Mongolia

C

Natural Resources

Rich prairie land in the north-east and north-west supports large numbers of cattle, sheep, and goats. Mineral resources such as coal, iron, copper, fluorspar, gold, uranium, and silver have not been fully exploited.

D

Plants and Animals

Mongolia contains forests of larch, pine, and cedar in the mountains, but these are of little economic importance. Fur-bearing animals, especially marmot and squirrel, are abundant, and the country has a well-developed fur industry.

III

Population

The ethnic composition of Mongolia is fairly homogeneous. Khalkha Mongols constitute more than 75 per cent of the population. Other groups are Buryat Mongols, Kazakhs, Chinese, and Russians. The society is about 58 per cent urban. Life expectancy is around 61 years.

A

Population Characteristics

Mongolia has a population of 2,996,081 (2008 estimate), yielding an overall population density of about 1.9 people per sq km (4.9 people per sq mi).

B

Political Divisions and Principal Cities

Mongolia is divided into 21 provinces and 1 capital city. The principal cities of the republic are Ulaanbaatar, the capital (population, 2004 estimate, 869,900); Darhan (population, 1999 estimate, 71,400); and Erdenet (population, 1999 estimate, 63,500), a mining centre that developed rapidly in the 1970s.