CapitalUlaanbaatar
Population3,281,676
Area1,564,116 km²
GDP per capita$16,800
LanguagesThe official language is Mongolian, with of the population speaking it, primarily in the Khalkha dialect, along with Turkic and Russian as noted in 1999.
Currencytogrog/tugriks
Life Expectancy71.9 yr
Governmenta semi-presidential republic
Introduction
Background
The inhabitants of Mongolia possess a rich historical background influenced by several nomadic empires, with origins tracing back to the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C. The term Mongol can be traced to at least the 11th century A.D. The most renowned figure among the Mongols, TEMÜÜJIN (also known as Genghis Khan), rose to prominence as the leader of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his passing in 1227, he had established a vast Mongol Empire through military conquests that spanned much of Eurasia. His heirs, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (commonly referred to as Kublai Khan), further expanded the empire into Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and throughout China, where KHUBILAI founded the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols made attempts to invade Japan and Java before their empire fragmented in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia came under the domination of the Manchus from the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Following the collapse of Manchu authority in 1911, Mongolia proclaimed its independence, achieving it in 1921 with assistance from the Soviet Union. In 1924, Mongolia was established as a socialist state known as the Mongolian People’s Republic. Until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989, Mongolia functioned as a satellite state of the Soviet Union, relying significantly on economic, military, and political support from Moscow. This era was characterized by political purges, repression, economic stagnation, and strained relations with China.
Mongolia underwent a peaceful transition to an independent democratic system in 1990. In 1992, it enacted a new constitution and transitioned to a free-market economy. Since this shift, the country has successfully held multiple presidential and legislative elections. During this time, the former communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party -- rebranded as the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 -- has contended for political influence alongside the Democratic Party and various smaller factions. For the majority of its democratic tenure, Mongolia has experienced a divided government, where the presidency and the parliamentary majority were typically held by different parties; this dynamic changed in 2021 when the MPP secured the presidency after obtaining a supermajority in parliament in 2020. The June 2021 presidential election resulted in a significant triumph for MPP candidate Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH.
Mongolia fosters strong cultural, political, and military relationships with Russia, while China stands as its largest economic ally. The nation’s foreign diplomatic efforts are concentrated on maintaining its sovereignty by balancing its relations with both China and Russia, alongside other key partners such as Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Geography
Area
land
1,553,556 sq km
water
10,560 sq km
total
1,564,116 sq km
Climate
arid; continental (significant daily and seasonal temperature variations)
Terrain
extensive semidesert and desert landscapes, grassy steppes, and mountains located in the west and southwest; Gobi Desert situated in the south-central region
Land use
other
21.9% (2023 est.)
forest
9.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
69% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)
Location
Northern Asia, positioned between China and Russia
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point
Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m
mean elevation
1,528 m
Irrigated land
796 sq km (2022)
Map references
Asia
Land boundaries
total
8,082 km
border countries
China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; periods of drought; "zud," referring to severe winter conditions
Geography - note
landlocked; holds a crucial geographical position between China and Russia
Natural resources
petroleum, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, and iron
Area - comparative
slightly less than Alaska; over twice the area of Texas
Geographic coordinates
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Population distribution
population is unevenly distributed across the nation; Ulaanbaatar, the capital, and the northern city of Darhan have the highest population concentrations
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km
fresh water lake(s)
Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;
Major rivers (by length in km)
Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km
note: [s] after country name signifies river source; [m] after country name denotes river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
98.3% (2023 est.)
female
98.9% (2023 est.)
total population
98.6% (2023 est.)
Languages
Languages
The official language is Mongolian, with 90% of the population speaking it, primarily in the Khalkha dialect, along with Turkic and Russian as noted in 1999.
major-language sample(s)
Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
According to estimates from 2020, the religious composition is as follows: Buddhist 51.8%, no religion 40.6%, Muslim 3.2%, Shaman 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, and other religions 0.6%.
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
total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.67 male(s)/female
Birth rate
18.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
30.1 years
total
28.8 years (2025 est.)
female
32.8 years
Population
male
1,595,596
total
3,281,676 (2024 est.)
female
1,686,080
Nationality
noun
Mongolian(s)
adjective
Mongolian
Tobacco use
male
51.9% (2025 est.)
total
28.9% (2025 est.)
female
7.2% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
69.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Ethnic groups include Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, and other groups making up 4.1% as per the 2020 estimates.
