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Mongolia

Mongol Uls

Capital:Ulaanbaatar
Population:3.1M
Currency:Mongolia Tughrik (MNT)
Language:Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian
Family life

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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Mongolia.

Mongolia Factsheet

Customs and Culture

About the People

Most people are working to earn money. If people have money they can put food on the table, and gain leisure opportunities ,but some people work to have friends, to be not alone. Wealth is best defined with ownership of real property, having money and possession of livestock

Mongolia is sparsely populated with an average of only 4 people per square mile.

Many people are changing from the traditional nomadic lifestyle to one of city living. About half of the countries population now lives in cities. Modern conveniences such as radio's and tv's are becoming popular as nomads move to the city. With this change traditional family life has changed with parents having much less influence on arranging their children's marriages.

Cultural Attributes

Most people are working to earn money. If people have money, they can put food on the table and gain leisure opportunities, but some work to have friends or not be alone during the workday. Wealth is best defined as owning real property, having money, and possessing livestock.

Mongolia is sparsely populated, with an average of only four people per square mile.

Many people are changing from the traditional nomadic lifestyle to city living. About half of the country's population now lives in cities. Modern conveniences such as radios and TVs are becoming popular as nomads move to the city. With this change, traditional family life has changed, with parents having much less influence on arranging their children's marriages.

Family life

Empire of the Eternal Blue Sky

Greetings, Gestures & Visiting

Greetings vary between age groups and between peers. Youth greet each other using the informal greeting "sainu" which means hello. Youth greet older people and older

people greet each other using a formal greeting "sain baina u?" (a long form of hi).

Mongolians usually shake hands when they greet people and hug people close to them, such as close friends and relatives. When Mongolians speak to another person, they must look straight at the person. Mongolians use an open hand to point, and pointing with a finger is seen as a threat.

When guests leave Mongolians shake hands and if they know them well, they hug and kiss them.

On a typical day, Mongolians wear what Europeans and Americans wear, jeans, jacket, sweater, and t-shirt. Mongolian traditional dress clothes are called "deel" and it is made of silk. It is long and has belt. Most people have one and they usually wear it for special occasions especially for any national celebrations.

Diet

A typical family eats 3 meals in a day Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are not standard mealtimes for most people. But in most organizations lunch time is from 1 p.m to 2 p.m and people have breakfast before 9 a.m because they have to work. Dinner is usually after 6 p.m for most people.

For most people dinner is eaten at home. Children have lunch at school cafeteria and people have lunch at restaurant, cafeteria etc.,

Wild horses

Family

Many people are changing from the traditional nomadic lifestyle to city living. About half of the country's population now lives in cities. Modern conveniences such as radios and TVs are becoming popular as nomads move to the city. With this change, traditional family life has changed, with parents having much less influence on arranging their children's marriages.

Recreation

The three main sports are horse racing, archery and wrestling. The archery target is made of woven leather rings. Men shoot 40 arrows from 75 meters.

Holidays

  • Independence Day/Revolution Day

    7/11

    Independence

  • Christmas

    12/25

    Christmas

    Christmas is not widely celebrated in Mongolia, instead Mongolians celebrate Tsagaan Sar (white moon or white month) a New Year festival celebrated two months after the first new moon following the winter solstice. On the day of the white moon, people greet each other by saying ’Amar mend uu?’ or ’Amar bain uu?’, a very formal greeting which is reserved for one’s elders. A typical Mongolian family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family in their full garment of national Mongolian costumes. Traditional food for the festival includes dairy products, rice with curds or rice with raisin, traditional cookies resembling a pyramid on a large dish in a special fashion symbolizing Mount Sumeruor Shambhalarealm, a grilled side of sheep and minced beef or minced mutton steamed inside pastry, a dish known as buuz, horse meat and traditional cookies. Tsagaan Sar is a lavish feast, requiring preparation days in advance, as the women make large quantities of buuz and freeze them to save for the holiday. The popular beverage is salted milk tea or Süütei Tsa, which may turn into a more healthy soup by adding rice, meat, or Bansh.

Dates of Interest

  • November 11th

    National Pride Day, observed on November 11th, celebrates Mongolian culture, heritage, and national identity. It is a day for patriotic activities, cultural performances, and expressions of national pride.

How do people greet each other in Mongolia?

Greetings vary by age and relationship: youth use the informal "sainu" (hello) with each other, while the formal "sain baina u?" is used when greeting older people or between older people.

