|
Background:
|
The
Mongols gained fame 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. Since then,
elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power
in 2000 and ended in a split vote in 2004. |
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Location:
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Northern
Asia, between China and Russia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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46 00
N, 105 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
1,564,116 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
|
slightly
smaller than Alaska |
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Land boundaries:
|
total:
8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia
3,543 km |
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Coastline:
|
0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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desert;
continental (large daily and seasonal temperature
ranges) |
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Terrain:
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vast
semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe,
mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in
south-central |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten
Orgil) 4,374 m |
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Natural resources:
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oil,
coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin,
nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.23% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
|
840 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
|
dust
storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and
"zud," which is harsh winter conditions |
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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 |
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked;
strategic location between China and Russia
|
|
Population:
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2,751,314
(July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Median age:
|
total:
23.9 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.43%
(2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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21.44
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.1
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
55.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.)
male: 58.97 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 64.17 years
male: 61.97 years
female: 66.48 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.27
children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less
than 0.1% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less
than 500 (2003 est) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less
than 200 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mongol
(mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%,
other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000) |
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Religions:
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Buddhist
Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%,
Muslim 4% (2004) |
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Languages:
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Khalkha
Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
local long form: none |
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Government type:
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parliamentary |
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Capital:
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Ulaanbaatar |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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11 July
1921 (from China) |
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National holiday:
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Independence
Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921) |
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Constitution:
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12
February 1992 |
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Legal system:
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blend
of Soviet, German, and US 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 |
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Suffrage:
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18
years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since
20 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister
Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ (since 20 August 2004)
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 in 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 27 July
2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
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%; Tsakkhiagiyn ELBEGDOJ elected
prime minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 -
NA%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4;
note - 2 seats undecided |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Citizens'
Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil
Courage Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin
OYUUN]; Democratic Party or DP [M. ENKHSAIKHAN];
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: The CWRP, DP, and M-MNSDP formed the
Motherland-Democracy Coalition or MDC for the 2004
elections; the leader of the coalition is M.
ENKHSAIKHAN |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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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, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC
20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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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)
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
|
5%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture:
20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
|
33%
(2003 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
|
lowest
10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
44
(1998) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
1.5%
(2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
|
1.4
million (2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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herding/agriculture
46%, manufacturing 6%, trade 10.3%, public sector
4.7%, other/unemployed 33% (2001) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.6%
(2001) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$387 million
expenditures: $428 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats,
cattle, camels, horses |
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Industries:
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construction
materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum,
fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages;
processing of animal products |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.1%
(2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.225
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.194
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
|
25
million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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196
million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
|
8,750
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA
(2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA
(2001) |
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Exports:
|
$524
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copper,
livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals |
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Exports - partners:
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China
46.7%, US 32%, Russia 6.5%, South Korea 5.1% (2003
est.) |
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Imports:
|
$691
million c.i.f. (2002 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery
and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial
consumer goods, chemicals, building materials,
sugar, tea |
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Imports - partners:
|
Russia
33.9%, China 19.8%, South Korea 12.1%, Japan 5.7%,
Germany 5.2% (2003 est.) |
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Debt - external:
|
$885
million (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
|
$332
million (2003 est.) |
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Currency:
|
togrog/tugrik
(MNT) |
|
Currency code:
|
MNT |
|
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) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar
year
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
128,000
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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216,000
(2002) |
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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) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 7,
FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001) |
|
Radios:
|
155,900
(1999) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
9 (plus
18 provincial repeaters and many low power
repeaters) (2004) |
|
Televisions:
|
168,800
(1999) |
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Internet country code:
|
.mn |
|
Internet hosts:
|
40
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
5
(2001) |
|
Internet users:
|
50,000
(2002)
|
|
Railways:
|
1,810
km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
49,250 km
paved: 1,724 km
unpaved: 47,526 km (2003) |
|
Waterways:
|
400 km
(1999) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
none |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
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 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 4, cargo 53, chemical tanker 1,
container 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1 |
|
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
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
over 3,047 m: 2 |
|
Heliports:
|
2 (2003
est.)
|
|
Military branches:
|
Mongolian
People's Army (comprising Ground Forces, Air Defense
Forces), Border Guards, Internal Security Forces,
Construction Corps Forces, Civil Defense Authority |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
18
years of age (2004 est.) |
|
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 - reaching military age
annually:
|
males:
33,718 (2004 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$23.1
million (FY02) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
2.2%
(FY02)
|
| Transnational
Issues |
Mongolia |
|
Disputes - international:
|
none
|
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