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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

5 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.mn

Internet users [time series]

40,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios [time series]

155,900 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

104,100 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

110,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low powered repeaters) (1999)

Televisions [time series]

168,800 (1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $262 million expenditures: $328 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MNT

Debt - external [time series]

$760 million (2000 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

33 (1995)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$208.7 million (1999 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 Coalition (DC) government has embraced free-market economics, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade, and attempting 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 DC. 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 last Consultative Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP government, elected in July 2000, is anxious to improve the investment climate; it must also 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 in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.732 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

25 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

181 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.77 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,101.29 (December 2001), 1,097.70 (2001), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,072.37 (1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997)

Exports [time series]

$466.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

China 59%, US 20%, Russia 10%, Japan 2% (2000)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 32% industry: 30% services: 38% (2000 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,770 (2001 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.4% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25% (1995) (1995)

Imports [time series]

$614.5 million c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 34%, China 21%, Japan 12%, South Korea 9%, US 4% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.4% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11.8% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.4 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

primarily herding/agricultural

Population below poverty line [time series]

36% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (2000)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1.565 million sq km water: 9,600 sq km land: 1,555,400 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate [time series]

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; policies of the former Communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Irrigated land [time series]

840 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 8,162 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,485 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.16% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (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 [time series]

Ulaanbaatar

Constitution [time series]

12 February 1992

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John DINGER embassy: inner northeast part of the Big Ring Road, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: United States Embassy in Mongolia, P. O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [976] (11) 329095 FAX: [976] (11) 320776

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 26 July 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation with the president elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president; percent of vote - Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 58.13%, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (DP) 36.58%, Luvsandamba DASHNYAM (CWP) 3.54%, other 1.75%; Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected prime minister by a vote in the State Great Hural of 68 to 3

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary

Independence [time series]

11 July 1921 (from China)

International organization participation [time series]

ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, CP (provisional), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 for approval by the president)

Legal system [time series]

blend of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western systems of law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPRP 72, other 4

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Citizens' Will Party or CWP (also called Civil Will Party or Civil Courage Party) [Sanjaasurengyn OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [D. DORLIGJAN]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian New Socialist Democratic Party or MNSDP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIHAN] note: the MPRP is the ruling party

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Mongols entered history in the 13th century when under GENGHIS 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 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. Over the next four years the DUC put forward a number of key reforms to modernize the economy and democratize the political system. However, the former Communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional restructuring and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP won an overwhelming victory in the legislature - with 72 of the 76 seats - and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues many of the reform policies, the MPRP is focusing on social welfare and public order priorities.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Mongolian Armed Forces (includes General Purpose Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Troops); note - Border Troops are under Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in peacetime

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$24.3 million (FY01)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.5% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 772,619 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 501,493 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 30,230 (2002 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32% (male 438,176; female 422,960) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 864,033; female 865,172) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 45,080; female 59,011) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.8 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 3.4% (1998)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

51.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.62 years female: 66.87 years (2002 est.) male: 62.47 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 98% female: 97.5% (2000)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

2,694,432 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.48% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 96%, Muslim (primarily in the southwest), Shamanism, and Christian 4% (1998)

Sex ratio [time series]

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 (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.37 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

34 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 26 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 3,387 km paved: 1,563 km note: there are also 45,862 km of rural roads that consist of rough, unimproved, cross-country tracks (2000) unpaved: 1,824 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

1,815 km broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.524-m gauge (2001)

Waterways [time series]

400 km (1999)