Mongolia :: East & Southeast Asia
Introduction
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 statesbut 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 declared its independence from the Manchu-led Qing Empire in 1911 and achieved limited autonomy until 1919when it again came under Chinese control. The Mongolian Revolution of 1921 ended Chinese dominanceand a communist regimethe Mongolian People's Republictook power in 1924.
++ The modern country of Mongoliarepresents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; todaymore ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Since the country's peaceful democratic revolution in 1990the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) - which took the name Mongolian People's Party (MPP) in 2010 - has competed for political power with the Democratic Party (DP) and several other smaller partiesincluding a new party formed by former President ENKHBAYARwhich confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name. In the country's most recent parliamentary elections in June 2016Mongolians handed the MPP overwhelming control of Parliamentlargely pushing out the DPwhich had overseen a sharp decline in Mongolia's economy during its control of Parliament in the preceding years. Mongolians elected a DP memberKhaltmaa BATTULGAas president in 2017.
Geography
Location:
Northern Asiabetween China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total:
1,564,116 sq km
land:
1,553,556 sq km
water:
10,560 sq km
country comparison to the world: 20
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total:
8,082 km
border countries (2):
China 4630 kmRussia 3452 km
Coastline:
0 km
(landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plainsgrassy steppemountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation:
mean elevation:
1,528 m
lowest point:
Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point:
Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oilcoalcoppermolybdenumtungstenphosphatestinnickelzincfluorspargoldsilveriron
Land use:
agricultural land:
73%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
0.4%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
72.6%
(2011 est.)
forest:
7%
(2011 est.)
other:
20%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
sparsely distributed population throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities
Natural hazards:
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws leads to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation and overgrazing increase soil erosion from wind and rain; water pollution; desertification and mining activities have a deleterious effect on the environment
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
BiodiversityClimate ChangeClimate Change-Kyoto ProtocolDesertificationEndangered SpeciesEnvironmental ModificationHazardous WastesLaw of the SeaOzone Layer ProtectionShip PollutionWetlandsWhaling
signedbut not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People and Society
Population:
3,168,026
(July 2020 est.)
note: Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world (2 people per sq km); twice as many ethnic Mongols (some 6 million) live in Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) in neighboring China
country comparison to the world: 135
Nationality:
noun:
Mongolian(s)
adjective:
Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Khalkh 84.5%Kazak 3.9%Dorvod 2.4%Bayad 1.7%Buryat-Bouriates 1.3%Zakhchin 1%other 5.2%
(2015 est.)
Languages:
Mongolian 90% (official) (Khalkha dialect is predominant)TurkicRussian
(1999)
Religions:
Buddhist 53%Muslim 3%Shamanist 2.9%Christian 2.2%other 0.4%none 38.6%
(2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
26.96%
(male 435,596/female 418,524)
15-24 years:
14.93%
(male 239,495/female 233,459)
25-54 years:
45.29%
(male 694,481/female 740,334)
55-64 years:
8.04%
(male 115,560/female 139,129)
65 years and over:
4.78%
(male 60,966/female 90,482)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
54.8
youth dependency ratio:
48.1
elderly dependency ratio:
6.7
potential support ratio:
15
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
29.8 years
male:
28.8 years
female:
30.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Population growth rate:
0.99%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Birth rate:
16.6 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Death rate:
6.3 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Net migration rate:
-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Population distribution:
sparsely distributed population throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities
Urbanization:
urban population:
68.7% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
1.63% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
1.584 million ULAANBAATAR (capital)
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.67 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.5 years
(2008 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 20-24
Maternal mortality rate:
45 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Infant mortality rate:
total:
19.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
22.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
16.2 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.8 years
male:
66.6 years
female:
75.2 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
48.1%
(2018)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
97.6% of population
rural:
59.2% of population
total:
85.4% of population
unimproved:
urban:
2.4% of population
rural:
40.8% of population
total:
14.6% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
4%
(2017)
Physicians density:
2.86 physicians/1,000 population
(2016)
Hospital bed density:
8 beds/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
96.4% of population
rural:
65.1% of population
total:
86.5% of population
unimproved:
urban:
3.6% of population
rural:
34.9% of population
total:
13.5% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
<.1%
(2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
<1000
(2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<100
(2019 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
