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.

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N 105 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 1,564,116 km²
Rank: 19
Land: 1,553,556 km²
Water: 10,560 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 560 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: 0.76%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 99.24% (2005)

Irrigated land: 840 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 34.8 km³ (1999)

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

Geography
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Population: 3,086,918 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 134
Growth rate: 1.495% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 82
Below poverty line: 36.1% (2004)

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% Shamanist and Christian 6% Muslim 4% none 40% (2004)

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.1%
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 1,031,819/female 1,033,806)
65 years and over: 4% (male 52,430/female 67,773) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.8 years
Male: 25.3 years
Female: 26.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.495% (2010 est.)
Rank: 82

Birth rate: 21.03 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 88

Death rate: 6.08 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 164

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population
Rank: 116

Urbanization
Urban population: 57% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 Ship Pollution Wetlands Whaling
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(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 38.56 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 69
Male: 41.63 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 35.35 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 67.98 years
Rank: 153
Male: 65.54 years
Female: 70.54 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 109

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 133
People living with hivaids: fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 152
Deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Deaths rank: 107

Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 65

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: 14 years (2008)

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: blend of Soviet and German systems that employ 'continental' or 'civil' code; case-precedent may be used to inform judges but all decisions must refer to the law as written; 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 Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ
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)
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 in 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: Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
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 consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
From the us embassy: Big Ring Road 11th Micro Region Ulaanbaatar 14,171 Mongolia
From the us mailing address: PSC 461 Box 300 FPO AP 96,521-0002; P.O. Box 1021 Ulaanbaatar-13
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); blue represents the sky red symbolizes progress and prosperity

National anthem
Name: 'Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal'
Lyricsmusic: 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 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 an estimated 7% 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 about two-thirds 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 150
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 23

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 165
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.2%
Industry: 29.5%
Services: 49.3% (2009 est.)

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.)
Rank: 110

Labor force: 1.068 million (2008)
Rank: 141
By occupation agriculture: 34%
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 61% (2008)

Unemployment rate: 3% (2007)
Rank: 22

Population below poverty line: 36.1% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.9%
Highest 10: 24.9% (2005)

Distribution of family income gini index: 44 (1998)
Rank: 97

Inflation rate consumer prices: 28% (2008 est.)
Rank: 125

Central bank discount rate: 14.78% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 22

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 20.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 16

Stock of narrow money: $510.7 million (31 December 2008)
Rank: 160

Stock of broad money: $1.791 billion (31 December 2008)
Rank: 143

Stock of domestic credit: $1.183 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 131

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 105

Current account balance: -$710 million (2008 est.)
Rank: 93

Exports: $2.539 billion (2008)
Rank: 132
Commodities: copper apparel livestock animal products cashmere wool hides fluorspar other nonferrous metals coal
Partners: China 78.52% Canada 9.46% Russia 3.02% (2009)

Imports: $3.224 billion (2008)
Rank: 150
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuel cars food products industrial consumer goods chemicals building materials sugar tea
Partners: China 35.99% Russia 31.56% South Korea 7.08% Japan 4.8% (2009)

Debt external: $1.6 billion (2008)
Rank: 141

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1442.8 (2009) 1267.51 (2008) 1170 (2007) 1165 (2006)

Electricity
Production: 4.03 billion kWh (2009)
Production rank: 117
Consumption: 3.439 billion kWh (2009)
Consumption rank: 120
Exports: 21.2 million kWh (2009)
Imports: 186.1 million kWh (2009)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 144
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 135
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 93
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 153
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 144

Telephones
Main lines in use: 188,900 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 125
Mobile cellular: 2.249 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 127

Telephone system
General assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services
Domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
International: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Broadcast media: following a law passed in 2005 Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet
Country code: .mn
Hosts: 7,942 (2010)
Hosts rank: 134
Users: 330,000 (2008)
Users rank: 125

Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 106

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)

Airports: 46 (2010)
Rank: 94
With paved runways total: 14
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 10
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 32
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports: 1 (2010)

Railways
Total: 1810 km
Rank: 76
Broad gauge: 1810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Total: 49,250 km
Rank: 82
Paved: 2,824 km
Unpaved: 46,426 km (includes 1994 km with gravel surface and 1874 km with improved surface) (2009)

Waterways: 580 km
Rank: 82
Note: 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 are open from May to September (2010)

Merchant marine
Total: 58
Rank: 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)

Disputes international: none