Mongolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mongolia
|
|
|---|---|
 Emblem
|
|
|
Anthem: Монгол улсын төрийн дуулал
Mongol ulsyn töriin duulal "National Anthem of Mongolia" |
|
|
State seal
 |
|
.svg) |
|
| Capital and largest city
|
Ulaanbaatar |
| Official languages | Mongolian |
| Official scripts |
|
| Ethnic groups
(2020)
|
|
| Religion
(2020)
|
|
| Demonym(s) | Mongolian, Mongol |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh | |
| Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene | |
|
• Chairman of the State Great Khural
|
Dashzegviin Amarbayasgalan |
| Legislature | State Great Khural |
| Formation | |
| 209 BC | |
| 1206 | |
| 1634 | |
|
• Completion of Qing dynasty conquest
|
1691, 1758 |
|
• Declaration of independence from the Qing dynasty
|
29 December 1911 |
|
• Mongolian People's Republic established
|
26 November 1924 |
|
• Current constitution
|
12 February 1992 |
| Area | |
|
• Total
|
1,564,116 km2 (603,909 sq mi) (18th) |
|
• Water (%)
|
0.67 |
| Population | |
|
• 2023 estimate
|
3,504,741 (131th) |
|
• Density
|
2.24/km2 (5.8/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
|
• Total
|
 $52.989 billion (124th) |
|
• Per capita
|
$15,087 (103rd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
|
• Total
|
$18.782 billion (136th) |
|
• Per capita
|
$5,348 (115th) |
| Gini (2018) | 32.7 medium |
| HDI (2023) | 0.747 high · 104th |
| Currency | Tögrög (MNT) |
| Time zone | UTC+7/+8 |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +976 |
| ISO 3166 code | MN |
| Internet TLD | .mn, .мон |
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia. This means it's completely surrounded by land, with no coastline. It shares borders with Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. Mongolia is a huge country, covering about 1.56 million square kilometers (603,909 square miles), but it has a small population of around 3.5 million people. This makes it the world's most sparsely populated sovereign state.
Mongolia is also the largest landlocked country that doesn't touch an inland sea. Much of its land is covered by vast, grassy steppes. You'll find mountains in the north and west, and the famous Gobi Desert in the south. The capital and largest city is Ulaanbaatar, where about half of the country's population lives.
The land that is now Mongolia has been home to many powerful nomadic empires throughout history, like the Xiongnu and the Turkic Khaganate. In 1206, a famous leader named Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, which grew to be the largest land empire in history. Later, his grandson Kublai Khan ruled over China, starting the Yuan dynasty. After the Yuan dynasty ended, the Mongols returned to their homeland.
In the 16th century, Tibetan Buddhism became very popular in Mongolia. Later, the Manchu-led Qing dynasty took control of the country in the 17th century. By the early 1900s, a large part of the adult male population were Buddhist monks. When the Qing dynasty fell in 1911, Mongolia declared independence. It gained full independence from the Republic of China in 1921. Soon after, it became closely connected with the Soviet Union. In 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was formed as a socialist state.
After many countries in Eastern Europe changed from communist rule in 1989, Mongolia had its own peaceful democratic revolution in early 1990. This led to a multi-party system (where many political parties can exist), a new constitution in 1992, and a move towards a market economy.
About 30% of Mongolians are nomadic or semi-nomadic, meaning they move from place to place with their animals. Horses are still a very important part of Mongolian life. Buddhism is the main religion (51.7%), followed by people who don't identify with a religion (40.6%). Islam is practiced by 3.2% of the population, mainly among ethnic Kazakhs. Most citizens are ethnic Mongols, but about 5% are Kazakhs, Tuvans, and other groups, especially in the western parts of the country.
Mongolia is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and other international groups, showing its desire to connect with the world.