20.6%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 96
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
1.9%
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 113
Education expenditures:
4.1% of GDP
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 94
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.4%
male:
98.2%
female:
98.6%
(2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
15 years
male:
14 years
female:
16 years
(2015)
Unemploymentyouth ages 15-24:
total:
16.8%
male:
15.8%
female:
18.4%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Mongolia
local long form:
none
local short form:
Mongol Uls
former:
Outer MongoliaMongolian People's Republic
etymology:
the name means "Land of the Mongols" in Latin; the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State"
Government type:
semi-presidential republic
Capital:
name:
Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates:
47 55 N106 55 E
time difference:
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of WashingtonDCduring Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hrbegins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September
note: Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC) ++ etymology: the name means "red hero" in Mongolian and honors national hero Damdin Sukhbaatarleader of the partisan army that with Soviet Red Army helpliberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguudsingular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); ArhangayBayanhongorBayan-OlgiyBulganDarhan-UulDornodDornogoviDundgoviDzavhan (Zavkhan)Govi-AltayGovisumberHentiyHovdHovsgolOmnogoviOrhonOvorhangaySelengeSuhbaatarTovUlaanbaatar*Uvs
Independence:
29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actualityautonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:
Naadam (games) holiday (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution)11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution)26 November (1924)
Constitution:
history:
several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992effective 12 February 1992
amendments:
proposed by the State Great Huralby the president of the republicby the governmentor by petition submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; conducting referenda on proposed amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the State Great Hural; passage of amendments by the State Great Hural requires at least three-quarters majority vote; passage by referendum requires majority participation of qualified voters and a majority of votes; amended 199920002019
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
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
both parents must be citizens of Mongolia; one parent if born within Mongolia
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Khaltmaa BATTULGA (since 10 July 2017)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH (since 4 October 2017; re-elected by the Parliament 2 July 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan ENKHTUVSHIN (since 18 October 2017); note - Prime Minister Jargaltulga ERDENEBAT (since 8 July 2016) was voted out of office by the Parliament on 7 September 2017
cabinet:
directly appointed by the prime minister following a constitutional amendment ratified in November 2019; prior to the amendmentthe cabinet was nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)
elections/appointments:
presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 June 2017 with a runoff held 7 July 2017 (next to be held in 2021); following legislative electionsthe leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
election results:
Khaltmaa BATTULGA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA (DP) 38.1%Miyegombo ENKHBOLD (MPP) 30.3%Sainkhuu GANBAATAR (MPRP) 30.2%invalid 1.4%; percent of vote in second round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA 55.2%Miyegombo ENKHBOLD 44.8%; on 2 July 2020Prime Minister Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH was reelected prime minister by the State Great Hural
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral State Great Hural or Ulsyn Ikh Khural (76 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; each constituency requires at least 50% voter participation for the poll to be valid; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:
last held on 24 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024)
election results:
percent of vote by party - MPP 44.9%DP 24.5%Our Coalition 8.1%independent 8.7%Right Person Electorate Coalition 5.2%other 8.5%; seats by party - MPP 62DP 11Our Coalition 1Right Person Electorate Coalition 1; independent 1; composition - 63 men13 women; percent of women 17.1%; note - the MPRPCivil Will-Green Partyand Mongolian Traditionally United Party formed Our Coalition for the 2020 election; the Right Person Electorate Coalition was established in 2020 by the National Labor PartyMongolian Social Democratic Partyand Justice Party
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civilcriminaland administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of the chairman and 8 members)
judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president upon recommendation by the General Council of Courts - a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials - to the State Great Hural; appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed from nominations by the State Great Hural - 3 each by the presidentthe State Great Huraland the Supreme Court; appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term
subordinate courts:
aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; souminter-soumand district courts; Administrative Cases Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [Sodnomzundui ERDENE; resigned June 2020] ++ Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP [Bayanjargal TSOGTGEREL] ++ Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH] ++ Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambar ENKHBAYAR] ++ Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Tserendorjiin GANKHUYAG] ++ Mongolian Traditionally United Party or MTUP [Batdelgeriin BATBOLD] ++ National Labor Party or HUN [B. NAIDALAA] ++ Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP [A. GANBAATAR] ++ Justice Party [B. NASANBILEG]
