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 that lasted until January 2012. In 2009 current President ELBEGDORJ of the Democratic Party was elected to office and was re-elected for his second term in June 2013. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) a name it used in the early 1920s. Shortly thereafter a new party was formed by former president ENKHBAYAR which adopted the MPRP name. In the 2012 Parliamentary elections a coalition of four political parties led by the Democratic Party gained control of the Parliament.

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N 105 00 E

Area
Rank: 19
Land: 1,553,556 km²
Water: 10,560 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries
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 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
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 99.61% (2011)

Irrigated land: 843 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 34.8 km³ (2011)

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: 2,953,190 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 139
Growth rate: 1.37% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 89
Below poverty line: 29.8% (2011 est.)

Nationality
Adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups: Khalkh 81.9% Kazak 3.8% Dorvod 2.7% Bayad 2.1% Buryat-Bouriates 1.7% Zakhchin 1.2% Dariganga 1% Uriankhai 1% other 4.6% (2010 est.)

Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90% (official) Turkic Russian (1999)

Religions: Buddhist 53% Muslim 3% Christian 2.2% Shamanist 2.9% other 0.4% none 38.6% (2010 est.)

Age structure
15-24 years: 18.7% (male 278,912/female 273,167)
25-54 years: 44.5% (male 636,799/female 677,236)
55-64 years: 5.9% (male 80,267/female 94,021)
65 years and over: 4% (male 49,314/female 70,877) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 39.9 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 %
Potential support ratio: 18 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 26.3 years
Female: 27.8 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.37% (2014 est.)
Rank: 89

Birth rate: 20.88 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 81

Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 155

Net migration rate: -0.85 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 145

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 2.81% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.184 million (2011)

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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 21.9

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 79
Male: 26.4 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.75 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 158
Male: 64.72 years
Female: 73.45 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 100

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 55% (2010)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 2.76 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 6.8 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 161
People living with hivaids: fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 160
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 140

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 14.4% (2008)
Rank: 122

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.3% (2005)
Rank: 88

Education expenditures: 5.5% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 58

Literacy
Total population: 97.4%
Male: 96.8%
Female: 97.9% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 14 years
Female: 16 years (2012)

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

Government type: parliamentary

Capital
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: several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992 effective 12 February 1992; amended 1999 2001 (2011)

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
Head of government: Prime Minister Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Dendev TERBISHDAGVA (since 20 August 2012)
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 26 June 2013 (next to be held in June 2017); following legislative elections leaders of the majority party or a majority coalition usually elect the prime minister of the State Great Hural
Election results: Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 50.2% Badmaanyambuu BAT-ERDENE 42% Natsag UDVAL 6.5% other 1.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; of which 48 members are directly elected from 26 electoral districts while 28 members are proportionally elected based on a party's share of the total votes; all serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 28 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2016)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DP 33 MPP 25 Justice Coalition 11 others 5 vacant 2

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president upon recommendation to the State Great Hural by the General Council of Courts; term of appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed by the State Great Heral upon nominations - 3 each by the president the State Great Hural and the Supreme Court; term of appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term
Subordinate courts: aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum inter-soum and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts (established in 2004)

Political parties and leaders:

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

Diplomatic representation
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 San Francisco
From the us embassy: Denver Street #3 11th Micro Region Big Ring Road Ulaanbaatar 14,190 Mongolia
From the us mailing address: PSC 461 Box 300 FPO AP 96,521-0002; P.O. Box 341 Ulaanbaatar-14,192
From the us telephone: [976] 7,007-6,001
From the us FAX: [976] 7,007-6,016

