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 won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution in 1990, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won most parliamentary elections and stayed in power either governing alone or in coalition. In 2009, current President ELBEGDORJ of the DP was elected to office and was re-elected for his second term in June 2013. In 2010, the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. Shortly thereafter, a new party was formed by former president ENKHBAYAR, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name. Following the 2012 parliamentary elections, a coalition of four political parties was formed but then dissolved in November 2014 when Prime Minister ALTANKHUYAG was voted out of office. A new five-party grand coalition was formed in December 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister SAIKHANBILEG.

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Asia

slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

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

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

arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 72.6%

843 sq km (2003)

34.8 cu km (2011)

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

limited natural freshwater 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

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

Khalkh 81.9%, Kazak 3.8%, Dorvod 2.7%, Bayad 2.1%, Buryat-Bouriates 1.7%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1%, Uriankhai 1%, other 4.6% (2010 est.)

Khalkha Mongol 90% (official), Turkic, Russian (1999)

Buddhist 53%, Muslim 3%, Christian 2.2%, Shamanist 2.9%, other 0.4%, none 38.6% (2010 est.)

2,992,908 (July 2015 est.)

1.31% (2015 est.)

20.25 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

6.35 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.377 million (2015)

2.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)

54.9% (2010)

6% of GDP (2013)

2.84 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

6.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 66.4% of population

rural: 59.2% of population

total: 64.4% of population

urban: 33.6% of population

rural: 40.8% of population

total: 35.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 66.4% of population

rural: 42.6% of population

total: 59.7% of population

urban: 33.6% of population

rural: 57.4% of population

total: 40.3% of population (2015 est.)

0.04% (2013 est.)

600 (2013 est.)

fewer than 100 (2013 est.)

15.7% (2014)

1.6% (2013)

5.5% of GDP (2011)

parliamentary

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

11 July 1921 (from China)

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992; amended 1999, 2001 (2011)

civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Sanjaasuren OYUN, Sambuu DEMBEREL, Tserendorj GANKHUYAG]

Democratic Party or DP [Zandaakhuu ENKHBOLD]

Justice Coalition (includes MPRP and MNDP)

Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP [Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN]

Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Miyegombo ENKHBOLD]

Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambar ENKHBAYAR]

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

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

soyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow

Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits and attendant growth in mining-sector activities have transformed Mongolia's economy, which traditionally has been dependent on herding and agriculture. Mongolia's copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, among others, have attracted foreign direct investment (FDI). 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 World Trade Organization 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 hard by the global financial crisis. Slower global economic growth hurt the country's exports, notably copper, and slashed government revenues. As a result, Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country emerged from the crisis with a stronger banking sector and needed reforms to the government’s fiscal management. In October 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mine, considered to be among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. However, Mongolia's ongoing dispute with foreign investors developing Oyu Tolgoi has called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign investment. This caused a loss of investor confidence, a severe drop in FDI, and a slowing economy, leading to the dismissal of Prime Minister ALTANKHUYAG in November. The new government has made restoring investor trust and reviving the economy its top priority, but it will be challenged to unwind the monetary and fiscal stimulus programs in use since 2013 to counteract the fall in foreign investment. In December 2014 the government awarded a deal to develop the massive Tavan Tolgoi (TT) coal field to a consortium comprising Energy Resources/MCS (Mongolia), Shenhua (China), and Sumitomo (Japan); talks continue to hammer out the financing and the operating details. The economy grew more than 10% per year since 2010, largely on the strength of commodity exports to nearby countries and high government spending domestically, before slowing to 7.8% in 2014. Mongolia's economy faces near-term economic risks from the government's loose fiscal and monetary policies, which are contributing to high inflation, and from uncertainties in foreign demand for Mongolian exports. Trade with China represents nearly 62% of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives some 90% of Mongolia's exports and supplies Mongolia with more than one-third of its imports. Mongolia has relied on Russia for energy supplies, leaving it vulnerable to price increases; in 2014, Mongolia purchased nearly 90% of its gasoline and diesel fuel from Russia. A drop in FDI has put pressure on Mongolia's external finances. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant.

$34.76 billion (2014 est.)

$32.24 billion (2013 est.)

$28.88 billion (2012 est.)

$11.98 billion (2014 est.)

7.8% (2014 est.)

11.6% (2013 est.)

12.3% (2012 est.)

$11,900 (2014 est.)

$11,000 (2013 est.)

$9,900 (2012 est.)

24.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

27.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

(2013 est.)

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

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

16.1% (2014 est.)

1.128 million (2014 est.)

7.7% (2014 est.)

7.8% (2013 est.)

29.8% (2011 est.)

36.5 (2008)

32.8 (2002)

30.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

-1.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

12.9% (2014 est.)

11.9% (2013 est.)

13% (15 January 2015)

12% (31 July 2014)

18.2% (31 December 2014 est.)

17.4% (31 December 2013 est.)

$1.184 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.259 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$6.178 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.72 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$7.958 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.751 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$1.293 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.579 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.093 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

-$985 million (2014 est.)

-$3.192 billion (2013 est.)

$5.775 billion (2014 est.)

$4.273 billion (2013 est.)

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

China 90% (2013)

$5.237 billion (2014 est.)

$6.355 billion (2013 est.)

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

China 37.8%, Russia 27.6%, South Korea 6.2%, Japan 4.6%, US 4.4% (2013)

$5.352 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.371 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$15.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$13.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.241 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$1.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -

1,817.4 (2014 est.)

1,523.9 (2013 est.)

1,357.6 (2012 est.)

1,265.5 (2011 est.)

1,357.1 (2010 est.)

4.472 billion kWh (2011 est.)

4.062 billion kWh (2011 est.)

24 million kWh (2011 est.)

258 million kWh (2011 est.)

833,200 kW (2011 est.)

99.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

14,050 bbl/day (2013 est.)

5,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

NA bbl

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

25,110 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

17,360 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

11.36 million Mt (2012 est.)

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)

AM 7, FM 108 (includes 20 national radio broadcaster repeaters), shortwave 4 (2009)

99 (2009)

.mn

44 (2013)

1 (2013)

1 (2013)

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)

Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air and Air Defense (2015)

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2015)

1.12% of GDP (2012)

0.99% of GDP (2011)

1.12% of GDP (2010)

none