The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more Mongols live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPRP members.

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

slightly smaller than Alaska

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

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

dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

3,041,142 (July 2010 est.)

21.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

6.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

2.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

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

11 July 1921 (from China)

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

blend of Soviet and German systems that employ "continental" or "civil" code; case-precedent may be used to inform judges, but all decisions must refer to the law as written; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)

Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia, and the country has started to move out of the crisis, although the banking sector remains unstable. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's largest untapped copper deposits. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives about two-thirds of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.

$9.435 billion (2009 est.)

$9.531 billion (2008 est.)

$8.752 billion (2007 est.)

$4.203 billion (2009 est.)

1.068 million (2008)

10% (31 December 2009)

14.78% (31 December 2008)

18% (31 December 2008)

$451.4 million (31 December 2009)

$510.7 million (31 December 2008)

$1.545 billion (31 December 2009)

$1.288 billion (31 December 2008)

$1.875 billion (31 December 2009)

$1.743 billion (31 December 2008)

$430.2 million (31 December 2009)

$407 million (31 December 2008)

$612.2 million (31 December 2007)

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

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

4.03 billion kWh (2009)

3.439 billion kWh (2009)

21.2 million kWh (2009)

186.1 million kWh (2009)

5,100 bbl/day (2009)

16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

5,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$228.7 million (2009 est.)

-$710 million (2008 est.)

$1.902 billion (2009)

$2.539 billion (2008)

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal

China 78.52%, Canada 9.46%, Russia 3.02% (2009)

$2.131 billion (2009)

$3.224 billion (2008)

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

China 35.99%, Russia 31.56%, South Korea 7.08%, Japan 4.8% (2009)

$1.86 billion (2009)

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,442.8 (2009), 1,267.51 (2008), 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006), 1,205 (2005)

1.796 million (2008)

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)