Discover Fascinating Mongolia Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Mongolia.
Mongolia
Background
๐ 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! ๐ After their expansive conquests, they returned to their homelands in present-day Mongolia.
๐ 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. ๐๏ธ Fast forward to 1990, Mongolia courageously embraced independence and adopted a democratic system, marking an exciting new chapter in its storied history! ๐
Year of Independence
1990
Year of Mongolian Revolution
1921
Century of Mongolian Empire Establishment
13th
End of Chinese Rule
Late 17th Century
Exports - commodities
๐ 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. ๐
Major Exports in 2022
Coal, Copper ore, Gold, Animal hair, Iron ore
Exports - partners
Mongolia's exports are heavily influenced by its trade partners! ๐ In 2022, here's how the pie slices up:
- China takes the biggest bite with 78% of exports! ๐จ๐ณ
- Switzerland comes in second, holding 15% of the pie! ๐จ๐ญ
- Singapore and South Korea contribute 3% and 2%, respectively! ๐ธ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ท
- Finally, Russia accounts for 1%. ๐ท๐บ
As you can see, China is a major player in Mongolia's export market. Letโs visualize this with a pie chart! ๐ฐ
Total Exports Percentage
100%
Number of Export Partners
5
Mongolia's Export Partners in 2022
Capital
๐ 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! ๐๏ธ๐ฟ
Imports - commodities
Mongolia loves to bring in a variety of goods to keep its economy humming! ๐ 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! ๐
Top Imports
Refined Petroleum, Cars, Trucks, Trailers, Raw Iron Bars
Climate
๐ Mongolia is known for its desert and continental climate, which means it experiences big swings in temperature, both daily and seasonally! โ๏ธ๐ฅ Imagine feeling really cold one night and then really hot the next day! Thatโs what living in Mongolia is like, with a unique blend of dry desert air and changing temperatures throughout the year. ๐๏ธ๐ก๏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! ๐ฒ๐ณ 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! ๐๏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 ๐๏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! ๐ฒ๐ณ
Total Seats in State Great Hural
126
Natural resources
In Mongolia, the land is rich in a variety of natural resources! ๐ Hereโs a list of some of the most important ones:
- Oil ๐ข๏ธ
- Coal ๐๏ธ
- Copper ๐
- Molybdenum โ๏ธ
- Tungsten ๐
- Phosphates ๐ฟ
- Tin ๐ฅซ
- Nickel โ๏ธ
- Zinc ๐งช
- Fluorspar โ๏ธ
- Gold ๐ฐ
- Silver ๐ช
- Iron ๐ฆพ
This treasure trove of minerals supports the economy and provides many jobs to the people of Mongolia! ๐ผ๐
Economic overview
๐ 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 ๐, 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. ๐ฐ ๐ 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! ๐ฃ๏ธ High inflation is making things more expensive due to supply bottlenecks and rising food ๐ and energy โก 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! ๐
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! ๐ฒ๐ณ 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! ๐
Ethnic groups
๐ 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 ๐
- Kazak: 3.8% - A notable community in Mongolia ๐ค
- Durvud: 2.6% - Adding to the cultural mix ๐ญ
- Bayad: 2% - Part of the diverse ethnic landscape ๐
- Buriad: 1.4% - Another unique group ๐ฟ
- Zakhchin: 1.2% - Contributing to Mongolia's heritage ๐๏ธ
- Dariganga: 1.1% - A smaller but significant community ๐ผ
- Other: 4.1% - Various other ethnicities that enrich the culture! ๐
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! ๐ Here's how it breaks down:
- Buddhism is the most common religion, with 51.7% of the population practicing it. ๐งโโ๏ธ
- Muslims make up 3.2% of the population. โช๏ธ
- Shamanism, which is a traditional belief, accounts for 2.5%. ๐ฟ
- Christianity is practiced by 1.3% of the people. โ๏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
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
๐ In Mongolia, the most spoken language is Mongolian at a whopping 90%! ๐ 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! ๐
Official Language
Mongolian
Percentage of Mongolian speakers
90%
Predominant dialect
Khalkha
Language Distribution in Mongolia
Imports - partners
๐ข 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% ๐ฎ
- Russia: 29% ๐ท๐บ
- Japan: 7% ๐ฏ๐ต
- South Korea: 5% ๐ฐ๐ท
- United States: 3% ๐บ๐ธ
It's clear that Mongolia has some strong economic ties with its neighboring countries, especially China and Russia! ๐
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
๐ 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? ๐
Total Population
3,281,676
Area
๐ Mongolia: A Land of Vast Spaces! ๐๏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. ๐
With such a huge land area, Mongolia has some incredible landscapes, including mountains, deserts, and steppes. Get ready to explore the great outdoors! ๐ตโโ๏ธ
Total Area
1564116 sq km
Land Area
1553556 sq km
Water Area
10560 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ 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. ๐ 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
๐ Let's dive into Mongolia's economic story with some interesting numbers! ๐ 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! ๐ 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! ๐
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
๐ Mongolia's Import Data ๐
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. ๐
What could this mean? More products for the people and a growing economy! ๐๐ฐ
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
๐ 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. ๐ This growth shows that Mongolia is exporting more and more each year! ๐
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
๐ Population Growth Rate of Mongolia ๐
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! ๐ฑ
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! ๐
Estimated Population Growth Rate (2024)
0.78%