Part 569

Nationality: noun : Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups: Mongol 90%, Kazak 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of communist regime

Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.9% male : 88.6% female: 77.2% (1988 est.)

@Mongolia:Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form : Mongolia local long form: none local short form : Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia

Data code: MG

Government type: republic

National capital: Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China)

National holiday: National Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution: 12 February 1992

Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state : President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN (since 18 July 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held 19 May 1997); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural election results: Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) reelected president; percent of vote - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT 57.8%, Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP) NA%; Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN elected prime minister; percent of State Great Hural vote - NA

Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party - DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the Great Hural

Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), N. ENHBAYAR, general secretary; Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN, general secretary (includes Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP, M. ENHSAIHAN, chairman; Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJI, chairman; Green Party, leader NA; and Mongolian Democratic Party of Believers or MDPB, leader NA); Mongolian Conservative Party (MCP), leader NA; Democratic Power Coalition, D. BYAMBASUREN, chairman (includes Mongolian Democratic Renaissance Party or MDRP, BYAMBASUREN, chairman, and Mongolian People's Party or MPP, leader NA); Mongolian National Solidarity Party (MNSP), leader NA; Bourgeois Party/Capitalist Party, VARGALSAIHAN, chairman; United Heritage Party (UHP), B. JAMTSAI (includes United Party of Herdsman and Farmers, leader NA; Independence Party, leader NA; Traditional United Conservative Party, leader NA; and Mongolian United Private Property Owners Party, leader NA); Workers' Party, leader NA

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-7117 FAX : (202) 298-9227 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Llewellyn HEDGBETH embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone : (1) 329095, 329606 FAX: (1) 320776

Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red, centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy

Economy - overview: The new government has embraced free-market economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade. Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land, however, have constrained economic development. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. In past years extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP. The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. The dramatic drop in the price of copper which accounts for half of the country's export earnings, has held back economic growth. The Mongolian leadership also has been soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid. The country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)