Mongolia

Internet country code

.mn

Internet hosts

40 (2003)

Internet users

50,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each thousand persons domestic: NA international: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones - main lines in use

128,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

216,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

9 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Budget

revenues: $387 million expenditures: $428 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)

Currency

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code

MNT

Debt - external

$885 million (2001 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$332 million (2003 est.)

Economy - overview

Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and breeding of livestock. Mongolia also 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 1990-91 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven into deep recession, prolonged by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) government embraced free-market economics, eased price controls, liberalized domestic and international trade, and attempted to restructure the banking system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs were undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment through international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the ex-Communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability brought about through four successive governments under the DUC. Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor community pledged over $300 million per year at the Consultative Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP government, elected in July 2000, was anxious to improve the investment climate; it also had to deal with a heavy burden of external debt. Falling prices for Mongolia's mainly primary sector exports, widespread opposition to privatization, and adverse effects of weather on agriculture in early 2000 and 2001 restrained real GDP growth. Despite drought problems in 2002, GDP rose 4.0%, followed by a solid 5.0% increase in 2003. The first applications under the land privatization law have been marked by a number of disputes over particular sites. Russia claims Mongolia owes it $11 billion from the Soviet period; any settlement could substantially increase Mongolia's foreign debt burden.

Electricity - consumption

2.194 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

25 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

196 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

2.225 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,171 (2003), 1,110.31 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,021.87 (1999)

Exports

$524 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners

China 46.1%, US 23.2%, Russia 6.7%, Singapore 5.7%, Australia 5.5%, UK 4.2% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20.6% industry: 21.4% services: 58% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37% (1995)

Imports

$691 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners

Russia 33.1%, China 21.5%, South Korea 8.5%, Japan 7.9%, Germany 4.7% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (2002 est.)

Industries

construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

herding/agriculture 46%, manufacturing 6%, trade 10.3%, public sector 4.7%, other/unemployed 33% (2001)

Oil - consumption

8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

33% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.6% (2001)

Area

total: 1,564,116 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

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

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Irrigated land

840 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Land use

arable land: 0.77% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.23% (2001)

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Natural resources

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

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

Capital

Ulaanbaatar

Constitution

12 February 1992

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZ embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13 mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (11) 329095 FAX: [976] (11) 320776

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhiagiyn 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 20 May 2001 (next to be held in May 2005); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural; election last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008) election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president in 2001; percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM (CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Tsakkhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0

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)

Government type

mixed parliamentary/presidential

Independence

11 July 1921 (from China)

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

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)

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

Legislative branch

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms 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%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following the June 2004 election, two seats in dispute and unoccupied

National holiday

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Political parties and leaders

Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil Courage Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [R. GONCHIKDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIKHAN] 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

Mongolian People's Army (comprising Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces), Border Guards, Internal Security Forces, Construction Corps Forces, Civil Defense Authority

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$23.1 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 818,977 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 530,594 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

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

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 33,718 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 415,735; female 400,560) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 916,445; female 918,235) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 43,205; female 57,134) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

21.44 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (2003 est)

Infant mortality rate

total: 55.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 58.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.17 years male: 61.97 years female: 66.48 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98% female: 97.5% (2002)

Median age

total: 23.9 years male: 23.6 years female: 24.3 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

2,751,314 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.43% (2004 est.)

Religions

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4% (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.27 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

36 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)

Heliports

2 (2003 est.)

Highways

total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT by type: bulk 4, cargo 53, chemical tanker 1, container 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: Belize 1, Cambodia 1, China 4, Cuba 1, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 1, Japan 1, North Korea 1, Lebanon 1, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 5, Moldova 1, Panama 3, Romania 1, Russia 14, Singapore 13, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, United States 3, Vietnam 4 (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)

Waterways

580 km 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)