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 106

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none