Contents
- What's in a Name? Understanding Mongolia's Name
- A Journey Through Time: Mongolia's Rich History
- Geography
- Climate
- Wildlife: Animals of the Steppe and Desert
- People and Culture: Mongolia's Population and Traditions
- Government and Politics
- Economy: Resources and Growth in Mongolia
- Infrastructure: Connecting Mongolia
- Culture: Traditions and Arts of Mongolia
- See also
What's in a Name? Understanding Mongolia's Name
| Mongolia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolian name | |||||
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Монгол Улс (Mongol Uls) |
||||
| Mongolian script | ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ |
||||
|
|||||
The name "Mongolia" means "Land of the Mongols." The word "Mongol" (монгол) has a history that's a bit unclear, but it might come from an old name, "Mugulü," from the 4th century.
After the Liao dynasty fell in 1125, the Khamag Mongols became a powerful tribe on the Mongolian Plateau. However, they faced tough wars with the Jurchen-ruled Jin dynasty and the Tatar confederation. The last leader of this tribe was Yesügei, whose son Temüjin (who later became Genghis Khan) eventually united all the tribes to form the huge Mongol Empire. In the 13th century, "Mongol" became a general term for all the tribes who spoke Mongolic languages and were united under Genghis Khan.
Since a new constitution was adopted on February 13, 1992, the country's official name is simply "Mongolia" (Mongol Uls).
A Journey Through Time: Mongolia's Rich History
Ancient Times: Early Nomads and Empires
Evidence of early human life in Mongolia goes back 20,000 years, with amazing cave paintings found in the Khoit Tsenkher Cave. These paintings show animals like mammoths and ostriches.
Around 5500–3500 BC, there were early farming settlements, but the most important change in Mongolia's history was the start of horse-riding nomadism. This way of life became the main culture. Archeological finds show that horse-riding nomads were present in Mongolia during the Copper and Bronze Ages. Over time, metalworking and nomadic herding became more advanced, leading to the Iron Age Xiongnu Empire in 209 BC.
Even though farming has been around since ancient times, it has always been much smaller than nomadic herding. The people in eastern Mongolia during the Copper Age were described as Mongoloid, while those in the west were Europoid. Tocharians and Scythians lived in western Mongolia during the Bronze Age. The discovery of a 2,500-year-old mummy of a Scythian warrior in the Altai Mountains shows their presence.
Early States: Powerful Confederations
For a very long time, Mongolia has been home to nomads who sometimes formed large, powerful groups. These groups often had a Khan (a ruler), a Kurultai (Supreme Council), and a military system based on groups of ten. The first of these great empires was the Xiongnu, who formed a confederation in 209 BC. They became a major threat to the Qin dynasty in China, which led to the building of the Great Wall of China to defend against their raids.
After the Xiongnu empire (209 BC–93 AD), came the Mongolic Xianbei empire (93–234 AD), which also ruled over a large area. The Mongolic Rouran Khaganate (330–555) was the first to use "Khagan" as an imperial title. They were later defeated by the Göktürks (555–745), who formed an even larger empire.
The Uyghur Khaganate (745–840) followed the Göktürks. Later, the Mongolic Khitans ruled Mongolia during the Liao dynasty (907–1125), after which the Khamag Mongol (1125–1206) became important.
The Mongol Empire and Beyond
In the late 12th century, a leader named Temüjin managed to unite the many Mongol tribes. In 1206, he became known as Genghis Khan. He led many military campaigns, which were known for their strength and speed, across much of Asia. This created the Mongol Empire, the largest land empire in world history. Under his successors, the empire stretched from modern-day Poland in the west to Korea in the east, and from Siberia in the north to the Gulf of Oman and Vietnam in the south. This huge empire covered about 33 million square kilometers (22% of Earth's land area) and had over 100 million people. The peace and stability during the Mongol Empire, known as Pax Mongolica, also made trade and travel across Asia much easier.
After Genghis Khan died, the empire was divided into four main kingdoms, or Khanates. One of these, the "Great Khaanate," included the Mongol homeland and most of modern-day China. This became the Yuan dynasty under Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson, who made Beijing his capital. After more than a century, the Yuan dynasty was overthrown by the Ming dynasty in 1368, and the Yuan court moved back to Mongolia, becoming the Northern Yuan dynasty.
