Mongolia

The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C., and the name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan), emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued to conquer Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China, where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. After Manchu rule collapsed in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, finally winning it in 1921 with help from the Soviet Union. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Mongolia was a Soviet satellite state and relied heavily on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period was also marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China.

Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free-market economy. Since the country’s transition, it has conducted a series of successful presidential and legislative elections. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party — which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 — has competed for political power with the Democratic Party and several other smaller parties. For most of its democratic history, Mongolia has had a divided government, with the presidency and the parliamentary majority held by different parties but that changed in 2021, when the MPP won the presidency after having secured a supermajority in parliament in 2020. Mongolia’s June 2021 presidential election delivered a decisive victory for MPP candidate Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH.

Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia, while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

comparison ranking: total 20

Area – comparative

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

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 8,082 km

border countries (2): China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 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

highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m

mean elevation: 1,528 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 71.9% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 71.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 9.1% (2022 est.)

other: 19% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

796 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur – 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur – 1,760 sq km;

salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur – 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur – 1,360 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) – 4,444 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Population distribution

population sparsely distributed 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

Geography – note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People and Society

Population

total: 3,281,676 (2024 est.)

male: 1,595,596

female: 1,686,080

comparison rankings: total 134; female 134; male 137

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s)

adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups

Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, other 4.1% (2020 est.)

Languages

Mongolian 90% (official, Khalkha dialect is predominant), Turkic, Russian (1999)

major-language sample(s):
Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Buddhist 51.7%, Muslim 3.2%, Shamanist 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 40.6% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.7% (male 429,867/female 412,943)

15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,087,487/female 1,156,547)

65 years and over: 5.9% (2024 est.) (male 78,242/female 116,590)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 59.1 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 50.2 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 11.2 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 31.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 30.1 years

female: 32.8 years

comparison ranking: total 126

Population growth rate

0.78% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 113

Birth rate

14.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 109

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 144

Net migration rate

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 138

Population distribution

population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities

Urbanization

urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2008 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-24

Maternal mortality ratio

39 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 104

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 78

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 67.8 years

female: 76.3 years

comparison ranking: total population 168

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 128

Gross reproduction rate

0.91 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

48.1% (2018)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 98.4% of population

rural: 64.2% of population

total: 87.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1.6% of population

rural: 35.8% of population

total: 12.4% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

6.9% of GDP (2021)

9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

10.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 97.4% of population

rural: 69.9% of population

total: 88.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.6% of population

rural: 30.1% of population

total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

comparison ranking: 97

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 80

Tobacco use

total: 28.9% (2025 est.)

male: 51.9% (2025 est.)

female: 7.2% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 23

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.8% (2018)

comparison ranking: 100

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.9% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.9% (2018)

women married by age 18: 12% (2018)

men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018)

Education expenditure

3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

10% national budget (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 123

Literacy

total population: 98.7% (2022 est.)

male: 98.5% (2022 est.)

female: 98.9% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 16 years (2019)

Environment

Environment – current issues

limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; air pollution from coal-burning power plants and lax regulations in Ulaanbaatar; soil erosion from deforestation and overgrazing; water pollution; desertification; effects from mining

Environment – international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 25.37 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 13.72 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.9 million tons (2016 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur – 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur – 1,760 sq km;

salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur – 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur – 1,360 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) – 4,444 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 250 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

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: name comes from the Mongol people, whose name derives from the Mongol root word mengu or mongu, meaning “brave” or “unconquered;” 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

time zone 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 help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s

Administrative divisions

21 provinces (aymguud, singular – aymag) and 1 municipality* (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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992

amendment process: 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

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 Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Gombojavyn ZANDANSHATAR (since 13 June 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister

election/appointment process: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for one 6-year term; following legislative elections, the State Great Hural usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

most recent election date: 9 June 2021

election results:
2021: Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH elected president in first round; percent of vote – Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (MPP) 68%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (RPEC) 20.1%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (DP) 6%

2017: 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%

expected date of next election: 2027

Legislative branch

legislature name: State Great Hural (Ulsiin Ih Hural)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 126 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 6/28/2024

parties elected and seats per party: Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) (68); Democratic Party (DP) (42); HUN Party (8); Other (8)

percentage of women in chamber: 25.4%

expected date of next election: June 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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 on recommendation of 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