Do

  • Use "sainu" informally among youth
  • Use "sain baina u?" with older people

What are the dining customs in Mongolia?

A typical family eats three meals a day—breakfast, lunch and dinner—though there are no standard mealtimes for most people.

Good to know

  • In most organizations lunch is 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • People have breakfast before 9 a.m. because of work
  • Dinner is usually after 6 p.m. and eaten at home
  • Children eat lunch in the school cafeteria; others eat at restaurants or cafeterias

How should I dress in Mongolia?

On a typical day Mongolians wear the same clothes as Europeans and Americans—jeans, a jacket, sweater and t-shirt.

Good to know

  • Traditional dress is the "deel," a long silk garment with a belt
  • Most people own a deel and wear it for special occasions, especially national celebrations

What gestures should I know in Mongolia?

Mongolians shake hands when greeting and hug those close to them, and they look straight at the person they are speaking to.

Do

  • Shake hands when greeting
  • Hug close friends and relatives
  • Look straight at the person you speak to
  • Point using an open hand

Don’t

  • Don't point with a finger—it is seen as a threat

What is family life like in Mongolia?

Family life is changing as many shift from a nomadic lifestyle to city living, and parents now have much less influence on arranging their children's marriages.

Good to know

  • About half the population now lives in cities
  • Modern conveniences like radios and TVs are becoming popular

What sports and recreation are popular in Mongolia?

The three main sports are horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Good to know

  • Archery targets are made of woven leather rings
  • Men shoot 40 arrows from 75 meters

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Mongolia

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Currency
togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Time Difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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)
Climate
Because of the elevation and distance from any ocean or sea, Mongolia has a harsh continental climate. Marked seasonal, even daily, changes in temperature, numerous high-pressure systems, and severe cold occur most of the year. A remarkably sunny country, Mongolia enjoys 250 sunny days a year, often with clear cloudless skies, making even the coldest temperatures more tolerable.
Airports
36
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Recipes

Featured Dish

Budatai heuivga (Meat with Fried-Rice, Garlic and Onions)

Main Dish

Browse all 5 recipes

History

Historical Eras

  1. Early Steppe Peoples

    300 BCE – 1206

    The Mongolian steppe was home to successive nomadic confederations, including the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Kitan, whose cyclical conflicts with China and internal power struggles defined the region. These groups established patterns of tribal alliance, raiding, and occasional dynastic conquest of northern China that persisted for over a millennium. The Kitan Liao Dynasty (916–1125) and the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) represent the era's most sophisticated statebuilding efforts before Mongol unification.

  2. Mongol Empire

    1206 – 1368

    Temujin united the fractious Mongol tribes and assumed the title Chinggis Khan in 1206, launching the greatest contiguous land empire in history — stretching from Korea to Hungary. His successors conquered China, Persia, Russia, and Central Asia, establishing the Yuan Dynasty in China and ruling from the capital Karakorum. The empire fragmented into competing khanates after Chinggis Khan's death, and the Yuan Dynasty was finally expelled from China by the Ming in 1368.

  3. Post-Imperial Decline

    1368 – 1691

    Driven back onto the steppe after the Yuan collapse, the Mongols entered a prolonged period of civil war, fragmentation, and diminishing power. Chinese forces destroyed Karakorum in 1388, and internecine conflict between the Eastern Mongols (Khalkha) and Western Mongols (Oirat) prevented any lasting reunification. Tibetan Buddhism spread deeply throughout Mongolian society during this period, reshaping cultural and political life.

  4. Qing Dynasty Rule

    1691 – 1911

    The Khalkha Mongols submitted to the Manchu Qing Dynasty in 1691 following devastating Oirat incursions, placing Outer Mongolia under Chinese imperial administration for over two centuries. The Qing governed through a system of leagues and banners that preserved nominal Mongol aristocratic structures while suppressing political autonomy. Population decline, debt bondage to Chinese merchants, and the authority of Buddhist monasteries defined social life under Qing rule.

  5. Independence & Communism

    1911 – 1990

    Mongolia declared independence following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, though its sovereignty remained contested until Soviet-backed forces defeated Chinese control in 1921. The Mongolian People's Republic was proclaimed in 1924, establishing one of the world's first Communist states outside the Soviet Union. For nearly seven decades, the country operated as a close Soviet satellite, undergoing forced collectivization, purges of Buddhist institutions, and rapid if dependent industrialization.