The next few centuries saw many power struggles among different Mongol groups and several invasions by the Ming dynasty. In the early 16th century, Dayan Khan and his wife Mandukhai reunited all Mongol groups. In the mid-16th century, Altan Khan helped bring Tibetan Buddhism back to Mongolia. Many Mongol leaders and the general population embraced Buddhism. Monasteries became very powerful, both spiritually and in terms of land and wealth.
The last Khagan of the Mongols was Ligden Khan in the early 17th century. By 1636, most of the Inner Mongolian tribes had joined the Manchus, who founded the Qing dynasty. The Khalkha Mongols also submitted to Qing rule in 1691, bringing all of today's Mongolia under Manchu control. The Qing dynasty allowed Outer Mongolia to have some self-rule and prevented large-scale Chinese immigration, which helped the Mongols keep their culture.
By 1911, there were 700 monasteries in Outer Mongolia, and about 21% of the population were monks. However, the behavior of the Mongolian nobility, combined with high interest rates from Chinese traders and taxes, led to widespread poverty among the nomads.
Modern History: Independence and Democracy
When the Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911, Mongolia, led by the Bogd Khaan, declared its independence. However, the new Republic of China still considered Mongolia part of its territory. In 1919, Chinese troops occupied Mongolia. After the October Revolution in Russia, a White Russian general named Baron Ungern led his troops into Mongolia in 1920, defeating the Chinese forces.
To counter Ungern, Bolshevik Russia supported the creation of a communist Mongolian government and army. Mongolia declared its independence again on July 11, 1921. From then on, Mongolia was closely linked with the Soviet Union for the next seven decades.
The Mongolian People's Republic
In 1924, after the Bogd Khaan died, Mongolia's political system changed, and the Mongolian People's Republic was established. In 1928, Khorloogiin Choibalsan came to power. He introduced the collectivization of livestock (where animals were owned by the state, not individuals), began destroying Buddhist monasteries, and carried out purges, which led to the deaths of many monks and leaders. Before this, about one-third of the male population were monks. By the late 1930s, almost all of Mongolia's 700 Buddhist monasteries had been looted or destroyed.
The purges in Mongolia, influenced by Stalin, began in 1937 and resulted in the deaths of more than 30,000 people, including an estimated 17,000 monks.
After Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, Mongolia faced a threat from Japan. During the Soviet-Japanese Border War in 1939, the Soviet Union helped Mongolia defend itself against Japanese expansion. Mongolia also fought against Japan in August 1945 during the Soviet–Japanese War.
Cold War Era
In February 1945, the Yalta Conference decided that Outer Mongolia would remain independent after World War II. A referendum was held on October 20, 1945, where 100% of voters (according to official numbers) supported independence.
After the People's Republic of China was established, both countries recognized each other in 1949. Mongolia joined the United Nations in 1961.
On January 26, 1952, Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal became Mongolia's leader after Choibalsan's death. Tsedenbal was a key political figure for over 30 years. He retired in 1984 and was replaced by Jambyn Batmönkh.
Post-Cold War: Democracy and Change
The end of the Soviet Union in 1991 greatly impacted Mongolia. The country underwent a peaceful Democratic Revolution in January 1990, leading to a multi-party system and a market economy. The former communist party, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, changed to become the social democratic Mongolian People's Party, reshaping the country's politics.
A new constitution was introduced in 1992, and the term "People's Republic" was removed from the country's name. The move to a market economy was challenging at first, with high inflation and food shortages in the early 1990s. Non-communist parties won elections in 1993 (presidential) and 1996 (parliamentary). China has supported Mongolia's efforts to join regional economic groups.
In January 2021, Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh resigned after protests. On January 27, 2021, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene became the new prime minister, representing a younger generation of leaders.
.jpg){kind=icon}
The President of Mongolia can veto laws passed by parliament, appoint judges, and ambassadors. The parliament can override a veto with a two-thirds vote. To be president, a person must be a native-born Mongolian, at least 45 years old, and have lived in Mongolia for five years before taking office. In June 2021, former Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh became the country's sixth democratically elected president.
