Discover Fascinating Mongolia Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Mongolia.

Mongolia

Background

๐ŸŒ Mongolia's History: Did you know that Mongolia was once home to one of the biggest empires in history? The Mongols created a massive empire across Eurasia in the 13th century! ๐Ÿ‡ After their expansive conquests, they returned to their homelands in present-day Mongolia.

๐Ÿš€ A Journey Through Time: By the late 17th century, the Mongols were under Chinese rule. But the Mongolian Revolution in 1921 changed everything, ending Chinese dominance and welcoming Soviet control. ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Fast forward to 1990, Mongolia courageously embraced independence and adopted a democratic system, marking an exciting new chapter in its storied history! ๐ŸŽ‰

Year of Independence

1990

Year of Mongolian Revolution

1921

Century of Mongolian Empire Establishment

13th

End of Chinese Rule

Late 17th Century

Exports - commodities

๐ŸŒ Mongolia is rich in natural resources and its exports reflect that! In 2022, the country showcased a variety of important commodities. The main exports included:

  • Coal: A key source of energy and an essential part of many industries.
  • Copper Ore: Vastly used in electrical wiring and plumbing!
  • Gold: A valuable metal loved worldwide for jewelry and investment.
  • Animal Hair: Known for its warmth and quality.
  • Iron Ore: Crucial for steel production, making it foundational for construction and manufacturing.

These commodities play a significant role in Mongolia's economy. ๐ŸŒŸ

Major Exports in 2022

Coal, Copper ore, Gold, Animal hair, Iron ore

Exports - partners

Mongolia's exports are heavily influenced by its trade partners! ๐ŸŒ In 2022, here's how the pie slices up:

  • China takes the biggest bite with 78% of exports! ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Switzerland comes in second, holding 15% of the pie! ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ
  • Singapore and South Korea contribute 3% and 2%, respectively! ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Finally, Russia accounts for 1%. ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ

As you can see, China is a major player in Mongolia's export market. Letโ€™s visualize this with a pie chart! ๐Ÿฐ

Total Exports Percentage

100%

Number of Export Partners

5

Mongolia's Export Partners in 2022

Capital

๐ŸŒ† The capital city of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar! This vibrant city is not only the heart of the country but also its largest. Ulaanbaatar is a unique blend of modernity and tradition, where you can find stunning landscapes, rich culture, and historical monuments all in one place! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

Imports - commodities

Mongolia loves to bring in a variety of goods to keep its economy humming! ๐Ÿšš In 2022, some of the top imports included refined petroleum, cars, trucks, trailers, and raw iron bars. These commodities play a crucial role in supporting the daily lives of the people and fueling the country's development. Let's dive into what these imports mean for Mongolia! ๐ŸŒ

Top Imports

Refined Petroleum, Cars, Trucks, Trailers, Raw Iron Bars

Climate

๐ŸŒ Mongolia is known for its desert and continental climate, which means it experiences big swings in temperature, both daily and seasonally! โ„๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฅ Imagine feeling really cold one night and then really hot the next day! Thatโ€™s what living in Mongolia is like, with a unique blend of dry desert air and changing temperatures throughout the year. ๐Ÿœ๏ธ๐ŸŒก๏ธ

Climate Type

Desert and Continental

Temperature Range Variation

Large daily and seasonal

Executive branch

In Mongolia, the executive branch is led by some key figures! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ The chief of state is President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, who has been in office since 25 June 2021. Meanwhile, the head of government is Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, who took his position on 27 January 2021. These leaders guide the country and make important decisions! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Current President

Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh

President took office

25 June 2021

Current Prime Minister

Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene

Prime Minister took office

27 January 2021

Legislative branch

In Mongolia, the legislative branch is called the State Great Hural ๐Ÿ›๏ธ. This unicameral body has 126 seats, making it the primary law-making institution in the country. Every seat represents a vital role in shaping the future of Mongolia's governance and legislation! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ

Total Seats in State Great Hural

126

Natural resources

In Mongolia, the land is rich in a variety of natural resources! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s a list of some of the most important ones:

  • Oil ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ
  • Coal ๐Ÿ”๏ธ
  • Copper ๐Ÿ”—
  • Molybdenum โ›๏ธ
  • Tungsten ๐Ÿ’
  • Phosphates ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Tin ๐Ÿฅซ
  • Nickel โš™๏ธ
  • Zinc ๐Ÿงช
  • Fluorspar โ„๏ธ
  • Gold ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • Silver ๐Ÿช™
  • Iron ๐Ÿฆพ