  6. Democratic Mongolia

    1990 – present

    Mass pro-democracy protests in 1990 forced the Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party to relinquish its monopoly on power, leading to a new constitution and multiparty elections in 1992. The Democratic Union Coalition's landmark 1996 electoral victory accelerated market reforms and political liberalization, though economic transition brought significant hardship. Mongolia's vast mineral wealth — particularly coal, copper, and gold — has since become the central driver of its development and foreign relations.

Overview

Archer and hunting dog MODERN MONGOLIA--the Mongolian People’s Republic--comprises only about half of the vast Inner Asian region known throughout history as Mongolia. Furthermore, it is only a fraction of the great Mongol Empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries that stretched from Korea to Hungary and encompassed nearly all of Asia except the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Because the Mongol Empire was so vast--the largest contiguous land empire in the history of the world--the Mongols were written about in many languages by numerous chroniclers of divergent conquered societies, who provided a wide range of perspectives, myths, and legends. In addition, because many foreign accounts are about the Mongol invasions and were written by the conquered, the Mongols often are described in unfavorable terms, as bloodthirsty barbarians who kept their subjects under a harsh yoke. Mongol sources emphasize the demigod-like military genius of Chinggis Khan, providing a perspective in the opposite extreme. The term Mongol itself is often a misnomer. Although the leaders and core forces of the conquerors of Eurasia were ethnic Mongols, most of the main army was made up of Uralo-Altaic people, many of them Turkic. Militarily, the Mongols were stopped only by the Mamluks of Egypt and by the Japanese, or by their own volition, as happened in Europe. In their increasingly sophisticated administrative systems, they employed Chinese, Iranians, Russians, and others. Mongolia and its people thus have had a significant and lasting impact on the historical development of major nations, such as China and Russia, and, periodically, they have influenced the entire Eurasian continent. Until the twentieth century, most of the peoples who inhabited Mongolia were nomads, and even in the 1980s a substantial proportion of the rural population was essentially nomadic. Originally there were many warlike nomadic tribes living in Mongolia, and apparently most of these belonged to one or the other of two racially distinct and linguistically very different groupings. One of these groupings, the Yuezhi, was related linguistically to the ancient nomadic Scythian peoples--who inhabited the steppes north and northeast of the Black Sea and the region east of the Aral Sea--and was therefore Indo-European. The other grouping was the Xiongnu, a nomadic people of uncertain origins. Although in the course of history other peoples displaced, or became intermingled with, the Yuezhi and the Xiongnu, their activities, conflicts, and internal and external relations established a pattern, with four principal themes, that continued almost unchanged--except for the conquest of Eurasia in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries--until the eighteenth century. First, among these four themes, there were constant fierce struggles involving neighboring tribes, engaged in frequently shifting alliances that did not always follow ethnic, racial, or linguistic lines. Second, during periods when China was united and strong, trade with Inner Asian peoples was allowed, and nomadic states either became vassals of the Chinese emperor, or they retreated beyond his reach into the northern steppes; conversely, when China appeared weak, raids were made into rich Chinese lands, sometimes resulting in retaliatory expeditions into Mongolia. Third, occasional, transitory consolidation--of all or of large portions of the region under the control of a conqueror or a coalition of similar tribes--took place; such temporary consolidations could result in a life-or- death struggle between major tribal groupings until one or the other was exterminated or was expelled from the region, or until they joined forces. Fourth, on several occasions, raids into northern China were so vast and successful that the victorious nomads settled in the conquered land, established dynasties, and eventually became absorbed--sinicized--by the more numerous Chinese. Within this pattern, the Xiongnu eventually expelled the Yuezhi, who were driven to the southwest to become the Kushans of Iranian, Afghan, and Indian history. In turn, the Xiongnu themselves later were driven west. Their descendants, or possibly another group, continued this westward migration, establishing the Hun Empire, in Central and Eastern Europe, that reached its zenith under Attila. The pattern was interrupted abruptly and dramatically late in the twelfth century and throughout the thirteenth century by Chinggis and his descendants. During the consolidation of Mongolia and some of the invasions of northern China, Chinggis created sophisticated military and political organizations, exceeding in skill, efficiency, and vigor the institutions of the most civilized nations of the time. Under him and his immediate successors, the Mongol

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 300 BCE

    Iron weapons in use; Xiongnu invasion of China repulsed.

