Mongolia

East and Southeast Asia Ulaanbaatar

Population

3.28M

Area

1,564,116 km²

GDP

$23.59B

GDP Per Capita

$16,800

Pop. Density

2/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

₮Mongolian tögrög(MNT)

Calling Code

+976

Primary Timezone

UTC+07:00

+1 more

Languages

Mongolian

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Mongolian

Background

The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C., and the name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan), emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued to conquer Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China, where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. After Manchu rule collapsed in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, finally winning it in 1921 with help from the Soviet Union. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Mongolia was a Soviet satellite state and relied heavily on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period was also marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China.

Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free-market economy. Since the country's transition, it has conducted a series of successful presidential and legislative elections. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party -- which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 -- has competed for political power with the Democratic Party and several other smaller parties. For most of its democratic history, Mongolia has had a divided government, with the presidency and the parliamentary majority held by different parties but that changed in 2021, when the MPP won the presidency after having secured a supermajority in parliament in 2020. Mongolia’s June 2021 presidential election delivered a decisive victory for MPP candidate Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH.

Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia, while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑597.0% since 2006

$3B (2006)$24B (2024)

Population

↑37.3% since 2006

2.6M (2006)3.5M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 72.1 years

2006: 65.9 years2023: 72.1 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography19

Location

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total : 1,564,116 sq km
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries

total: 8,082 km
border countries: China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation

highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
mean elevation: 1,528 m

Natural resources

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use

agricultural land

69% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)

forest

9.1% (2023 est.)

other

21.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

796 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;
salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Population distribution

population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities

Natural hazards

dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People & Society36

Population

total: 3,281,676 (2024 est.)
male: 1,595,596
female: 1,686,080

Nationality

noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups

Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, other 4.1% (2020 est.)

Languages

Languages: Mongolian 90% (official, Khalkha dialect is predominant), Turkic, Russian (1999)
major-language sample(s):
Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Buddhist 51.8%, no religion 40.6%, Muslim 3.2%, Shaman 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, Other 0.6% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.7% (male 429,867/female 412,943)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,087,487/female 1,156,547)
65 years and over: 5.9% (2024 est.) (male 78,242/female 116,590)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 59.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 50.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.2 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 28.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 30.1 years
female: 32.8 years

Population growth rate

1.08% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

18.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities

Urbanization

urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.8 years
female: 76.3 years

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.27 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 83.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 16.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

10.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 78.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 21.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 28.9% (2025 est.)
male: 51.9% (2025 est.)
female: 7.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.9% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.2% (2020 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.9% (2018)
women married by age 18: 12% (2018)
men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population: 98.6% (2023 est.)
male: 98.3% (2023 est.)
female: 98.9% (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Mongolia

local long form

none

local short form

Mongol Uls

former

Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic

etymology

name comes from the Mongol people, whose name derives from the Mongol root word mengu or mongu, meaning "brave" or "unconquered;" the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State"

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Capital

name

Ulaanbaatar

geographic coordinates

47 55 N, 106 55 E

time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September

time zone note

Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC)

etymology

the name means "red hero" in Mongolian and honors national hero Damdin SUKHBAATAR, leader of the partisan army that, with Soviet help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s

Administrative divisions

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992
amendment process: proposed by the State Great Hural, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; conducting referenda on proposed amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the State Great Hural; passage of amendments by the State Great Hural requires at least three-quarters majority vote; passage by referendum requires majority participation of qualified voters and a majority of votes

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Mongolia; one parent if born within Mongolia
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)

head of government

Prime Minister Gombojavyn ZANDANSHATAR (since 13 June 2025)

cabinet

Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister

election/appointment process

presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for one 6-year term; following legislative elections, the State Great Hural usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

most recent election date

9 June 2021

election results

2021: Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH elected president in first round; percent of vote - Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (MPP) 68%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (RPEC) 20.1%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (DP) 6%