This treasure trove of minerals supports the economy and provides many jobs to the people of Mongolia! ๐Ÿ’ผ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Mongolia is a lower middle-income economy located in East Asia. Over the past 30 years, it has made huge strides in human capital improvements ๐Ÿš€, showing that its people are becoming more skilled and educated! With plenty of agricultural and natural resources, Mongolia is rich in what it can grow and sell. ๐Ÿ’ฐ ๐Ÿ“ˆ The country has been experiencing export and consumption-led growth, which means it is growing because people are buying more things, both from abroad and within the country.

However, there are some bumps on the road! ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ High inflation is making things more expensive due to supply bottlenecks and rising food ๐Ÿž and energy โšก prices. Additionally, currency depreciation is adding to the economic challenges, making it tougher for people to buy imported goods.

It's a mixed bag of progress and challenges for Mongolia's economy! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic classification

Lower middle-income

Region

East Asia

Human capital improvements timeline

Last 3 decades

Economic drivers

Export and consumption-led growth

Current economic issues

High inflation, currency depreciation

Government type

Mongolia is a semi-presidential republic! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ This means that the government includes both a president and a prime minister, sharing power to help make decisions for the country. It's like having two leaders working together to keep things running smoothly! ๐Ÿ˜„

Ethnic groups

๐ŸŒ Mongolia is a fascinating country with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups! Here's the breakdown of its diverse population:

  • Khalkh: 83.8% - The majority ethnic group ๐ŸŽ‰
  • Kazak: 3.8% - A notable community in Mongolia ๐Ÿค 
  • Durvud: 2.6% - Adding to the cultural mix ๐ŸŽญ
  • Bayad: 2% - Part of the diverse ethnic landscape ๐ŸŒˆ
  • Buriad: 1.4% - Another unique group ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Zakhchin: 1.2% - Contributing to Mongolia's heritage ๐Ÿž๏ธ
  • Dariganga: 1.1% - A smaller but significant community ๐ŸŒผ
  • Other: 4.1% - Various other ethnicities that enrich the culture! ๐ŸŒ

This illustrates just how diverse Mongolia's people are, with ethnicities ranging from the major Khalkh group to smaller communities that each add their unique flavor to the Mongolian culture!

Percentage of Khalkh

83.8%

Percentage of Kazak

3.8%

Percentage of Durvud

2.6%

Percentage of Bayad

2%

Percentage of Buriad

1.4%

Percentage of Zakhchin

1.2%

Percentage of Dariganga

1.1%

Percentage of Other ethnicities

4.1%

Ethnic Composition of Mongolia

Religions

In Mongolia, the religious landscape is quite diverse! ๐ŸŒ Here's how it breaks down:

  • Buddhism is the most common religion, with 51.7% of the population practicing it. ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™‚๏ธ
  • Muslims make up 3.2% of the population. โ˜ช๏ธ
  • Shamanism, which is a traditional belief, accounts for 2.5%. ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Christianity is practiced by 1.3% of the people. โœ๏ธ
  • There are also other religions that add up to 0.7%.
  • A significant 40.6% of people identify as having no religion at all. โŒ

It's clear that Buddhism plays a vital role in Mongolia's culture, while a large segment of the population identifies with no religion. This provides a fascinating view into the spiritual practices of the Mongolian people!

Percentage of Buddhists

51.7%

Percentage of Muslims

3.2%

Percentage of Shamanists

2.5%

Percentage of Christians

1.3%

Percentage of Other Religions

0.7%

Percentage of People with No Religion

40.6%

Religious Distribution in Mongolia (2020)

Languages

๐ŸŒ In Mongolia, the most spoken language is Mongolian at a whopping 90%! ๐Ÿ“Š This language is the official language of the country, and the Khalkha dialect is the most widely used. Besides Mongolian, there are also influences from other languages like Turkic and Russian, which shows Mongolia's rich cultural tapestry! ๐ŸŒˆ

Official Language

Mongolian

Percentage of Mongolian speakers

90%

Predominant dialect

Khalkha

Language Distribution in Mongolia

Imports - partners

๐Ÿšข Mongolia relies heavily on a few key partners for its imports! Here's a fun look at where most of its goods come from:

  • China: 36% ๐Ÿฎ
  • Russia: 29% ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ
  • Japan: 7% ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
  • South Korea: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • United States: 3% ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

It's clear that Mongolia has some strong economic ties with its neighboring countries, especially China and Russia! ๐ŸŒ

Top Import Partner

China

Second Import Partner

Russia

Proportion of Imports from China

36%

Proportion of Imports from Russia

29%

Import Partners of Mongolia (2022)

Population

๐ŸŒ Mongolia is home to about 3,281,676 people! That's a unique blend of cultures and traditions living together in this beautiful country. From the vast steppes to the rugged mountains, each person contributes to the rich tapestry of Mongolian life. Isn't that amazing? ๐ŸŽ‰

Total Population

3,281,676

Area

๐ŸŒ Mongolia: A Land of Vast Spaces! ๐Ÿž๏ธ

Did you know that Mongolia covers a whopping 1,564,116 sq km? That's right! It's one of the largest countries in the world! Out of this vast area, 1,553,556 sq km is land, while 10,560 sq km is made up of water. ๐ŸŒŠ

With such a huge land area, Mongolia has some incredible landscapes, including mountains, deserts, and steppes. Get ready to explore the great outdoors! ๐Ÿšตโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Total Area

1564116 sq km

Land Area

1553556 sq km

Water Area

10560 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐ŸŒ Let's explore the Real GDP of Mongolia! This is the total value of all goods and services produced in the country adjusted for purchasing power parity. Here are the most recent figures:

  • 2023: $56.264 billion
  • 2022: $52.572 billion
  • 2021: $50.053 billion

As you can see, Mongolia's economy has been growing steadily over the past few years. ๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's visualize this growth!

Estimated Real GDP for 2023

$56.264 billion

Estimated Real GDP for 2022

$52.572 billion

Estimated Real GDP for 2021

$50.053 billion

Mongolia's Real GDP Growth Over Years

Real GDP per capita

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into Mongolia's economic story with some interesting numbers! ๐Ÿ“Š In the last few years, the Real GDP per capita has shown a steady rise. Here are the figures:

  • 2021: $15,000
  • 2022: $15,500
  • 2023: $16,300

This indicates that the economy is growing, which is fantastic news for the people of Mongolia! ๐ŸŽ‰ The GDP per capita is like a barometer of how much wealth each person would have if all the money in the country were shared evenly. Keep an eye on these numbers as they keep rising! ๐Ÿš€

Real GDP per capita in 2023

$16,300

Real GDP per capita in 2022

$15,500

Real GDP per capita in 2021

$15,000

Mongolia's Real GDP per Capita Growth (2021 - 2023)

Imports

๐Ÿ“Š Mongolia's Import Data ๐Ÿ“Š

Mongolia has been importing goods worth billions of dollars! Let's take a look at how their imports have changed over the years:

  • 2021: $9.256 billion
  • 2022: $12.112 billion
  • 2023: $13.545 billion

As you can see, there has been a steady increase in imports! This shows that Mongolia is importing more and more each year. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

What could this mean? More products for the people and a growing economy! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Total Imports in 2023

$13.545 billion

Total Imports in 2022

$12.112 billion

Total Imports in 2021

$9.256 billion

Mongolia's Import Growth Over the Years

Exports

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at how much Mongolia sells to other countries! In 2023, the exports are estimated to be $15.501 billion! That's quite a jump from $10.989 billion in 2022 and $8.95 billion in 2021. ๐Ÿ“ˆ This growth shows that Mongolia is exporting more and more each year! ๐ŸŽ‰

Estimated Exports in 2023

$15.501 billion

Estimated Exports in 2022

$10.989 billion

Estimated Exports in 2021

$8.95 billion

Mongolia's Export Growth (2021-2023)

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Population Growth Rate of Mongolia ๐ŸŒ

Mongolia is experiencing some changes in its population growth! As of 2024, the estimated growth rate is 0.78%. This means the number of people living in Mongolia is slowly increasing, just like how a small plant grows just a tiny bit every year! ๐ŸŒฑ

This growth is important for the country as it shapes the economy, education, and how cities develop. Let's keep an eye on how Mongolia continues to grow in the coming years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Estimated Population Growth Rate (2024)

0.78%