Democratic Party or DP
Mongolian People’s Party or MPP
National Coalition (consists of Mongolian Green Party or MGP and the Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP)
National Labor Party or HUN
Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 2021)

chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117

FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227

email address and website:
[email protected]

http://mongolianembassy.us/

consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard L. BUANGAN (since November 2022)

embassy: Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190

mailing address: 4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC 20521-4410

telephone: [976] 7007-6001

FAX: [976] 7007-6174

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://mn.usembassy.gov/

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

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)

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, the soyombo, which is an abstract geometric representation of fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol; blue stands for the sky, and red for progress and prosperity

National symbol(s)

Soyombo character (from the Soyombo writing system)

National color(s)

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

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n); Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (c)

Economy

Economic overview

lower middle-income East Asian economy; large human capital improvements over last 3 decades; agricultural and natural resource rich; export and consumption-led growth; high inflation due to supply bottlenecks and increased food and energy prices; currency depreciation

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$56.474 billion (2023 est.)
$52.572 billion (2022 est.)
$50.053 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 120

Real GDP growth rate

7.42% (2023 est.)
5.03% (2022 est.)
1.64% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 17

Real GDP per capita

$16,200 (2023 est.)
$15,300 (2022 est.)
$14,800 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 115

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.325 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (2024 est.)
10.3% (2023 est.)
15.1% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 170

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.9% (2023 est.)

industry: 39.5% (2023 est.)

services: 41% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 192; industry 26; agriculture 77

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 44.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 25.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 8.6% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 76.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -66.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

12.89% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 9

Labor force

1.449 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 136

Unemployment rate

5.4% (2024 est.)
5.5% (2023 est.)
6.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 104

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% (2024 est.)

male: 15.9% (2024 est.)

female: 10.8% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 100

Population below poverty line

27.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

31.4 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 116

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

2.24% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.33% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.08% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $4.721 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures: $4.845 billion (2021 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 60

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 117

Current account balance

$121.266 million (2023 est.)
-$2.303 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.108 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 75

Exports

$15.501 billion (2023 est.)
$10.989 billion (2022 est.)
$8.95 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 97

Exports – partners

China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$13.545 billion (2023 est.)
$12.112 billion (2022 est.)
$9.256 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 110

Imports – partners

China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.891 billion (2024 est.)
$4.916 billion (2023 est.)
$3.398 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 101

Debt – external

$8.379 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 54

Exchange rates

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
3,389.982 (2024 est.)
3,465.737 (2023 est.)
3,140.678 (2022 est.)
2,849.289 (2021 est.)
2,813.29 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.51 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 8.997 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 24 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 2.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.113 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 103; imports 66; exports 97; consumption 110; installed generating capacity 127

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 90.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 64.824 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 55.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 2.52 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 39,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

19.203 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.489 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 5.714 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 87

Energy consumption per capita

67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 73

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 524,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 91

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4.84 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 125

Broadcast media

state-run radio and TV provider is now 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

percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 499,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 97

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

37 (2025)

comparison ranking: 110

Railways

total: 1,815 km (2017)

broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway

Merchant marine

total: 318 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93

comparison ranking: total 55

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Land Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2025)

note: the National Police Agency and the General Authority for Border Protection, which operate under the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, are primarily responsible for internal security; they are assisted by the General Intelligence Agency under the prime minister

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 10-20,000 active Mongolian Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the MAF’s inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and Russian equipment (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (can enter military schools at age 17); 12-month conscript service obligation for men can be extended 3 months under special circumstances; conscription service can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a cash payment determined by the Mongolian Government; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; volunteer military service for men and women is 24 months, which can be extended for another two years up to the age of 31 (2024)

Military deployments

875 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024)

note: since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 20,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries

Military – note

the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are responsible for ensuring the country’s independence, security, and territorial integrity, as well as supporting Mongolia’s developmental goals and diplomacy; it has a range of missions, including assisting the internal security forces in providing emergency aid and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and international peacekeeping duties; the Ground Force is the military’s primary service and is centered on a motorized infantry brigade; it also has a battalion devoted to peacekeeping duties and hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; Mongolia’s primary military partner is Russia, and in addition to receiving Russian military equipment, the MAF participates in Russia’s large “Vostok” exercise, which is conducted every four years; the MAF has a relationship with the US military

Mongolia actively cooperates with NATO on issues such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and cybersecurity through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program; it supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021); Mongolia also is an observer in the Russia- and People’s Republic of China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025)