Mongolia: The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

Explore Mongolia: A Vast Country of Nomadic Heritage and Majestic Landscapes

Mongolia, officially known as the State of Mongolia, is a landlocked country located in East and Central Asia. It shares borders with Russia to the north and China to the south. The capital and largest city is Ulaanbaatar, which is home to approximately half of the country’s population.

Mongolia is known for its vast steppes, rugged mountains, and the Gobi Desert. The country experiences an extreme continental climate with long, harsh winters and short, warm summers. Mongolia is famous for its nomadic culture, which is still practiced by a significant portion of the population.

Economically, Mongolia has a developing market economy with rich mineral resources, including coal, copper, gold, and uranium. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, also plays a crucial role in the economy. The Mongolian tugrik (MNT) is the official currency. Mongolia has been undergoing rapid economic changes, particularly with the development of the mining sector.

Culturally, Mongolia has a rich heritage influenced by its nomadic traditions, Buddhism, and the legacy of the Mongol Empire. The country is known for its traditional music, throat singing, and the Naadam Festival, which features traditional sports such as wrestling, horse racing, and archery. Mongolian is the official language, and the majority of the population are ethnic Mongols.

Politically, Mongolia is a democratic republic with a multi-party system. The president is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. Mongolia has been praised for its successful transition to democracy and its efforts in promoting human rights and freedom.

Tourism in Mongolia is growing, with attractions including the Gobi Desert, the ancient city of Karakorum, and the pristine landscapes of the Altai Mountains. Mongolia’s unique culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality make it a fascinating destination for travelers.

Mongolia: The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

110 Facts About Mongolia (2024)

Basic Information

Category	Details
1. Current Name	Mongolia
2. National Name	Монгол Улс (Mongol Uls)
3. Former Names	Outer Mongolia
4. Date of Establishment	December 29, 1911
5. Date of Independence	December 29, 1911 (from the Qing Dynasty)
6. Leadership	President: Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, Prime Minister: Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene
7. Government Type	Semi-presidential republic

Geography

Category	Details
8. Capital City	Ulaanbaatar
9. Important Cities	Erdenet, Darkhan, Choibalsan, Ölgii
10. Land Area	1,564,116 square kilometers
11. Total Area	1,564,116 square kilometers
12. Neighboring Countries (Land)	Russia, China
13. Neighboring Countries (Sea)	None
14. UNESCO World Heritage Sites	Orkhon Valley, Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape
15. UNESCO World Natural Sites	None
16. Climate	Continental, with long, harsh winters and short, warm summers
17. Biodiversity	Home to species like the snow leopard, Bactrian camel, and Argali sheep
18. Famous River	Kherlen River
19. Famous Mountain	Khüiten Peak (highest point in the Altai Mountains)
20. Coastline Length	None (landlocked)
21. Major Islands	None
22. Longest River	Orkhon River
23. Highest Waterfall	Orkhon Waterfall
24. Largest Lake	Lake Khövsgöl
25. Largest Forest	Khentii Forest

Population

Category	Details
26. Population (2024)	Approximately 3.5 million
27. Population (1950)	780,000
28. Population (1900)	600,000
29. Projected Population (2070)	5 million
30. Population Density	2.2 people per square kilometer
31. Urban Population (%)	68%
32. Rural Population (%)	32%

Demographics

Category	Details
33. Ethnicity/Race	Mongol (95%), Kazakh (4%), Other (1%)
34. Languages	Mongolian (official), Kazakh, Russian
35. National Language	Mongolian
36. Religion	Buddhism (Mahayana) (51.7%), Shamanism (2.9%), Islam (3.8%), Christianity (1.7%), None (40%)
37. Median Age	28.2 years
38. Life Expectancy	70.6 years
39. Birth Rate	21.3 births per 1,000 people
40. Death Rate	6.2 deaths per 1,000 people

Economic Indicators

Category	Details
41. Monetary Unit	Mongolian Tugrik (MNT)
42. GDP	$14.9 billion (2022 est.)
43. GDP per Capita (PPP)	$4,340 (2022 est.)
44. Income Level	Lower-middle income
45. Consumer Price Inflation	8.7% (2022 est.)
46. Current Account Balance	-$1.1 billion (2022 est.)
47. Exchange Rate (Per $)	1 USD = 2,849 MNT
48. Unemployment Rate	6.3% (2022 est.)
49. Stocks Inward ($ billion)	3.2 (2022 est.)
50. Real GDP Growth (%)	6.7% (2022 est.)
51. Labor Force (Million)	1.2 million
52. Major Industries	Mining, agriculture, manufacturing, construction
53. Major Exports	Copper, coal, textiles, livestock, crude oil
54. Major Imports	Machinery, vehicles, fuel, foodstuffs, chemicals
55. Public Debt (% of GDP)	63.7% (2022 est.)
56. Tax Revenue (% of GDP)	21.2% (2022 est.)
57. Minimum Wage	420,000 MNT per month
58. Average Household Income	14.8 million MNT per year
59. Inflation Rate	8.7% (2022)
60. Interest Rate	12% (2022)
61. Major Trade Partners	China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Germany