Mongolia has a unicameral (one-house) legislature called the State Great Khural, with 76 seats. Its members are elected every four years. In 2023, the parliament approved a change to increase the number of seats from 76 to 126.
Geography
Mongolia is the world's 18th-largest country. It's much larger than Peru, for example. It's located mostly between 41° and 52°N latitude and 87° and 120°E longitude.
Mongolia's geography is very diverse. The Gobi Desert is in the south, while the north and west have cold, mountainous regions. Much of Mongolia is covered by the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland, with forests making up about 11.2% of the land. The entire country is part of the Mongolian Plateau. The highest point is Khüiten Peak in the Tavan bogd massif, at 4,374 meters (14,350 feet). The Uvs Lake basin, shared with Russia, is a natural World Heritage Site.
Climate
Mongolia is often called the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky" because it has over 250 sunny days a year.
Most of the country has hot summers and extremely cold winters, with average January temperatures dropping to as low as -30°C (-22°F). In winter, a large mass of cold air from Siberia settles over Mongolia, causing very cold temperatures in valleys and low areas.
The country sometimes experiences harsh weather conditions called zud. This is when a large number of livestock die from starvation or freezing temperatures, causing economic problems for the nomadic population. Ulaanbaatar has an average annual temperature of -1.3°C (29.7°F), making it the world's coldest capital city. Mongolia is generally high, cold, and windy, with an extreme continental climate. Most of its annual rainfall happens during the short summers.
Wildlife: Animals of the Steppe and Desert
The word "Gobi" is a Mongol term for a desert steppe, which is a dry grassland that can support camels but not smaller animals like marmots. Mongols distinguish the Gobi from a true desert, which is a stony wasteland where even camels can't survive. The dry conditions in the Gobi are due to the rain shadow effect caused by the Himalayas. Before the Himalayas formed millions of years ago, Mongolia had more diverse animal life. Fossils of sea turtles and mollusks have been found in the Gobi, along with famous dinosaur fossils. Even today, Tadpole shrimps can be found there.
People and Culture: Mongolia's Population and Traditions
Mongolia's population in 2024 was about 3.5 million people. About 51% are female and 49% male. Most people (71.2%) live in urban areas, while 21.8% live in rural areas.
Mongols are quite similar to each other, with ethnic Mongols making up about 95% of the population. They include the Khalkha and other groups, mainly differing in their dialects of the Mongol language. The Khalkha make up 86% of the ethnic Mongol population. Other groups include Oirats and Buryats. Turkic peoples, like Kazakhs and Tuvans, make up 4.5% of Mongolia's population.
Languages: Speaking Mongolian and More
Mongolia's official language is Mongolian. The standard dialect is Khalkha Mongol. Other Mongolic dialects are also spoken, mainly in the western part of the country. Kazakh is the main language in Bayan-Ölgii, and Tuvan is spoken in Khövsgöl.
Today, Mongolian is mostly written using the Cyrillic alphabet, which was introduced in the 1940s. Since the 1990 revolution, there has been a small return to the historic Mongolian script, which is still used officially by Mongols in neighboring Inner Mongolia. In 2025, Mongolia plans to use both Cyrillic and traditional Mongolian scripts for official documents.
Since 1990, English has become the most popular foreign language, replacing Russian. In the past, Russian was very important for education and jobs. Now, Mongolia's education system focuses more on the West, and English is the main foreign language taught in schools. In 2023, English was declared the "first foreign language" and will be taught from third grade.
Religion: Beliefs and Traditions
| Religion | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-religious | 1,338,528 | 40.6% |
| Religious | 1,958,338 | 59.4% |
| Buddhism | 1,704,480 | 51.7% |
| Islam | 105,500 | 3.2% |
| Shamanism | 82,422 | 2.5% |
| Christianity | 42,859 | 1.3% |
| Other religions | 23,078 | 0.7% |
| Total | 3,296,866 | 100.0% |
According to the 2020 National Census, among Mongolians aged 15 and above, 59.4% were Buddhists, while 40.6% said they had no religion.