    Iron weapons in use; Xiongnu invasion of China repulsed.

  2. 200 BCE

    Nomads expand west; pressure on China continues.

    Nomads expand west; pressure on China continues.

  3. 317

    Xianbei conquer northern China.

    Xianbei conquer northern China.

  4. 386 – 533

    Period of Northern Wei Dynasty, established by the Toba in northern China mid-8th century.

    Period of Northern Wei Dynasty, established by the Toba in northern China mid-8th century.

  5. 916 – 1125

    Period of Kitan Liao Dynasty.

    Period of Kitan Liao Dynasty, established over eastern Mongolia, Manchuria, and northern China.

  6. 1038 – 1227

    Tangut Western Xia Dynasty, established in northwestern China.

    Tangut Western Xia Dynasty, established in northwestern China.

  7. 1115 – 1234

    Jurchen establish Jin Dynasty in Manchuria, northern China.

    Jurchen establish Jin Dynasty in Manchuria, northern China.

View full timeline (40 events)
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Interesting Facts

  • Mongolia has the world's most private housing at 100% of the houses being privately owned.

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Geography and Environment

Mongolia is a large and sparsely populated country landlocked between China and Russia. Mongolia is the 6th largest country in Asia and 18th largest in the world. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is over 4,000 feet above sea level. The country is divided into three basic zones: the Gobi, a vast, dry grassland in the east and south; the low Hangai mountains in the north and northwest; and the high Altai Mountains of the west and northwest. Mongolia’s most scenic lake is Lake Hovsgol located in the Altai, where elevations range up to 15,000 feet. There are three major river systems: the Tuul, which runs through Ulaanbaatar; the Orhon, which combines with the Tuul and flows into Lake Baikal in Russia; and the Selenge in the northeast.
Terrain
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Climate
Because of the elevation and distance from any ocean or sea, Mongolia has a harsh continental climate. Marked seasonal, even daily, changes in temperature, numerous high-pressure systems, and severe cold occur most of the year. A remarkably sunny country, Mongolia enjoys 250 sunny days a year, often with clear cloudless skies, making even the coldest temperatures more tolerable.
Natural Hazards
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and ""zud,"" which is harsh winter conditions
Current Environmental Issues
limited natural fresh water 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
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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian

  • Khalkha Mongol
  • Russian

Population

Population
3,086,918
Population in Major Urban Areas
ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.184 million
Nationality Noun
Mongolian(s)
Ethnic Groups
Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 3.4%

Education

Literacy Definition
age 15 and over can read and write
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Mongolia
Local - Short
Mongol Uls
Former Name
Outer Mongolia

Government Structure

Government Type
parliamentary
Legal System
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems of law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Khurelsukh UKHNAA (since 25 June 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene LUVSANNAMSRAI (since 27 January 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan SAINBUYAN (since 2021) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the Prime Minister in consultation with the President and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; presidential tenure limited to one six-year term (amended from two four-year terms); election last held on 9 June 2021 (next to be held in 2025); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected Prime Minister by the State Great Hural election results: Khurelsukh UKHNAA elected president; percent of vote - Khurelsukh UKHNAA (Mongolian People's Party) 67.7%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (Right Person Electorate Coalition) 20.3%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (Democratic Party) 6.0%; Oyun-Erdene LUVSANNAMSRAI elected Prime Minister by the State Great Hural
Legislative Branch
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%, independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1.42%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following June 2004 election MDC collapsed; as of 1 December 2005 composition of legislature was MPRP 38, DP 25, M-MNSDP 6, CWRP 2, MRP 1, PP 1, independents 3
Judicial Branch
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)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Constitution
12-Feb-92
Independence
11 July 1921 (from China)
National Holiday
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Capital City

Capital Name
Ulaanbaatar
Capital - geographic coordinate
47 55 N, 106 55 E
Capital Time Difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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)

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

Military

Branches: Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army (includes Mongolian Air and Air Defense, which is to become a separate service in 2015); there is no navy

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar

Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, Ulaanbaatar

Telephone: (976) 7007-6001

Emergency after-hours telephone: 976-9911-4168

Facsimile: (976) 7007-6016

You can email the Consular Section directly. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services by appointment Monday and Thursday from 1-3 p.m., except on U.S. and Mongolian holidays.

