Background: Long a province of China Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A communist regime was installed in 1924.

Land boundaries: 8,114 km total; China 4,673 km, USSR 3,441 km

Coastline: none--landlocked

Maritime claims: none--landlocked

Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast

Natural resources: coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold

Land use: 1% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 79% meadows and pastures; 10% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Geography
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Soviet Union

Population: 2,187,275 (July 1990), growth rate 2.7% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Mongolian(s; adjective--Mongolian

Ethnic groups: 90% Mongol, 4% Kazakh, 2% Chinese, 2% Russian, 2% other

Languages: Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, about 4% Muslim, limited religious activity because of Communist regime

Birth rate: 35 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: harsh and rugged

Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 80% (est.), 100% claimed (1985)

Country name: conventional long form: Mongolian People's Republic; abbreviated MPR

Government type: Communist state

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot; Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China; formerly Outer Mongolia)

National holiday: People's Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution: 6 July 1960

Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 21 March 1990; Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sharabyn GUNGAADORJ (since 21 March 1990;

Legislative branch: Mongolian People's Army, Air Force (negligible)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: CEMA, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, ILO, IPU, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Gendengiin NYAMDOO; US--Ambassador Richard L. WILLIAMS

Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is a five-pointed star above the national emblem (soyombo--a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representations for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy overview: Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock--Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world. In recent years extensive mineral resources have been developed with Soviet support. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production.

Agriculture products: accounts for 90% of exports and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (sheep, goats, horses; crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

Industries: processing of animal products, building materials, food and beverage, mining (particularly coal)

Industrial production growth rate: 10.9% (1985)

Labor force: NA, but primarily agricultural; over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $2.2 billion; expenditures $2.19 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.9 billion (1987 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $388 million (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodities: livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar, nonferrous metals, minerals
Partners: nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

Imports: $1.0 billion (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Partners: nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--3.355 (1986-1988), 3.600 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 657,000 kW capacity; 29,500 million kWh produced, 1,340 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: NA

Airports: 80 total, 30 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; fewer than 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1986)