Mongolian shamanism has been practiced throughout Mongolia's history, with similar beliefs common among Central Asian nomads. Over time, it gradually gave way to Tibetan Buddhism, but shamanism still influences Mongolian religious culture and is practiced today. Kazakhs in western Mongolia, some Mongols, and other Turkic peoples traditionally follow Islam.
During much of the 20th century, the communist government suppressed religious practices. They targeted the clergy of the Mongolian Buddhist Church, which had been closely linked to the previous government. In the late 1930s, the government closed almost all of Mongolia's over 700 Buddhist monasteries and killed many people, including 18,000 lamas (Buddhist monks). The number of Buddhist monks dropped dramatically.
The fall of communism in 1991 allowed public religious practice to return. Tibetan Buddhism again became the most widely practiced religion. Other religions also began to grow in the country. For example, the number of Christians increased from just four in 1989 to around 40,000 by 2008.
Government and Politics
Mongolia is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic. This means it has both a directly elected President and a Prime Minister. The people also elect members to the national assembly, called the State Great Khural. The president appoints the prime minister, who then suggests cabinet members. Mongolia's constitution of Mongolia guarantees many freedoms, including freedom of expression and religion. In 2019, the constitution was updated to give more power to the prime minister. In 2023, the parliament approved another change to increase the number of seats from 76 to 126 and change the election system.
Mongolia has several political parties, with the largest being the Mongolian People's Party and the Democratic Party. The non-governmental organization Freedom House considers Mongolia to be a free country.
Foreign Relations: Mongolia's Place in the World
.jpg)
Mongolia's foreign relations mainly focus on its two large neighbors, Russia and China. Mongolia relies on these countries for its economy: China is Mongolia's biggest export partner, and Mongolia gets a lot of its imports from both China and Russia. Mongolia is also working on a partnership with China and Russia for the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.
Mongolia has also started building relationships with many other countries, especially for cultural and economic reasons, encouraging foreign direct investment and trade. Since the early 1990s, Mongolia has followed a 'third-neighbor' foreign policy to build stronger ties with countries beyond its two direct neighbors.
Military: Mongolia's Armed Forces
_51.jpg)
Mongolia has supported international efforts, like sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. Mongolian troops have also served in Sierra Leone on a UN mission and in Kosovo with other countries. In 2005, George W. Bush became the first U.S. president to visit Mongolia. Mongolia also became a partner of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2004.
Administrative Divisions: How Mongolia is Organized
Template:Clickable map of Mongolian provinces
Mongolia is divided into 21 provinces (aimags), which are then divided into 330 districts (sums). Ulaanbaatar is managed separately as a capital city with its own provincial status. The aimags are:
- Arkhangai
- Bayan-Ölgii
- Bayankhongor
- Bulgan
- Darkhan-Uul
- Dornod
- Dornogovi
- Dundgovi
- Govi-Altai
- Govisümber
- Khentii
- Khovd
- Khövsgöl
- Ömnögovi
- Orkhon
- Övörkhangai
- Selenge
- Sükhbaatar
- Töv
- Uvs
- Zavkhan
Major Cities: Urban Centers of Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar (44.2%) Erdenet (3.1%) Darkhan (2.6%) Choibalsan (1.4%) Mörön (1.3%) Nalaikh (1.2%) Ölgii (1.2%) Arvaikheer (1.0%) Bayankhongor (1.0%) Khovd (1.0%) Other (43%)
As of 2020, almost half of Mongolia's population (47.6%) lives in Ulaanbaatar. Another 21.4% live in other cities and towns, while 31.0% live in rural areas.
|
Largest cities or towns in Mongolia
National Statistics Office of Mongolia, 2020 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Pop. |
| 1 | Ulaanbaatar | 1,426,645 |
| 2 | Erdenet | 101,421 |
| 3 | Darkhan | 83,213 |
| 4 | Choibalsan | 46,683 |
| 5 | Mörön | 41,586 |
| 6 | Nalaikh* | 38,690 |
| 7 | Ölgii | 38,310 |
| 8 | Arvaikheer | 33,743 |
| 9 | Bayankhongor | 31,948 |
| 10 | Khovd | 31,081 |
*Under Ulaanbaatar administration
Economy: Resources and Growth in Mongolia
Mongolia's economy has traditionally relied on herding animals and agriculture. However, the discovery of large amounts of minerals like copper, coal, and gold has made mining a major industry. Besides mining (21.8% of GDP) and agriculture (16% of GDP), other important industries include trade, transportation, and real estate. Mongolia also produces one-fifth of the world's raw cashmere.
