GENERAL: Mongolia, a nation bordered by China and Russia, is known for vast, rugged expanses and nomadic culture. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, centers around Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan) Square, named for the notorious founder of the 13th- and 14th-century Mongol Empire.
Area: total: 1,564,116 sq km
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Population: 3,255,468 (2023 est.)
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)
Religions: Buddhist 51.7%, Muslim 3.2%, Shamanist 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 40.6% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (2023 est.) Roughly half of the population is under the age of 23 (Source: WHO)
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Legislative branch: description: unicameral State Great Hural or Ulsyn Ikh Khural (76 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; each constituency requires at least 50% voter participation for the poll to be valid; members serve 4-year terms)
Economic overview: lower middle-income East Asian economy; large human capital improvements over last 3 decades; agricultural and natural resource rich; Growth to Rise in 2023 to 5.4% Before Accelerating in 2024 (source: ADB)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) $39.063 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $11,700 (2021 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, goat milk, potatoes, mutton, sheep milk, beef, goat meat, horse meat, carrots/turnips
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