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Economy

Mongolia's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture and livestock breeding, but the country's vast mineral wealth has transformed it into one of the world's most resource-dependent economies. Mongolia holds extensive deposits of copper, coal, gold, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, uranium, and rare earth elements, and mining now accounts for roughly a quarter of GDP and more than 80% of exports.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990-1991, Soviet assistance—which had reached as much as one-third of GDP—disappeared almost overnight, plunging Mongolia into deep recession. The transition to a market economy was gradual, marked by political instability and alternating governments led by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (later renamed the Mongolian People's Party, MPP) and the Democratic Party. Reforms included price liberalization, banking and energy sector restructuring, privatization of state enterprises, and the opening of trade and foreign investment. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997.

The economy began a dramatic transformation in the late 2000s with the development of major mining projects, most notably the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine and the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit. Mongolia recorded one of the world's fastest GDP growth rates in 2011, exceeding 17%, driven by mining investment and commodity exports, particularly to China, which now absorbs more than 80% of Mongolia's exports.

Heavy reliance on mineral commodities has left the economy highly vulnerable to global price swings and to disputes with foreign investors. Falling commodity prices, slowing Chinese demand, and a sharp decline in foreign direct investment caused a severe downturn in 2015-2016, prompting Mongolia to secure a $5.5 billion financial assistance package led by the International Monetary Fund in 2017. The economy rebounded strongly through 2019 before contracting in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures with China. Growth resumed in subsequent years, with GDP expanding by around 7% in 2023, supported by the launch of underground production at Oyu Tolgoi and a recovery in coal exports.

Persistent challenges include high inflation, currency volatility, public debt, corruption, environmental degradation, and the impact of severe winter weather events (dzud) on the herding population. Russia's historical claims regarding Soviet-era debt were largely resolved through settlements in the 2000s. Mongolia continues to pursue a "third neighbor" foreign and economic policy aimed at diversifying partnerships beyond its two giant neighbors, China and Russia, while seeking to develop value-added industries, infrastructure, and renewable energy.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Mongolia Tughrik (MNT)
GDP — official exchange rate
$1,400,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
6.2%
Gini Index
44

Banknotes

Mongolia Money - Front
Mongolia Money - Front
Mongolia Money - Back
Mongolia Money - Back

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year
calendar year
Annual Budget
$651,000,000 (USD)
Economic Aid
$211,300,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation
herding/agriculture 46%; manufacturing 6%; trade 10.3%; public sector 4.7%; other/unemployed 33%
Household Income — highest 10%
37%
Industries
construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products
Agriculture Products
wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
Export Commodities
copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Export Partners
China 41.4%, US 31.7%, Russia 9.2%, South Korea 4.2%
Import Commodities
machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Import Partners
Russia 34.4%, China 20.1%, South Korea 12.4%, Japan 6.2%, Germany 4.3%, Hong Kong 4.1%

Energy

Oil Production
548 bbl/day
Oil Consumption
8,750 bbl/day
Oil Reserves
0 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production
0 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption
0 cu m
Natural Gas Imports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Exports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves
0 cu m

Communications

Telephone System
general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
Internet Country Code
.mn

News & Weather

Current Weather

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Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

Because of the elevation and distance from any ocean or sea, Mongolia has a harsh continental climate. Marked seasonal, even daily, changes in temperature, numerous high-pressure systems, and severe cold occur most of the year. A remarkably sunny country, Mongolia enjoys 250 sunny days a year, often with clear cloudless skies, making even the coldest temperatures more tolerable.