The World Bank believes Mongolia has good chances for development because of its growing mining industry and large public investments. However, challenges like inflation and weaker demand from China still exist. In 2022, about 27.1% of Mongolia's population lived below the national poverty line.
Mongolia's economy grew by 7% in 2023, thanks to record-high coal production driven by strong demand from China. The Mongolian Stock Exchange, established in 1991 in Ulaanbaatar, is one of the world's smallest stock exchanges.
Mineral Industry: Mongolia's Underground Riches
Minerals make up more than 80% of Mongolia's exports, and this number is expected to grow to 95%. Money from mining made up 21% of government income in 2010 and 24% in 2018. About 3,000 mining licenses have been given out. Mining is becoming an even bigger industry in Mongolia, with many Chinese, Russian, and Canadian companies starting mining businesses there.
In 2009, the Mongolian government made a deal with Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines to develop the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold deposit. This was the biggest foreign investment project in Mongolia at the time. This mine is now a major producer of copper and gold. Mongolia is also trying to develop the Tavan Tolgoi area, which has the world's largest untouched coal deposit.
In September 2022, Mongolia built a 233-km direct rail link to China. This is a big step in Mongolia's plan to become China's main supplier of high-quality coal from the Tavan Tolgoi mine, which holds over six billion tonnes of coal.
Infrastructure: Connecting Mongolia
Communications: Staying in Touch
Postal services are provided by the state-owned Mongol Post and other licensed companies.
Energy: Powering the Nation
.jpg)
Mongolia imports 98% of its fuel. It is building its first oil refinery to reduce its reliance on foreign energy.
Transportation: Getting Around Mongolia
The Trans-Mongolian Railway is the main train link between Mongolia and its neighbors, Russia and China. It connects to the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia and the Chinese railway system. There are also domestic airports, but the main international airport is Chinggis Khaan International Airport, near Ulaanbaatar. You can fly directly from Mongolia to countries like South Korea, China, Japan, and Germany. MIAT Mongolian Airlines is Mongolia's national airline.
Many roads in Mongolia are gravel or simple tracks. However, there are paved roads connecting Ulaanbaatar to the Russian and Chinese borders, and other major cities. Mongolia has about 4,800 km (3,000 miles) of paved roads, with a significant portion completed in 2013 alone.
Education: Learning in Mongolia
During the socialist period, education in Mongolia improved greatly. Before the Mongolian People's Republic, very few people could read or write. By 1952, almost everyone could read, partly thanks to seasonal boarding schools for nomadic children. Funding for these schools was cut in the 1990s, which led to a slight increase in illiteracy.
Primary and secondary education used to last ten years but was extended to eleven years. Since the 2008–2009 school year, new first-graders have been using a 12-year system, with a full changeover by the 2019–2020 school year.
As of 2006, English is taught in all secondary schools in Mongolia, starting in fourth grade. English has become the main foreign language in Mongolia, especially in Ulaanbaatar. Almost three out of five Mongolian young people now go to university. The number of students increased six-fold between 1993 and 2010.
Culture: Traditions and Arts of Mongolia
The symbol on the left side of the national flag is a Buddhist icon called Soyombo. It represents the sun, moon, stars, and heavens, based on traditional art.
Visual Arts: Mongolian Artistry
Before the 20th century, most fine art in Mongolia was religious and heavily influenced by religious texts. Thangkas (Buddhist scroll paintings) were common, and bronze sculptures often showed Buddhist deities. Many great works are credited to the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, Zanabazar.
In the late 19th century, painters like ""Marzan" Sharav" started using more realistic styles. During the Mongolian People's Republic, socialist realism was the main art style, but traditional thangka-like paintings with non-religious, national themes, known as "Mongol zurag", were also popular.