Child marriage
men married by age 18
2.1% (2018)
women married by age 15
0.9% (2018)
women married by age 18
12% (2018)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
59.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
50.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
11.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
8.9 (2024 est.)
Physician density
4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
10.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 83.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 16.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
13.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
16.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.08% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.27 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The population is unevenly distributed across the nation, with Ulaanbaatar, the capital, and the northern city of Darhan exhibiting the highest population concentrations.
Life expectancy at birth
male
67.8 years
female
76.3 years
total population
71.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 78.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 21.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.6% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.5 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
60.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.9% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
13 years (2023 est.)
total
14 years (2023 est.)
female
14 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
arid; continental (significant variations in daily and seasonal temperatures)
Land use
other
21.9% (2023 est.)
forest
9.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
69% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
69.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
2.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
14.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
532.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
525.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
2.9 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
scarce natural freshwater supplies in certain regions; air contamination due to coal-fired power stations and insufficient regulations in Ulaanbaatar; soil degradation resulting from deforestation and excessive grazing; water contamination; desert expansion; impacts from mining
Total water withdrawal
municipal
45.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
166.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
250.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
34.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: three equal vertical stripes of red (left), blue, and red; positioned at the center of the left red stripe is the national emblem in yellow, the soyombo, which abstractly symbolizes fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol
meaning: blue represents the sky, while red signifies progress and prosperity
Capital
name
Ulaanbaatar
etymology
the name translates to "red hero" in Mongolian, paying tribute to the national hero Damdin SUKHBAATAR, who was the leader of the partisan forces that, with Soviet assistance, freed Mongolia from Chinese rule in the early 1920s
time zone note
Mongolia is divided into two time zones: Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours ahead of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours ahead of UTC)
time difference
UTC+8 (which is 13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commencing on the last Saturday of March and concluding on the last Saturday of September
geographic coordinates
47 55 N, 106 55 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
both parents must be Mongolian citizens; one parent is sufficient if the birth occurs within Mongolia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
numerous versions have existed; the most recent was adopted on 13 January 1992, becoming effective on 12 February 1992
amendment process
proposals may originate from the State Great Hural, the president of the republic, the government, or through petitions submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; for proposed amendments to be subject to a referendum, a two-thirds majority vote in the State Great Hural is necessary; amendments require a three-quarters majority vote for passage in the State Great Hural; a referendum necessitates majority participation from eligible voters and a majority of votes
Country name
former
Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic
etymology
the name is derived from the Mongol people, which in turn comes from the Mongol root word mengu or mongu, meaning "brave" or "unconquered;" the Mongolian term Mongol Uls translates to "Mongol State"
local long form
none
local short form
Mongol Uls
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Mongolia
Independence
29 December 1911 (independence proclaimed from China; autonomy effectively attained); 11 July 1921 (full independence from China)
Legal system
a civil law system that is shaped by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal influences; the constitution is vague regarding the judicial review of legislative acts
Government type
a semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Supreme Court (comprising the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); the Constitutional Court or Tsets (consisting of the chairman and 8 members)
subordinate courts
includes aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice and judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president based on recommendations from the General Council of Courts—a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials—to the State Great Hural; the appointment is for life; the chairman of the Constitutional Court is elected from among its members; members are appointed based on nominations from the State Great Hural—3 each from the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; the term of appointment is 6 years; the chairmanship is limited to one renewable 3-year term
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
President Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)
election results
2021: Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH won the presidency in the first round; vote percentages - Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (MPP) 68%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (RPEC) 20.1%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (DP) 6%
2017: Khaltmaa BATTULGA won the presidency in the second round; first-round vote percentages - Khaltmaa BATTULGA (DP) 38.1%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD (MPP) 30.3%, Sainkhuu GANBAATAR (MPRP) 30.2%, invalid 1.4%; second-round vote percentages - Khaltmaa BATTULGA 55.2%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD 44.8%
head of government
Prime Minister Gombojavyn ZANDANSHATAR (since 13 June 2025)
most recent election date
9 June 2021
election/appointment process
presidential candidates are nominated by political parties that have representation in the State Great Hural and are directly elected by a simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; following legislative elections, the State Great Hural typically elects the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Naadam (games) holiday, observed from 11-15 July; Constitution Day, celebrated on 26 November (1924)
National color(s)
red, blue, yellow
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 its surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n); Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (c)
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
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
126 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
State Great Hural (Ulsiin Ih Hural)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
6/28/2024
expected date of next election
June 2028
percentage of women in chamber
25.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Mongolian People's Party (MPP) (68); Democratic Party (DP) (42); HUN Party (8); Other (8)
National anthem(s)
title
"Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
history
music adopted in 1950, lyrics adopted in 2006; lyrics have undergone several revisions
lyrics/music
Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
