East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Mongolia

- Introduction :: Mongolia
- 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, however, 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 :: Mongolia
- 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
  elevation extremes: 560 m lowest point: Hoh Nuur
  4374 highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak)
  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 :: Mongolia
- 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 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.)
  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:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Mongolia Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Mongolia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  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
  male: 28 years
  female: 29.6 years (2018 est.)
  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 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  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: 68.4% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 1.63% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  1.52 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 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:
  44 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 23.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 70.2 years (2018 est.)
  male: 66 years (2018 est.)
  female: 74.7 years (2018 est.)
  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)
  Health expenditures:
  4.7% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Physicians density:
  3.26 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
  Hospital bed density:
  7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  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.)
  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% (2017 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  <1000 (2017 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <100 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  20.6% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  1.6% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Education expenditures:
  5.2% of GDP (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 98.4% (2015 est.)
  male: 98.2% (2015 est.)
  female: 98.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years (2015)
  male: 14 years (2015)
  female: 16 years (2015)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 20.8% (2016 est.)
  male: 20% (2016 est.)
  female: 22.1% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
- Government :: Mongolia
- 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)

  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 JulyConstitution 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 (2017)
  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, 2001 (2017)
  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
  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
  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 ENKHTUVSHUN (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 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%
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party or DP [Sodnomzundui ERDENE]
  Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP [Bayanjargal TSOGTGEREL]
  Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Miyegombo ENKHBOLD]
  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:
  chief of mission: 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Manuel MICALLER (since November 2017)
  embassy: Denver Street #3, 11th Micro Region, Big Ring Road, Ulaanbaatar, 14190 Mongolia
  mailing address: P.O. Box 341, Ulaanbaatar 14192
  telephone: [976] 7007-6001
  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 :: Mongolia
- 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.) (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%: 5.7% (2017)
  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: 105
  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 :: Mongolia
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 300,000 (2013)
  electrification - total population: 90% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 98% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 73% (2013)
  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 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  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 :: Mongolia
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 292,594 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 3,886,167 (2017 est.)
  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 (2016)
  domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are four mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing (2016)
  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 69 radio and 131 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2017)
  Internet country code:
  .mn
  Internet users:
  total: 674,949 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 22.3% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 285,093 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
- Transportation :: Mongolia
- 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: 7,130,148 mt-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 (2016)
  broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.520-m gauge (2016)

  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: 49,249 km (2013)
  paved: 4,800 km (2013)
  unpaved: 44,449 km (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  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: 261 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 101, oil tanker 67, other 80 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 59
- Military and Security :: Mongolia
- Military expenditures:
  0.72% of GDP (2017)
  0.92% of GDP (2016)
  0.87% of GDP (2015)
  0.86% of GDP (2014)
  0.82% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Military branches:
  Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force (2016)
  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)
- Transnational Issues :: Mongolia
- Disputes - international:
  none
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 17 (2017)