Mongolia

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 states, but 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 1919, when it again came under Chinese control. The Mongolian Revolution of 1921 ended Chinese dominance, and a communist regime, the Mongolian People’s Republic, took power in 1924.The modern country of Mongolia, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; today, more 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 1990, the 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 parties, including a new party formed by former President ENKHBAYAR, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name. In the country's most recent parliamentary elections in June 2016, Mongolians handed the MPP overwhelming control of Parliament, largely pushing out the DP, which had overseen a sharp decline in Mongolia’s economy during its control of Parliament in the preceding years. Mongolians elected a DP member, Khaltmaa BATTULGA, as president in 2017.

Geography

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
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 km, Russia 3452 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

mean elevation: 1,528 m
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m

Natural resources

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

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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People and Society

Population

3,103,428 (July 2018 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), Turkic, Russian (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: 27%(male 427,225 /female 410,579)
15-24 years: 15.67%(male 246,198 /female 240,040)
25-54 years: 45.49%(male 683,475 /female 728,149)
55-64 years: 7.43%(male 105,085 /female 125,502)
65 years and over: 4.42%(male 55,447 /female 81,728) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.5 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 42.7 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.3 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 28.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 28 years
female: 29.6 years
country comparison to the world: 129

Population growth rate

1.11% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Birth rate

18.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Death rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Net migration rate

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

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: 68.5% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.63% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.553 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2019)

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: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2018 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: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 23.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 80

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 66 years
female: 74.7 years
country comparison to the world: 160

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.6% (2013)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 66.4% of population
rural: 59.2% of population
total: 64.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 33.6% of population
rural: 40.8% of population
total: 35.6% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

3.8% (2016)

Physicians density

2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 66.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 42.6% of population (2015 est.)
total: 59.7% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 33.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 57.4% of population (2015 est.)
total: 40.3% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

<1000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 96

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 123

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 98

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.2%
female: 98.6% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 17.9%
male: 15%
female: 22.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia, Mongolian 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 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 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 Sukhbaatar, leader of the partisan army that with Soviet Red Army help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s

Administrative divisions

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence

29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy 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 1992, effective 12 February 1992
amendments: proposed by the State Great Hural, by the president of the republic, by the government, or 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 1999, 2000 (2019)

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); 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: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president, 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 elections, the 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%

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 29 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPP 45.1%, DP 33.1%, MPRP 8.0%, independent 4.8%, other 9.0%; seats by party - MPP 65, DP 9, MPRP 1, independent 1; composition - men 63, women 13, percent of women 17.1%

Judicial branch

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and 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 president, the State Great Hural, and 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; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP [Sodnomzundui ERDENE]
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]

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Yondon OTGONBAYAR (since 28 March 2018)
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael S. KLECHESKI (since 22 February 2019)
telephone: [976] 7007-6001
embassy: Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Big Ring Road, Ulaanbaatar, 14190 Mongolia
mailing address: P.O. Box 341, Ulaanbaatar 14192
FAX: [976] 7007-6016

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); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

National symbol(s)

soyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow

National anthem

name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions

Economy

Economy - overview

Foreign direct investment in Mongolia's extractive industries – which are based on extensive deposits of copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and 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 supplies, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant.Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction, and natural disasters, as well as strong economic growth, because 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 2008, Mongolia was hit by the global financial crisis and Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the 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 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mine, among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. However, a 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 FDI, and a slowing economy, leading 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 2014, and 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 2017, largely 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 priority, but has failed to invigorate the economy in the face of the large drop-off in foreign direct investment, mounting external debt, and a sizeable budget deficit. Mongolia secured a $5.5 billion financial assistance package from the IMF and a host of international creditors in May 2017, which is expected to improve Mongolia’s long-term fiscal and economic stability as long as Ulaanbaatar can advance the agreement’s difficult contingent reforms, such as consolidating the government’s off-balance sheet liabilities and rehabilitating the Mongolian banking sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$39.73 billion (2017 est.)
$37.81 billion (2016 est.)
$37.38 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 120

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.14 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.1% (2017 est.)
1.2% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,000 (2017 est.)
$12,500 (2016 est.)
$12,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 120

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 - composition, by 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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 12.1% (2017 est.)
industry: 38.2% (2017 est.)
services: 49.7% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere 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: 137

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: 116

Population below poverty line

29.6% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 13.7%
highest 10%: 5.7% (2017)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34 (2017)
36.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.6% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Central bank discount rate

11% (25 December 2017)
14% (19 December 2016)
country comparison to the world: 19

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.01% (31 December 2017 est.)
19.74% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Stock of narrow money

$1.164 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$862.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Stock of broad money

$1.164 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$862.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Stock of domestic credit

$7.542 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.312 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Market value of publicly traded shares

$632.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$766.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.095 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Current account balance

-$1.155 billion (2017 est.)
-$700 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Exports

$5.834 billion (2017 est.)
$4.916 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Exports - partners

China 85%, UK 10.7% (2017)

Exports - commodities

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal, crude oil

Imports

$4.345 billion (2017 est.)
$3.466 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, cigarettes and tobacco, appliances, soap 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

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$16.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$495 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$455.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

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: 81.8% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 95.8% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 44.2% (2016)

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: 63

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: 292,594
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3,886,167
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Telephone system

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; 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 countries, Mongolia's growth in telecommunications is moderate; mobile broadband is growing with 4 competitive MNOs (mobile network operators) along with better tarrifs; 3G mobile broadband products are very popular with 4G services by 2022; in May 2018 a South Korean company completed the sale of 40% stake back to Mongolian government (2018)
domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity 10 per 100; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing with 131 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2016)

Broadcast media

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.mn

Internet users

total: 674,949
percent of population: 22.3% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 285,093
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Military and Security

Military expenditures

0.68% of GDP (2018)
0.72% of GDP (2017)
0.92% of GDP (2016)
0.87% of GDP (2015)
0.86% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 136

Military and security forces

Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force (2019)

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 conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces (2017)

Military - note

The Mongolian Armed Forces also includes a National Center for Emergency and Disaster Relief to coordinate the military's efforts as first-responders for earthquakes, wildfires, and forest fires; contagious diseases; and snow and dust storms as well as severe winters (known aszud).

Paramilitary forces:  Border Guards, Internal Security Troops (2017)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 541,129 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,130,148mt-km (2015)

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 km1.520-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: 265
by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 3, general cargo 107, oil tanker 68, other 83 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 55

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 17 (2018)

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