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

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

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

Population: 2,247,068 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

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

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

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

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

Birth rate: 34 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: harsh and rugged

Infant mortality rate: 48 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 67 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 90% (male NA%, female NA%) (1989 est.)

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

Government type: in transition from Communist state to republic

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--President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990; Vice President Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (since 7 September 1990; Head of Government--Premier Dashiyn BYAMBASUREN (since 11 September 1990)

Legislative branch: Mongolian People's Army (includes Border Guards), Air Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD, ICAO, IIB, ILO, IMF, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Gendengiyn NYAMDOO; Chancery, Tel. (202) 983-1962; US--Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE; Deputy Chief of Mission Michael J. SENKO; Embassy at Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing; Tel. 29,095 and 29,639

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) Mongolia MongoliaMongolia

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. In early 1991 the Mongolian leadership was struggling with severe economic dislocations, mainly attributable to chaotic economic conditions in the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade and development partner. For example, the government doubled most prices in January 1991, and industrial production dropped 10% in the first quarter of 1991. Moscow almost certainly will be cutting aid in 1991.

Agriculture products: accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 50% of the population; livestock raising predominates (sheep, goats, horses; crops--wheat, barley, potatoes, forage

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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

Unemployment rate: 10% (February 1991)

Budget: deficit of $240 million (1991 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $784 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: livestock, animal products, wool, hides, fluorspar, nonferrous metals, minerals
Partners: nearly all trade with Communist countries (about 80% with USSR)

Imports: $1.14 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
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: $16.8 billion (yearend 1990; 98.6% with USSR

Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 657,000 kW capacity; 2,950 million kWh produced, 1,380 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $NA, NA% of GDP

Airports: 81 total, 31 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; fewer than 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)