The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN 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 ethnic Mongolians 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 that lasted until January 2012. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s.

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 freshwater 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

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

Khalkha Mongol 90% (official), Turkic, Russian (1999)

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

3,179,997 (July 2012 est.)

20.7 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

6.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

ULAANBAATAR (capital) 949,000 (2009)

63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.19 children born/woman (2012 est.)

2.763 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

5.89 beds/1,000 population (2009)

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

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)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; of which 48 members are directly elected from 26 electoral districts, while 28 members are proportionally elected based on a party's share of the total votes; all 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); Constitutional Court (this independent court resolves disputes about potentially unconstitutional laws and acts of the president, members of parliament, and the cabinet)

Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Dangaasuren EHKHBAT]; Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Party or MPP [O. ENKHTUVSHIN]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambar ENKHBAYAR]

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 was traditionally based on herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors, and the country is undergoing an economic transformation through its mining boom. Mongolia holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, among others, 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. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. By late 2008, the country was faced with external shocks from the global financial crisis, and a sharp drop in commodity prices slashed government revenues. GDP dropped 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has largely emerged from the crisis. The banking sector is recovering and the government has started to enact greater supervision regulations. In October 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be among the world's largest untapped copper deposits. Another similarly lengthy process is underway for an investment agreement for the massive coal mine at Tavan Tolgoi; it is under review by the National Security Council and a final decision is expected in 2012. The economy grew 6.4% in 2010 and 17.3% in 2011, largely on the strength of commodity exports to nearby countries. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China receives more than 90% of Mongolia's exports. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. In the face of anticipated growth in mining revenues, the country is grappling with the challenge of avoiding an overheated economy. Due to severe winter weather in 2009-10, Mongolia lost 22% of its total livestock, and meat prices doubled. Renewed concerns are surfacing over controlling inflation, which was more than 10% for much of 2010-11, due in part to soaring food prices. Government spending - on line to increase as much as 75% over 2011 - has added to concerns over inflation. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant. Money-laundering is a growing concern.

$13.43 billion (2011 est.)

$11.46 billion (2010 est.)

$10.77 billion (2009 est.)

$8.506 billion (2011 est.)

1.147 million (2010 est.)

40.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

-0.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

10.99% (31 December 2010)

10.82% (31 December 2009 est.)

16.61% (31 December 2011 est.)

17.9% (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.806 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$921.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$4.592 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$3.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$3.077 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.979 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.579 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.093 billion (31 December 2010)

$430.2 million (31 December 2009)

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

-$931.5 million (2010 est.)

-$886.5 million (2010 est.)

$4.78 billion (2011 est.)

$2.909 billion (2010 est.)

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

China 92.1%, Russia 2%, Canada 1.9% (2011 est.)

$6.527 billion (2011 est.)

$3.089 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, cigarettes and tobacco, appliances, soap and detergent

China 30.7%, Russia 24.5%, US 8.1%, Japan 7.4%, South Korea 5.5% (2011 est.)

$1.76 billion (2010)

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -

4.056 billion kWh (2010 est.)

3.375 billion kWh (2010)

22.2 million kWh (2010)

262.9 million kWh (2010)

833,200 kW (2009 est.)

99.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

6,983 bbl/day (2011 est.)

5,260 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

21,610 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

15,730 bbl/day (2008 est.)

11,790 cu m (2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

9.436 million Mt (2010 est.)

2.942 million (2011)

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)

580 km (the only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol) (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, they are open from May to September) (2010)

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)