Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Mongolia

MN / MNGasia

CapitalUlaanbaatar

Population3,568,978

GDP$25.4bn

Area1,564,116 km²

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

CapitalUlaanbaatar

Area1,564,116 km²

CurrencyMongolian tögrög (MNT)

Official language(s)Mongolian

Calling code+976

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Income levelUpper middle income

Form of governmentparliamentary system

Time zoneUTC+08:00, Asia/Hovd, Asia/Ulaanbaatar, Asia/Choibalsan

Overview

Population3,568,9782025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,556,7982026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$25,369,107,3252025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$7,1082025 · Verified

GDP growth6.8%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices8.6%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.2%2025 · Verified

Background

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.

Reference: 2021, 2020, 2010, 1992

Geography

Latitude47.9129°current · Verified

Longitude106.9370°current · Verified

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 1,564,116 sq km
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 8,082 km
border countries: 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: 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.)
forest: 9.1% (2023 est.)
other: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

796 sq km (2022)

Reference: 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

Population & Society

Population3,568,9782025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate3,556,7982026 · Estimated

Fertility rate2.52024 · Verified

Urban population71.1%2025 · Verified

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.)

Reference: 2020

Languages

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.

Reference: 1999

Religions

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

Reference: 2020

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)

Reference: 2024

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.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 31.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 30.1 years
female: 32.8 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

0.78% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

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

Reference: 2024

Death rate

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

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

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

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2008 est.)
note: note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-24

Reference: 2008

Maternal mortality ratio

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.91 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 83.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 16.5% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2021

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 78.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 21.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Reference: 2016

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.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 28.9% (2025 est.)
male: 51.9% (2025 est.)
female: 7.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.9% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.9% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2018

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)22,5892024 · Verified

International migrant stock0.6%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock175,5962024 · Estimated

Net migration792025 · Verified

Refugees hosted112024 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted152024 · Verified

Refugees from this country2,4032025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country3,6792025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 26 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 22 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 17 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentparliamentary systemcurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of government	Uchral Nyam-Osor	—	2026-03-30	Current	Reported
Head of state	Khurelsukh Ukhnaa	—	2021-06-25	Current	Reported

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"

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

Reference: 1992

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

Reference: 2027, 2025, 2021, 2017

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

Reference: 2028, 2024

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: washington@mfa.gov.mn
http://mongolianembassy.us/
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Reference: 2021

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: UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov
https://mn.usembassy.gov/

Reference: 2022

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

Independence

29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)

Reference: 1921, 1911

National holiday

Naadam (games) holiday, 11-15 July; Constitution Day, 26 November (1924)
note: note: the first holiday commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution, and the second marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution

Reference: 1924, 1921

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), blue, and red; centered on the left-side red band is the national emblem in yellow, the soyombo, which is an abstract representation of fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol
meaning: 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(s)

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

Reference: 2006, 1950

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)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Mongolia official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
State Great Khural	—	76	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$25,369,107,3252025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$7,1082025 · Verified

GDP growth6.8%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices8.6%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.2%2025 · Verified

Income levelUpper middle incomecurrent · Verified

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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $59.221 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.474 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $52.572 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $16,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 38.1% (2024 est.)
services: 44.2% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 49.8% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 16.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 7.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 69.1% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -69.8% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

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

6.5% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

1.449 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
male: 15.9% (2024 est.)
female: 10.8% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

27.1% (2022 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2022

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.4 (2022 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2022

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2022

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Budget

revenues: $4.721 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $5.623 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2021

Public debt

Public debt 2021: 67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Reference: 2021

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2021

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: $121.266 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$2.303 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.108 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports

Exports 2023: $15.501 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $10.989 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $8.95 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports - partners

China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2023: $13.545 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $12.112 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $9.256 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Imports - partners

China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.508 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.916 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.398 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $8.379 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Reference: 2023

Exchange rates

Currency: togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 3,389.982 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 3,465.737 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3,140.678 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 2,849.289 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 2,813.29 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services68.1%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services62.6%2025 · Verified

Trade130.7%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports - partners

China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Imports - partners

China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity99.1%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption2,728 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption3.0%2021 · Verified

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.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 39,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity99.1%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions15.8 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions140.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 524,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth72.4 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure6.1%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate11.2 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2021

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 28.9% (2025 est.)
male: 51.9% (2025 est.)
female: 7.2% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate98.6%2024 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross96.8%2023 · Verified

Government education expenditure5.2%2024 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.7712025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media1.3162025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists0.8412025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government1.3102025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media0.8582025 · Estimated

Media bias1.6982025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship0.3232025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Yes Legal since 1993; + UN decl. sign.Reported

Same-sex marriageNo No Constitutional ban since 1992Reported

Same-sex adoptionNo NoReported

Open military serviceYes Yes (Only LGB)Reported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Yes Bans all anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender but only after sex reassignment surgeryReported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

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

Judicial branch

Military & Security

Military and security forces

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

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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

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)

Reference: 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)

Reference: 2024

Military deployments

850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
note: note: since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 20,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries

Reference: 2025, 2002

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 counterterrorism, international peacekeeping duties, and assisting the internal security forces in providing emergency aid and disaster relief; Mongolia hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; it has no formal military alliances, but has defense ties and conducts training exercises with several regional countries and others, such as China, India, Russia, and the US
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 missions in Afghanistan from 2009-2021; Mongolia also is an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025)

Reference: 2025, 2021, 2009, 2007

International Relations

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2021

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2022

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	2012-11-21
United Nations (UN)	member	1961-10-27
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	—

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 26 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 22 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 17 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

37 (2025)

Railways

total: 1,815 km (2017)
broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge
note: note: national operator Ulaanbaatar Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway

Reference: 2017

Merchant marine

total: 318 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93

Reference: 2023

Environment

Forest area9.1%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption3.0%2021 · Verified

Environmental 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

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

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

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.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 532.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 525.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 14.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.9 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

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.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

34.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet85.1%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions140.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions15.8 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers2,564 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 524,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2019