2017: Khaltmaa BATTULGA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA (DP) 38.1%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD (MPP) 30.3%, Sainkhuu GANBAATAR (MPRP) 30.2%, invalid 1.4%; percent of vote in second round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA 55.2%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD 44.8%

expected date of next election

2027

Legislative branch

legislature name

State Great Hural (Ulsiin Ih Hural)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

126 (all directly elected)

electoral system

mixed system

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

6/28/2024

parties elected and seats per party

Mongolian People's Party (MPP) (68); Democratic Party (DP) (42); HUN Party (8); Other (8)

percentage of women in chamber

25.4%

expected date of next election

June 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of the chairman and 8 members)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the General Council of Courts -- a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials -- to the State Great Hural; appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed from nominations by the State Great Hural - 3 each by the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term
subordinate courts: aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts

Political parties

Democratic Party or DP
Mongolian People's Party or MPP
National Coalition (consists of Mongolian Green Party or MGP and the Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP)
National Labor Party or HUN
Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 2021)

chancery

2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7117

FAX

[1] (202) 298-9227

email address and website

washington@mfa.gov.mn

http://mongolianembassy.us/

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard L. BUANGAN (since November 2022)

embassy

Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190

mailing address

4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC  20521-4410

telephone

[976] 7007-6001

FAX

[976] 7007-6174

email address and website

UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov

https://mn.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday

Naadam (games) holiday, 11-15 July; Constitution Day, 26 November (1924)

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), blue, and red; centered on the left-side red band is the national emblem in yellow, the soyombo, which is an abstract representation of fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol

meaning: blue stands for the sky, and red for progress and prosperity

National symbol(s)

Soyombo character (from the Soyombo writing system)

National color(s)

red, blue, yellow

National anthem(s)

title: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
history: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n); Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (c)

Economy31

Economic overview

lower middle-income East Asian economy; large human capital improvements over last 3 decades; agricultural and natural resource rich; export and consumption-led growth; high inflation due to supply bottlenecks and increased food and energy prices; currency depreciation

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $59.221 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.474 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $52.572 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $16,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.586 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.1% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 38.1% (2024 est.)
services: 44.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

49.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

16.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.8% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

7.8% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

69.1% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-69.8% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)

Industries

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.449 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
male: 15.9% (2024 est.)
female: 10.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

27.1% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.4 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $4.721 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $5.623 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2021: 67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: $121.266 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$2.303 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.108 billion (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2023: $15.501 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $10.989 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $8.95 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)

Exports - commodities

coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)

Imports

Imports 2023: $13.545 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $12.112 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $9.256 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities

cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.508 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.916 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.398 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $8.379 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

3,389.982 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3,465.737 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3,140.678 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2,849.289 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

2,813.29 (2020 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.51 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.997 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 24 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 2.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.113 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 90.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 64.824 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 55.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 2.52 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 39,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 524,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4.84 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run radio and TV provider is now a public-service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.mn

Internet users

percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 499,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

Transportation4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

37 (2025)

Railways

total: 1,815 km (2017)
broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 318 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93

Military & Security7

Military and security forces

Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Land Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 10-20,000 active Mongolian Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the MAF's inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and secondhand Russian equipment (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial service 24 months; compulsory service for men at 18; service obligation is 12 months in the military or police, which can be extended to 15 months under special circumstances; compulsory service can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a cash payment determined by the Mongolian Government; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for up to 4 years (2025)

Military deployments

850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)

Military - note

the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are responsible for ensuring the country's independence, security, and territorial integrity, as well as supporting Mongolia's developmental goals and diplomacy; it has a range of missions, including counterterrorism, international peacekeeping duties, and assisting the internal security forces in providing emergency aid and disaster relief; Mongolia hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; it has no formal military alliances, but has defense ties and conducts training exercises with several regional countries and others, such as China, India, Russia, and the US

Mongolia actively cooperates with NATO on issues such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and cybersecurity through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program; it supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan from 2009-2021; Mongolia also is an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 26 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 22 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 17 (2024 est.)

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