All forms of fine arts truly flourished after the political changes in the late 1980s.
Architecture: Homes and Temples
The traditional Mongolian home is called a ger. In the past, it was known by the Russian term yurt, but the Mongolian term is becoming more widely used. According to Mongolian art critic N. Chultem, the ger was the foundation for traditional Mongolian architecture. In the 16th and 17th centuries, lamaseries (Buddhist monasteries) were built across the country. Many started as ger-temples. As they grew, Mongolian architects used structures with 6 and 12 sides and pyramidal roofs to resemble the round shape of a ger. Later, they became permanent structures made of stone, brick, and wood.
Music: Sounds of the Steppe
Mongolian music is deeply influenced by nature, nomadic life, shamanism, and Tibetan Buddhism. Traditional music features instruments like the famous morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) and unique singing styles like the urtyn duu ("long song") and throat-singing (khoomei). The "tsam" is a dance performed to ward off evil spirits, and it has roots in shamanism.
Media: News and Information
The Mongolian press began in 1920, closely linked to the Soviet Union and the Mongolian Communist Party. Until the reforms in the 1990s, the government strictly controlled all media, and no independent media were allowed. The end of the Soviet Union had a big impact on Mongolia, leading to a multi-party democracy and greater media freedoms.
A new law on press freedom, passed in 1999, opened the way for media reforms. Today, Mongolian media includes about 300 print and broadcasting outlets.
Since 2006, the media environment has been improving, with discussions about a new Freedom of Information Act and the separation of media outlets from government control. Market reforms have led to more people working in media and studying journalism.
According to a 2014 survey, 80% of Mongolians said television was their main source of information.
Mongolian Cuisine: Tastes of Nomad Life
Mongolian cuisine predominantly consists of dairy products, meat, and animal fats. The most common rural dish is cooked mutton. In the city, steamed dumplings filled with meat—"buuz"— are popular.
The extreme continental climate of Mongolia has influenced the traditional diet. Use of vegetables and spices are limited. Due to geographic proximity and deep historic ties with China and Russia, Mongolian cuisine is also influenced by Chinese and Russian cuisine.
Mongolian cuisine is heavily influenced by the country's nomadic lifestyle. The main ingredients are meat (especially mutton, beef, and goat), dairy products, and some vegetables. Dishes are often simple and hearty, designed to provide energy for a life on the move. Popular dishes include buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried meat pastries), and tsuivan (noodles with meat and vegetables). Dairy products like aaruul (dried curds) and fermented mare's milk (airag) are also very common.
Sports and Festivals: Celebrating Mongolian Spirit
The main national festival is Naadam, which has been celebrated for centuries. It takes place over three days in the summer and features three traditional Mongolian sports: archery, cross-country horse-racing, and wrestling. These are known as the "Three Manly Games of Naadam." In modern Mongolia, Naadam is held from July 11 to 13 to celebrate the anniversaries of the National Democratic Revolution and the founding of the Great Mongol State.
Another popular activity is Shagaa, where people flick sheep ankle bones at a target. This contest is especially popular among older Mongolians at Naadam.
Horse riding is extremely important to Mongolian culture. The long-distance races at Naadam are a big part of this, as is the popularity of trick riding.
Mongolian wrestling is the most popular of all Mongol sports and a highlight of Naadam. Historians believe it started about seven thousand years ago. Hundreds of wrestlers from across the country compete in the national wrestling competition.
Other sports like basketball, weightlifting, football, and martial arts have also become popular in Mongolia. Mongolian freestyle wrestlers have won the first and most Olympic medals for Mongolia. Naidangiin Tüvshinbayar won Mongolia's first Olympic gold medal in judo.
Mongolia also hosts other traditional festivals throughout the year. The Golden Eagle Festival, held annually, brings together about 400 eagle hunters on horseback to compete with their trained eagles. The Ice Festival and the Thousand Camel Festival are other well-known traditional Mongolian festivals.
See also
In Spanish: Mongolia para niños