National symbol(s)
Soyombo character (from the Soyombo writing system)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 298-9227
chancery
2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 333-7117
chief of mission
Ambassador BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 2021)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
[email protected]
http://mongolianembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[976] 7007-6174
embassy
Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190
telephone
[976] 7007-6001
mailing address
4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC 20521-4410
chief of mission
Ambassador Richard L. BUANGAN (in office since November 2022)
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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not presented an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$4.721 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures
$5.623 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$8.95 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$10.989 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$15.501 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$9.256 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$12.112 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$13.545 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
construction along with construction materials; mining sectors (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); petroleum; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere, and natural fiber production
Labor force
1.449 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2021
67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
2,813.29 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2,849.289 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
3,140.678 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3,465.737 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
3,389.982 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$8.379 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
an economy in East Asia classified as lower middle-income; significant advancements in human capital over the past three decades; rich in agriculture and natural resources; driven by exports and consumption; experiencing high inflation resulting from supply chain issues and rising food and energy costs; currency depreciation
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
6.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
5.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$15,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$16,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$16,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
7.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)
Exports - commodities
coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
-$2.108 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$2.303 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$121.266 million (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$23.586 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
49.8% (2024 est.)
government consumption
16.3% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
7.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
26.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
69.1% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-69.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
27.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
15.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
10.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
6.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
6.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$52.572 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$56.474 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$59.221 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
15.9% (2024 est.)
total
13.8% (2024 est.)
female
10.8% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$3.398 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.916 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.508 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
38.1% (2024 est.)
services
44.2% (2024 est.)
agriculture
7.4% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.4% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
24.6% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
31.4 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
55.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
900 metric tons (2023 est.)
production
64.824 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
8.941 million 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.)
Electricity
exports
24 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports
2.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
8.997 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
1.51 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.113 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
90.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
83% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The government-operated radio and television entity has transitioned into a public-service provider; additionally, there are 68 radio stations and 160 television stations, which include various multi-channel satellite and cable television services; broadcasts from numerous international broadcasters can be accessed (2019)
Internet country code
.mn
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
524,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4.84 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
142 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
499,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
15 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Airports
37 (2025)
Railways
total
1,815 km (2017)
broad gauge
1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge
Merchant marine
total
318 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
JU
Military & Security
Military - note
The Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are tasked with safeguarding the nation's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, while also promoting Mongolia's developmental objectives and diplomatic efforts. Their missions encompass counterterrorism, international peacekeeping operations, and collaboration with internal security forces in delivering emergency assistance and disaster response. Mongolia organizes an annual international peacekeeping drill titled "Khaan Quest." Although it does not maintain formal military alliances, it has established defense connections and engages in training exercises with various regional nations, including China, India, Russia, and the United States.
Mongolia collaborates with NATO on matters such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and cybersecurity through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program. It provided support to the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005 to 2007 and contributed troops to NATO missions in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2021. Additionally, Mongolia holds observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025).
Military deployments
850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Land Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18-25 may voluntarily enlist, with an initial service period of 24 months. Compulsory military service starts at 18 for men, requiring 12 months of service in either the military or police, which may be extended to 15 months in specific situations. This compulsory service can be substituted with a 24-month commitment in civil service or a monetary compensation established by the Mongolian Government. After conscription, soldiers have the option to reenlist for military service for a duration of up to 4 years (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the MAF primarily consists of Soviet-era and used Russian equipment (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Estimates regarding the number of active members in the Mongolian Armed Forces vary; the figure is approximated to be between 10,000 and 20,000 (2025).
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
22 (2024 est.)
refugees
26 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
17 (2024 est.)
