 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
|
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. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Location: |
Northern
Asia, between China and Russia |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
46 00 N, 105
00 E |
|
Map references: |
Asia
|
|
Area: |
total:
1,564,116 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly
smaller than Alaska |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 8,220 km
border countries: 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: |
lowest
point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
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: |
arable
land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 0%
other:
99.23% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land: |
840 sq km
(1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards: |
dust storms,
grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh
winter conditions |
|
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
|
|
Geography - note: |
landlocked;
strategic location between China and Russia Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Population: |
2,751,314
(July 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.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
1.43% (2004
est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
21.44
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
7.1
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
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.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 64.17 years
male: 61.97 years
female: 66.48 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
2.27 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
less than
0.1% (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 500
(2003 est) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 200
(2003 est.) |
|
Nationality: |
noun:
Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Mongol
(mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including
Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000) |
|
Religions: |
Buddhist
Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4% (2004)
|
|
Languages: |
Khalkha
Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999) |
|
Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Country name: |
conventional long form: none
conventional short
form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local
short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia |
|
Government type: |
parliamentary |
|
Capital: |
Ulaanbaatar
|
|
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 |
|
Independence: |
11 July 1921
(from China) |
|
National holiday: |
Independence
Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921) |
|
Constitution: |
12 February
1992 |
|
Legal system: |
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 |
|
Suffrage: |
18 years of
age; universal |
|
Executive branch: |
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 |
|
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 - NA%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4;
note - 2 seats undecided |
|
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 for approval by the president)
|
|
Political parties and leaders: |
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 |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
|
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, MINURSO,
MONUC, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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)
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
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. |
|
GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $4.882 billion (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
5% (2003
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2002 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
33% (2003
est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
44 (1998)
|
|
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) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
4.6% (2001)
|
|
Budget: |
revenues: $387 million
expenditures: $428
million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
wheat,
barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
|
|
Industries: |
construction
materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold);
oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
4.1% (2002
est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
2.225 billion
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption: |
2.194 billion
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
25 million
kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
196 million
kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
8,750 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports: |
NA (2001)
|
|
Oil - imports: |
NA (2001)
|
|
Exports: |
$524 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
copper,
livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other
nonferrous metals |
|
Exports - partners: |
China 46.7%,
US 32%, Russia 6.5%, South Korea 5.1% (2003 est.) |
|
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
33.9%, China 19.8%, South Korea 12.1%, Japan 5.7%, Germany 5.2%
(2003 est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$885 million
(2001 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$332 million
(2003 est.) |
|
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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
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
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 (2003 est.) |
|
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.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Disputes - international: |
none
|
Large portions of this information is from the US government open source publication "The World Factbook", other content copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. You may use this information without permission for educational or other non-profit purposes if you refer to us as the source, contact us if you want to use this commercially.
|
