Background: The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis 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 later 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. Since then parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N 105 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 1,564,116 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 8,220 km
Border countries: (2) 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 518 m
Extremes 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: 0.77%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 99.23% (2001)

Irrigated land: 840 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: dust storms grassland and forest fires drought and 'zud' which is harsh winter conditions

Geography
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Population: 2,791,272 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: 1.45% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: 36.1% (2004 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Mongolian
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% none 40% Shamanist and Christian 6% Muslim 4% (2004)

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 407,547/female 392,440)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 943,418/female 945,063)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 44,413/female 58,391) (2005 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.28 years
Male: 23.93 years
Female: 24.64 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.45% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 21.52 births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 7.03 deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 est.)

Environment
Current issues: 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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 1 male/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 53.79 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 57.25 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 50.16 deaths/1000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.52 years
Male: 62.3 years
Female: 66.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: less than 500 (2003 est)
Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.8%
Male: 98%
Female: 97.5% (2002)

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Mongolia
Local long form: none
Local short form: Mongol Uls
Former: Outer Mongolia

Government type: mixed parliamentary/presidential

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday: Independence Day/Revolution Day 11 July (1921)

Constitution: 12 February 1992

Legal system: blend of Soviet German and US systems that combine 'continental' or 'civil' code and case-precedent; 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 Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
Head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhi ELBEGDORJ (since 20 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Chultem ULAAN (since 28 September 2004)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural (parliament) in consultation with the president
Elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; presidential tenure limited to two four-year terms; election last held 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
Election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (MPRP) 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN (DP) 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN (MRP) 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT (M-MNSDP) 12.59%; Tsakhi ELBEGDORJ elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
Election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%, independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1.42%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following June 2004 election, two seats in dispute and unoccupied

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
Note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in 2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party; MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004

International organization participation: ARF AsDB CP EBRD FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC ISO ITU MIGA MINURSO MONUC NAM OPCW OSCE (partner) SCO (observer) UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
In the us chancery: 2,833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 333-7,117
In the us fax: [1] (202) 298-9,227
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZ
From the us embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
From the us mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96,521-0002
From the us telephone: [976] (11) 329,095
From the us 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)

Economy overview: Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia 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 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction and natural disasters as well as economic growth due to reform embracing free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000 2001 and 2002 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 improved from 2002 at 4% to 2003 at 5% due largely to high copper prices and new gold production with the government claiming a 10.6% growth rate for 2004 that is unconfirmed. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily impacted by its neighbors. For example Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia leaving it vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chief export partner and a main source of the 'shadow' or 'grey' economy. The World Bank and other international financial institutions estimate the grey economy to be at least equal to that of the official economy. The actual size of this grey - largely cash - economy is difficult to calculate since the money does not pass through the hands of tax authorities or the banking sector. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally constitute a sizeable portion. Money laundering is growing as an accompanying concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on very favorable terms. Mongolia which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $5.332 billion (2004 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 10.6% according to official estimate (2004 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1900 (2004 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 20.6%
Industry: 21.4%
Services: 58% (2003 est.)

Agriculture products: wheat barley vegetables forage crops sheep goats cattle camels horses

Industries: construction and construction materials; mining (coal copper molybdenum fluorspar and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Labor force: 1.488 million (2003)
By occupation herding/agriculture: 42%
By occupation mining: 4%
By occupation manufacturing: 6%
By occupation trade: 14%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation public sector: 5%
By occupation other: 3.7% (2003)

Unemployment rate: 6.7% (2003)

Population below poverty line: 36.1% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.1%
Highest 10: 37% (1995)

Distribution of family income gini index: 44 (1998)

Budget
Revenues: $582 million
Expenditures: $602 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 11% (2004 est.)

Exports: $853 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Commodities: copper apparel livestock animal products cashmere wool hides fluorspar other nonferrous metals
Partners: China 47.8% US 17.9% UK 15.7% (2004)

Imports: $1 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuel cars food products industrial consumer goods chemicals building materials sugar tea
Partners: Russia 33.3% China 23.6% Japan 7.4% South Korea 6% US 4.6% (2004)

Debt external: $1.191 billion (2004 est.)

Exchange rates: togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1185.3 (2004) 1146.5 (2003) 1110.3 (2002) 1097.7 (2001) 1076.7 (2000)

Electricity
Production: 2.692 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Consumption: 2.209 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Exports: 8.2 million kWh (2004 est.)
Imports: 130.5 million kWh (2004 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 142,300 (2004)
Mobile cellular: 404,400 (2004)

Telephone system
General assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas
Domestic: very low density of about 6.5 telephones for each thousand persons; two wireless providers cover all but two provinces
International: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Internet
Country code: .mn
Hosts: 1000 (2004)
Users: 220,000 (2004)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $23.1 million (FY02)
Percent of gdp: 2.2% (FY02)

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Airports: 46 (2004 est.)
With paved runways total: 15
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 11
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 31
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 18
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)

Railways
Total: 1,810 km
Broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)

Waterways
Note: only waterway in operation is Lake Khovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orkhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)

Merchant marine
Total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 54, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
Foreign owned: 38 (China 2, Lebanon 1, Philippines 1, Russia 10, Singapore 10, South Korea 1, Syria 1, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, UAE 4, Vietnam 6) (2005)

Disputes international: none