note - there are 36 total registered parties as of March 2020
International organization participation:
ADBARFCDCICACPEBRDEITI (compliant country)FAOG-77IAEAIBRDICAOICC (NGOs)ICCtICRMIDAIFADIFCIFRCSILOIMFIMOIMSOInterpolIOCIOMIPUISOITSOITUITUCMIGAMINURSOMONUSCONAMOPCWOSCESCO (observer)UNUNAMIDUNCTADUNESCOUNIDOUNISFAUNMISSUNWTOUPUWCOWHOWIPOWMOWTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Yondon OTGONBAYAR (since 28 March 2018)
chancery:
2833 M Street NWWashingtonDC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-7117
FAX:
[1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general:
New YorkSan Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael S. KLECHESKI (since 22 February 2019)
telephone:
[976] 7007-6001
embassy:
Denver Street #311th Micro-DistrictUlaanbaatar 14190
mailing address:
P.O. Box 341Ulaanbaatar 14192
FAX:
[976] 7007-6016
Flag description:
threeequal vertical bands of red (hoist side)blueand red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for firesunmoonearthwaterand the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the skyred symbolizes progress and prosperity
National symbol(s):
soyombo emblem; national colors: redblueyellow
National anthem:
name:
"Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music:
Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions
Economy
Economic overview:
Foreign direct investment in Mongolia's extractive industries – which are based on extensive deposits of coppergoldcoalmolybdenumfluorsparuraniumtinand tungsten - has transformed Mongolia's landlocked economy from its traditional dependence on herding and agriculture. Exports now account for more than 40% of GDP. Mongolia depends on China for more than 60% of its external trade - China receives some 90% of Mongolia's exports and supplies Mongolia with more than one-third of its imports. Mongolia also relies on Russia for 90% of its energy suppliesleaving it vulnerable to price increases. Remittances from Mongolians working abroadparticularly in South Koreaare significant.
++ Soviet assistanceat its height one-third of GDPdisappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recessionbecause of political inactionand natural disastersas well as strong economic growthbecause of market reforms and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the WTO 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 2008Mongolia was hit by the global financial crisis and Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009the IMF reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and it emerged from the crisis with a stronger banking sector and better fiscal management. In October 2009Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mineamong the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. Howevera dispute with foreign investors developing OT called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign investment. This caused a severe drop in FDIand a slowing economyleading to the dismissal of Prime Minister Norovyn ALTANKHUYAG in November 2014. The economy had grown more than 10% per year between 2011 and 2013 - largely on the strength of commodity exports and high government spending - before slowing to 7.8% in 2014and falling to the 2% level in 2015. Growth rebounded from a brief 1.6% contraction in the third quarter of 2016 to 5.8% during the first three quarters of 2017largely due to rising commodity prices.
++ The May 2015 agreement with Rio Tinto to restart the OT mine and the subsequent $4.4 billion finance package signing in December 2015 stemmed the loss of investor confidence. The current government has made restoring investor trust and reviving the economy its top prioritybut has failed to invigorate the economy in the face of the large drop-off in foreign direct investmentmounting external debtand a sizeable budget deficit. Mongolia secured a $5.5 billion financial assistance package from the IMF and a host of international creditors in May 2017which is expected to improve Mongolia's long-term fiscal and economic stability as long as Ulaanbaatar can advance the agreement's difficult contingent reformssuch as consolidating the government's off-balance sheet liabilities and rehabilitating the Mongolian banking sector.
GDP real growth rate:
5.1%
(2017 est.)
1.2%
(2016 est.)
2.4%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6%
(2017 est.)
0.5%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
B
(2018)
Moody's rating:
B3
(2018)
Standard & Poors rating:
B
(2018)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$43.54 billion
(2018 est.)
$39.73 billion
(2017 est.)
$37.81 billion
(2016 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.14 billion
(2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,700
(2018)
$13,000
(2017 est.)
$12,500
(2016 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 99
Gross national saving:
26.9% of GDP
(2017 est.)
23.1% of GDP
(2016 est.)
22.4% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
GDP - compositionby sector of origin:
agriculture:
12.1%
(2017 est.)
industry:
38.2%
(2017 est.)
services:
49.7%
(2017 est.)
GDP - compositionby end use:
household consumption:
49.2%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
12.3%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
23.8%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
12.4%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
59.5%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-57.1%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
86.7
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
wheatbarleyvegetablesforage crops; sheepgoatscattlecamelshorses
Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coalcoppermolybdenumfluorspartintungstengold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal productscashmere and natural fiber manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
-1%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Labor force:
1.241 million
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
31.1%
industry:
18.5%
services:
50.5%
(2016)
Unemployment rate:
8%
(2017 est.)