Videos

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Mongolia?
The population of Mongolia is approximately 3.1M.
How do people greet each other in Mongolia?
Greetings vary by age and relationship: youth use the informal "sainu" (hello) with each other, while the formal "sain baina u?" is used when greeting older people or between older people. Do: Use "sainu" informally among youth Use "sain baina u?" with older people
What are the dining customs in Mongolia?
A typical family eats three meals a day—breakfast, lunch and dinner—though there are no standard mealtimes for most people. In most organizations lunch is 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. People have breakfast before 9 a.m. because of work Dinner is usually after 6 p.m. and eaten at home Children eat lunch in the school cafeteria; others eat at restaurants or cafeterias
How should I dress in Mongolia?
On a typical day Mongolians wear the same clothes as Europeans and Americans—jeans, a jacket, sweater and t-shirt. Traditional dress is the "deel," a long silk garment with a belt Most people own a deel and wear it for special occasions, especially national celebrations
What gestures should I know in Mongolia?
Mongolians shake hands when greeting and hug those close to them, and they look straight at the person they are speaking to. Do: Shake hands when greeting Hug close friends and relatives Look straight at the person you speak to Point using an open hand Don't: Don't point with a finger—it is seen as a threat
What is family life like in Mongolia?
Family life is changing as many shift from a nomadic lifestyle to city living, and parents now have much less influence on arranging their children's marriages. About half the population now lives in cities Modern conveniences like radios and TVs are becoming popular
What sports and recreation are popular in Mongolia?
The three main sports are horse racing, archery and wrestling. Archery targets are made of woven leather rings Men shoot 40 arrows from 75 meters
What is the capital of Mongolia?
Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia, serving as the country's political, economic, and cultural hub. Situated in the north-central part of the country along the Tuul River, it is home to roughly half the nation's population — a dramatic concentration in an otherwise sparsely settled land. The city has grown rapidly as nomadic herders have migrated from the countryside, blending Soviet-era architecture with modern development and traditional ger district settlements on its outskirts.
Where is Mongolia located?
Mongolia is a landlocked nation in East and Central Asia, occupying a vast plateau region between the Siberian forests to the north and the deserts of Central Asia to the south and west. It lies entirely in the interior of the Asian continent, making it one of the world's largest landlocked countries. Its geographic isolation has historically shaped its culture, giving rise to a resilient nomadic civilization adapted to the extremes of a continental climate with bitterly cold winters and short, hot summers.
What countries border Mongolia?
Mongolia shares borders with exactly two countries: Russia to the north and China to the south, east, and west. The Russian border stretches across the forested and mountainous terrain of Siberia, while the border with China encompasses the southern Gobi Desert and the Inner Mongolian steppe. This position — sandwiched between two of the world's largest nations — has defined Mongolia's political history, from centuries of Chinese rule to Soviet-backed independence in 1921.
What is the main religion practiced in Mongolia?
Buddhist Lamaism, the Tibetan form of Buddhism, is the dominant religion in Mongolia, practiced by approximately 50% of the population. It was deeply embedded in Mongolian society for centuries before being suppressed during the Communist era (1924–1990), and has experienced a significant revival since democratization in the early 1990s. Traditional Shamanism also retains a meaningful presence, reflecting pre-Buddhist spiritual practices, while Christianity and other religions account for a smaller share of believers.
What currency does Mongolia use?
Mongolia's official currency is the Mongolian Tögrög, with the ISO code MNT. The tögrög has been the country's monetary unit since 1925, introduced shortly after the establishment of the Communist regime. Following Mongolia's transition to a market economy in the early 1990s, the currency became fully convertible, and the economy has since grown increasingly tied to mining exports, particularly coal, copper, and gold, which significantly influence the tögrög's stability.
What language is spoken in Mongolia?
Khalkha Mongol is the official and overwhelmingly dominant language of Mongolia, spoken by approximately 90% of the population. It is written in the Cyrillic alphabet, a legacy of Soviet influence, though the traditional vertical Mongolian script is experiencing a cultural revival. Turkic languages are spoken by minority groups in western regions, and Russian remains understood by older generations and educated Mongolians, reflecting decades of close ties with the Soviet Union.
What is the geography of Mongolia like?
Mongolia is one of the world's largest landlocked countries, covering an area of roughly 1.56 million square kilometers. The terrain is dominated by high steppe grasslands, mountain ranges in the north and west — including the Altai and Khangai ranges — and the vast Gobi Desert stretching across the southern third of the country. Mongolia is also one of the most sparsely populated nations on Earth, with an average of only about 4 people per square mile, leaving enormous stretches of wilderness largely uninhabited.
What is Mongolia known for?
Mongolia is internationally known as the homeland of Genghis Khan, who in the 13th century built the largest contiguous land empire in history. The country is equally recognized for its enduring nomadic culture, including the iconic circular felt dwelling called the ger, the Naadam Festival celebrating wrestling, horse racing, and archery, and vast herds of livestock central to traditional life. Mongolia is also notable for the Gobi Desert, significant copper and coal reserves that drive its modern economy, and the remarkable distinction of having 100% privately owned housing.

Last reviewed 2026

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