Category	Details
62. Literacy Rate	98.4%
63. Fertility Rate	2.8 children per woman
64. Infant Mortality Rate	16.6 per 1,000 live births
65. Under-5 Mortality Rate	21.4 per 1,000 live births
66. National Holidays	Naadam Festival, Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year), Independence Day
67. Health Care System	Developing, with major improvements needed
68. Health Expenditure (% of GDP)	6.4% (2022 est.)
69. Obesity Rate	21% of adults

Social Indicators (continued)

Category	Details
69. Obesity Rate	21% of adults
70. Drinking Water Source	67% of the population has access to clean drinking water
71. Access to Sanitation	52% of the population has access to improved sanitation facilities
72. Average Life Satisfaction	5.1/10
73. Major Health Issues	Tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections

Culture and Society

Category	Details
74. National Sport	Wrestling
75. National Animal	Przewalski’s Horse
76. National Flower	Scabiosa
77. Famous Cuisine	Buuz (dumplings), Khuushuur (fried pastries), Tsuivan (noodle stew), Airag (fermented mare’s milk)
78. Famous Music	Throat singing, Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) music
79. Major Festivals	Naadam Festival, Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year), Eagle Festival
80. Traditional Dance	Biyelgee
81. Famous Artists	Zanabazar, Natsagdorj Tserendorj
82. Famous Writers	Galsan Tschinag, D. Natsagdorj
83. Cultural Influences	Nomadic traditions, Tibetan Buddhism, Soviet influence
84. Popular Sports	Football, Basketball, Archery
85. Religious Practices	Predominantly Buddhism (Mahayana), with Shamanistic practices

Education

Category	Details
86. Best Public University	National University of Mongolia
87. Best Private University	Mongolian University of Science and Technology
88. Education Expenditure (% of GDP)	5.4% (2022 est.)
89. Literacy Rate	98.4%
90. Primary School Enrollment	97%
91. Secondary School Enrollment	88%
92. Higher Education Enrollment	38%
93. Major Fields of Study	Mining Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology
94. Number of Universities	75
95. International Students	5,000
96. Graduation Rate	80% (high school)

Environment

Category	Details
97. Pollution Levels	High in urban areas, particularly Ulaanbaatar
98. Forest Coverage	8% of total land area
99. Protected Areas	18% of land area protected
100. Renewable Energy Use	3% of total energy consumption (2022)
101. Endangered Species	Snow Leopard, Saiga Antelope, Gobi Bear
102. National Parks	Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Khustain Nuruu National Park
103. Environmental Policies	Focus on combating desertification and promoting sustainable grazing

International Standing

Category	Details
104. Military Strength	Developing
105. Country Rank	116th in Human Development Index (2022)
106. Happiness Rank	92nd (World Happiness Report, 2022)
107. Passport Rank	70th (Henley Passport Index, 2022)
108. Tourism Rank	121st (UNWTO Tourism Ranking, 2019)
109. Global Economy Rank	131st (World Bank, 2022)
110. Science and Technology Rank	115th (Global Innovation Index, 2021)

History of Mongolia

Mongolia’s history is dominated by the legacy of the Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. This empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history, significantly influenced many cultures and regions. After the empire’s decline, Mongolia was divided and ruled by various khanates and dynasties.

In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Qing Dynasty. The early 20th century saw Mongolia’s struggle for independence from China, which was achieved in 1911. However, it wasn’t until 1921, with Soviet support, that Mongolia fully established itself as an independent country.

Throughout much of the 20th century, Mongolia was a Soviet satellite state, with a communist government and a centrally planned economy. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to significant political and economic changes in Mongolia, transitioning to a democratic government and market economy.

Today, Mongolia is known for its democratic institutions, rich cultural heritage, and vast, unspoiled natural landscapes.

The Flag of Mongolia

The flag of Mongolia consists of three vertical stripes of red, blue, and red. The red symbolizes progress and prosperity, while the blue represents the eternal sky. On the left red stripe, there is the national emblem, the Soyombo, which is a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric shapes representing fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol.

Red: Represents progress and prosperity.
Blue: Symbolizes the eternal blue sky.
Soyombo: A traditional Mongolian symbol representing the elements of nature and harmony.

The flag’s design reflects Mongolia’s national identity, cultural heritage, and the significance of nature in Mongolian culture. The current flag was adopted on February 12, 1992.