7.9%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Population below poverty line:
29.6%
(2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
13.7%
highest 10%:
5.7%
(2017)
Budget:
revenues:
2.967 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
3.681 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
26.6% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.4% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Public debt:
91.4% of GDP
(2017 est.)
90% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$1.155 billion
(2017 est.)
-$700 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Exports:
$7.012 billion
(2018)
$5.834 billion
(2017 est.)
$4.916 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Exports - partners:
China 93.3%UK 2.5%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
copperapparellivestockanimal productscashmerewoolhidesfluorsparother nonferrous metalscoalcrude oil
Imports:
$5.875 billion
(2018)
$4.345 billion
(2017 est.)
$3.466 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipmentfuelcarsfood productsindustrial consumer goodschemicalsbuilding materialscigarettes and tobaccoappliancessoap and detergent
Imports - partners:
China 32.6%Russia 28.1%Japan 8.4%US 4.8%South Korea 4.6%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.016 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.296 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Debt - external:
$25.33 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$24.63 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Exchange rates:
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
2,378.1
(2017 est.)
2,140.3
(2016 est.)
2,140.3
(2015 est.)
1,970.3
(2014 est.)
1,817.9
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
91%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
99%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
73%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
5.339 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - consumption:
5.932 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - exports:
51 million kWh
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - imports:
1.446 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.134 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
87% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
2% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
11% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Crude oil - production:
20,000 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Crude oil - exports:
14,360 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
(1 January 2017)
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
27,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Refined petroleum products - imports:
24,190 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
19.86 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
385,191
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
12.28
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
4,297,643
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
137.01
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
liberalized and competitive telecoms market; mobile broadband seen steady growthbut fixed-line broadband is an attractive option; 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; compared to other Asian countriesMongolia's growth in telecommunications is moderate; mobile broadband is growing with 4 competitive MNOs (mobile network operators) along with better tariffs; 3G mobile broadband products are very popularlaunch of 4G LTE services by all major operators; in May 2018 a South Korean company completed the sale of 40% stake back to Mongolian government
(2020)
domestic:
very low fixed-line teledensity 12 per 100; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing with 137 per 100 persons
(2019)
international:
country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
(2016)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobilefixed-linebroadbandsubmarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
following a law passed in 2005Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stationsincluding multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
(2019)
Internet country code:
.mn
Internet users:
total:
735,823
percent of population:
23.71%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
306,150
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
10
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
4
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
12
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
670,360
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
7.82 million
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
JU
(2016)
Airports:
44
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 98
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
15
(2017)
over 3,047 m:
2
(2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
10
(2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
29
(2013)
over 3,047 m:
2
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
24
(2013)
under 914 m:
1
(2013)
Heliports:
1
(2013)
Railways:
total:
1,815 km
(2017)
broad gauge:
1,815 km
1.520-m gauge
(2017)
note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway
country comparison to the world: 78
Roadways:
total:
113,200 km
(2017)
paved:
10,600 km
(2017)
unpaved:
102,600 km
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 44
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 ice free from May to September)
(2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
Merchant marine:
total:
271
by type:
bulk carrier 2container ship 3general cargo 100oil tanker 72other 94
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 55
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army (includes Border Troops)Mongolian Air ForceNational Center for Emergency and Disaster Relief (coordinates the military's efforts as first-responders for earthquakeswildfiresand forest fires; contagious diseases; and snow and dust storms as well as severe winters (known as zud)); paramilitary forces: Internal Security Troops
(2019)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP
(2019)
0.7% of GDP
(2018)
0.8% of GDP
(2017)
0.9% of GDP
(2016)
0.9% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 138
Military and security service personnel strengths:
size estimates for the the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) vary; approximately 8,000 active duty troops (7,000 Army; 800 Air Force); est. 6,000 Border Guard; est. 1,200 Internal Security Troops
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the MAF are armed with Soviet-era equipment supplemented by deliveries of second-hand Russian weapons; since 2010Russia is the sole provider of armaments to Mongolia
(2019 est.)
Military deployments:
850 South Sudan (UNMISS); 230 Afghanistan (NATO)
(2020)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in army or air forces or police for males only; after conscriptionsoldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces
(2017)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons:
17 (2019)