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 symbols: soyombo emblem

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ

Economy overview: Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits and attendant growth in mining-sector activities have transformed Mongolia's economy which traditionally has been dependent on herding and agriculture. Mongolia's copper gold coal molybdenum fluorspar uranium tin and tungsten deposits among others have attracted foreign direct investment. 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. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices globally and new gold production. By late 2008 Mongolia was hit hard by the global financial crisis. Slower global economic growth hurt the country's exports notably copper and slashed government revenues. As a result Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009 the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has largely emerged from the crisis with better regulations and closer supervision. The banking sector strengthened but weaknesses remain. In October 2009 Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi mine considered to be among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. Mongolia's ongoing dispute with a foreign investor over Oyu Tolgoi however has called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign direct investment. Negotiations to develop the massive Tavan Tolgoi coal field also have stalled. The economy has grown more than 10% per year since 2010 largely on the strength of commodity exports to nearby countries and high government spending domestically. Mongolia's economy however faces near-term economic risks from the government's loose fiscal and monetary policies which are contributing to high inflation and from uncertainties in foreign demand for Mongolian exports. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives more than 90% of Mongolia's exports and is Mongolia's largest supplier. Mongolia has relied on Russia for energy supplies leaving it vulnerable to price increases; in the first 11 months of 2013 Mongolia purchased 76% of its gasoline and diesel fuel and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia. A drop in foreign direct investment and a decrease in Chinese demand for Mongolia's mineral exports are putting pressure on Mongolia's balance of payments. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad particularly in South Korea are significant.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 140

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 6

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 152

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 14.9%
Investment in fixed capital: 55.8%
Investment in inventories: 0%
Exports of goods and services: 50%
Imports of goods and services: -79.2%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 32.6%
Services: 50.9% (2013 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 gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2013 est.)
Rank: 10

Labor force: 1.037 million (2011 est.)
Rank: 141
By occupation industry: 10.6%
By occupation services: 56.4% (2011)

Unemployment rate: 13% (2010)
Rank: 99

Population below poverty line: 29.8% (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 28.4% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 32.8 (2002)
Rank: 84

Budget
Expenditures: $4.36 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -8.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 196

Taxes and other revenues: 31.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 87

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 15% (2012 est.)
Rank: 196

Central bank discount rate: 12.25% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 15

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 18.2% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 23

Stock of narrow money: $1.318 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 143

Stock of broad money: $5.472 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 120

Stock of domestic credit: $3.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 122

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 92

Current account balance: -$3.362 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 162

Exports: $4.382 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 117
Commodities: copper apparel livestock animal products cashmere wool hides fluorspar other nonferrous metals coal crude oil
Partners: China 89% Canada 4.1% (2012)

Imports: $5.934 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 121
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuel cars food products industrial consumer goods chemicals building materials cigarettes and tobacco appliances soap and detergent
Partners: China 37.5% Russia 25.6% US 9.4% South Korea 6.1% Japan 4.9% (2012)

Debt external: $4.669 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 120

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $4.452 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 101

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 4.48 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 120
Consumption: 3.951 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 124
Exports: 22 million kWh (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 88
Imports: 263 million kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 83
Installed generating capacity: 833,200 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 128
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 45
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 133
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 182
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 102

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 9,935 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 91
Crude oil exports: 5,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 64
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 88
Crude oil proven reserves: NA bbl

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 169
Products consumption: 21,610 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 125
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 195
Products imports: 17,360 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 109

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 161
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 167
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 142
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 91
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 165

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 10.21 million Mt (2011 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 176,700 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 129
Mobile cellular: 3.375 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 126

Telephone system
Domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing
International: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2011)

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: 20,084 (2012)
Hosts rank: 118
Users: 330,000 (2008)
Users rank: 125

Military expenditures:
Rank: 92

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 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 (2012)

Airports: 44 (2013)
Rank: 98
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 10
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2013)
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 24
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Railways
Rank: 73
Broad gauge: 1908 km 1.520-m gauge

Roadways
Rank: 78
Paved: 4,800 km
Unpaved: 44,449 km (2013)

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)
Rank: 82

Merchant marine
Rank: 68
By type: bulk carrier 21 cargo 25 chemical tanker 1 container 2 liquefied gas 2 passenger/cargo 2 roll on/roll off 3 vehicle carrier 1
Foreign owned: 44 (Indonesia 2 Japan 2 North Korea 1 Russia 2 Singapore 3 Ukraine 1 Vietnam 33) (2010)

Disputes international: none