Mongolia: Information

Mongolia: Country Overview, Geography, and Key Facts

Mongolia is a landlocked nation situated in East and Central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. Known globally as the “Land of the Eternal Blue Sky,” it spans approximately 1,564,116 square kilometers, making it the 18th-largest country in the world by area. Despite its vast geographic footprint, Mongolia has a population of approximately 3.4 to 3.5 million people, giving it the lowest population density of any sovereign nation at around 2 people per square kilometer.

Quick Facts

• Capital & Largest City: Ulaanbaatar (home to nearly half of the national population)

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• Official Language: Mongolian (Khalkha dialect)

• Government Type: Unitary semi-presidential / parliamentary republic

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• Currency: Mongolian Tögrög (MNT)

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• Total Land Area: ~1.56 million sq km (604,000 sq mi)

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• Bordering Countries: Russia, China

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Geography and Climate

Mongolia features diverse landscapes ranging from the grassy steppe plateaus across the central region to the rugged Altai Mountains in the west and southwest, and the expansive Gobi Desert in the south. The country has a severe, high-altitude continental climate characterized by long, dry, sub-zero winters and short, warm summers. Winter conditions are frequently shaped by the dzudan extreme weather phenomenon involving severe cold, snow, and ice that heavily impacts nomadic livestock.

Culture, Economy, and Resources

Nomadic pastoralism forms the backbone of traditional Mongolian culture and heritage, centering on horses, camels, sheep, goats, and cattle. Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion alongside deeply rooted shamanistic traditions. Economically, Mongolia relies heavily on mineral extraction (primarily copper, coal, gold, and fluorspar) and agricultural exports, with raw cashmere being one of its most recognized global commodities.