Mongolia

Long a province of China, Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its monopoly on power. In 1996, the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) defeated the MPRP in a national election. Over the next four years the Coalition implemented a number of key reforms to modernize the economy and institutionalize democratic reforms. However, the former communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional reforms and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP won 72 of the 76 seats in Parliament and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues many of the reform policies, the MPRP is focusing on social welfare and public order priorities.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: China, Russia

Official Name:
Mongol Uls
int'l form: Mongolia
former: Outer Mongolia

ISO Country Code: mn

Time:
Local Time = UTC +8h
DST March - September (UTC +9h).

Country Calling Code: +976

Capital City: Ulaanbaatar, (Ulan Bator) founded in 1639 (pop. 1 million)

Other Cities: Darkhan (95 000 inhabitants) and Erdenet (74 000 inhabitants)

Government:
Type: Parliamentary Republic.
Independence: gained in 1921; in 1990, democratic reform begun and shift from dependence on the former Soviet Union declared.
Constitutions: 1960 and 12 February 1992.

Geography:
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia.
Area: 1 566 500 sq. km. (604 103 sq. mi.); Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central; almost 90% of land area is pasture or desert, of varying usefulness; 1% arable; 9% forested.

Climate: Sharp continental, marked by four seasons. Average summer temperature +17'C, average winter temperature -26'C.

People:
Nationality: Mongolian(s).
Population: 2.75 million.
Ethnic groups: 85% Mongol (predominantly Khalkha), 7% Turkic (largest group, Kazakh) 4.6% Tungusic, and 3.4% others, including Chinese and Russian.
Languages: Mongolian, Kazakh, Russian, and English.
Religions: Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 94%, Muslim 6% (primarily in the southwest), and Shamanism.
Literacy: 90%.

Natural resources: Oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron.

Agriculture products: Wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses.

Industries: Construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing.

Currency: Togrog/Tugrik (MNT)

Mongolia in Figures
Mongolia key statistical data.