The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. 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 later came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. 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. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.
Country profile: Mongolia
In 1990 Mongolia abandoned its 70-year-old Soviet-style one-party state and embraced political and economic reforms.Democracy and privatisation were enshrined in a new constitution, but the collapse of the economy after the withdrawal of Soviet support triggered widespread poverty and unemployment.
Mongolia spreads out across 1.5 million sq km of the Central Asian plateau, but its population is much smaller than the Mongol population of China. Sunni Muslim Kazakhs in the west are the only significant national and religious minority, comprising some 5% of the population. Migration to Kazakhstan in the 1990s reduced their numbers.
A third of the population lives in the capital, while half the people herd livestock in the countryside. But the centuries-old nomadic lifestyle is being eroded; some say it will be lucky to survive the changing times.
The country has some of Asia's richest deposits of minerals, although these remain largely unexploited.
Mongolia has an extreme climate, with a temperature range to suit. Droughts, and unusually cold and snowy winters, have in the past decimated livestock, destroying the livelihoods of thousands of families.
Mongolia has expanded political and financial ties with the US, Japan and the European Union, but its main trading partners are neighbouring Russia and China. The latter is the biggest market for Mongolian exports; Beijing is also keen to exploit Mongolia's mineral and energy resources.
Despite generous funding by the International Monetary Fund and donor countries, economic progress has been slow and growth has been hampered by corruption.
The legacy of Genghis Khan, the warrior who united warring tribes and established the Mongol empire in the 13th century, has been invoked in an attempt to foster national pride.
- Full name: Republic of Mongolia
- Population: 2.6 million (via UN, 2006)
- Capital: Ulan Bator
- Area: 1.56 million sq km (603,909 sq miles)
- Major language: Mongolian
- Major religion: Buddhism
- Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 Togrog (tugrik) = 100 mongos
- Main exports: Copper concentrate, dehaired cashmere, textiles, hides
- GNI per capita: US $690 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .mn
- International dialling code: +976
President: Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Nambaryn Enkhbayar, parliamentary speaker and the candidate of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, the MPRP, won presidential elections in May 2005.
Mr Enkhbayar, a former prime minister, pledged to fight poverty and unemployment.
The MPRP, the former communist party, ruled Mongolia for much of the 20th century and enjoyed Moscow's backing in Soviet times.
Although the prime minister and parliament exercise real political power, the president heads the armed forces and has the power of veto in parliament. Frequent changes of government have enhanced the role of the presidency.
A literary scholar, Mr Enkhbayar studied in Moscow and in Britain.
Prime minister: Miyeegombo Enkhbold
Mr Enkhbold, chairman of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), was chosen by parliament to succeed Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, a Democrat, whose government collapsed in January 2006 after the MPRP withdrew its members.
The MPRP had accused his coalition of not doing enough to tackle poverty and corruption. Pro-opposition protesters accused the MPRP of trying to seize power.
Mr Enkhbold, the former mayor of Ulan Bator, said his government would focus on economic growth and the fight against official corruption. He survived a no-confidence vote in October 2006.
His predecessor's appointment in August 2004 ushered in Mongolia's first coalition government since the end of communist rule and followed weeks of political deadlock.
A law passed in 2005 aims to transform Mongolia's state-run radio and TV into a public-service broadcaster. Its networks compete with private TV and radio stations, satellite and cable services.
In general the media are free and sometimes outspoken in their criticism of the authorities.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders noted in 2004 that violations of press freedom were rare, but added that the government had used the national state broadcaster to promote its activities.
There are many newspapers, but circulations and editions are mostly small. State-owned newspapers have been privatised; some other titles are published by political parties.
The BBC World Service is available on FM in Ulan Bator.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits. Copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a large part of industrial production. 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 due to 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 2000-2002 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 was 10.6% in 2004 and 5.5% in 2005, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chief export partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy. The World Bank and other international financial institutions estimate the grey economy to be at least equal to that of the official economy, but the former's actual size is difficult to calculate since the money does not pass through the hands of tax authorities or the banking sector. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally are sizeable, and money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.
Mongolian natural resources include oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
Mongolian religion is Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4% (2004).
Natural hazards in Mongolia include dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions.
Travel Advice on Mongolia
SUMMARY
- Communications and health facilities in Mongolia, particularly outside Ulaanbaatar, can be poor.
- If you are entering Mongolia by road, you should be aware that only a few specified border crossings are open to foreigners.
- Around 3,000 British nationals visit Mongolia every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Mongolia is replacing passports, which have been lost or stolen.
- The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Mongolia. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that there have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) among migrating birds in Mongolia, most recently in August 2005, in the northern province of Khovsgol. No human infections or deaths have been reported.
GENERAL