People and Society of Mongolia

Nationality

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%

Population

3,347,782

Population in Major Urban Areas

ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.184 million

Medical facilities in Mongolia are very limited and do not meet most Western standards, especially for emergency health care. Many brand-name Western medicines are unavailable. The majority of medical facilities are located in Ulaanbaatar and are extremely limited or non-existent outside of Ulaanbaatar. Specialized emergency care for infants and the elderly is not available. Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate payment in cash for health services. Sanitation in some restaurants, particularly outside of Ulaanbaatar, is inadequate. Stomach illnesses are frequent. You should drink bottled water and use other routine safety measures to protect your health. Severe air pollution is a serious problem during the winter months, and travelers with breathing or other health problems should plan accordingly. Infectious diseases, such as plague and meningococcal meningitis, are present at various times of the year. Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Mongolia. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB . Local hospitals generally do not contact the Embassy about ill or injured U.S. citizens in their care. If you need assistance from the Embassy, you should ask the doctor or hospital to contact the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. See our website for a list of medical facilities in Ulaanbaatar.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Mongolia has improved significantly over recent decades, reflecting advances in healthcare access, nutrition, and public health infrastructure. As of the most recent available data, the average life expectancy at birth in Mongolia is approximately 73 years overall, with women living longer on average — around 76 to 77 years — compared to men, who average closer to 69 to 70 years. This gap between male and female life expectancy is notable and is influenced by several factors, including higher rates of alcohol consumption, occupational hazards, and preventable disease among men. Mongolia's life expectancy figures represent a marked improvement from the early 1990s, when the country's transition from a Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a market economy caused significant disruption to public health services and contributed to a temporary decline in life outcomes. Since stabilizing and modernizing its healthcare system, Mongolia has made steady gains. Several ongoing challenges continue to affect longevity in the country. Air pollution in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar is among the worst in the world during winter months, driven by coal burning for heating in low-income ger districts. This contributes to high rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and related conditions that can shorten lifespans, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children. Liver disease, often linked to alcohol use, and road traffic accidents are also significant contributors to premature mortality among Mongolian men. Access to healthcare varies considerably between urban and rural areas. Residents of Ulaanbaatar benefit from more developed medical facilities, while nomadic and semi-nomadic populations in remote provinces — known as aimags — may face longer travel distances and limited access to specialist care. Despite these hurdles, Mongolia continues to invest in public health programs, maternal and child healthcare, and disease prevention, which are expected to support further gains in life expectancy in the coming years.

Infant Mortality Rate

Mongolia has made significant progress in reducing its infant mortality rate over the past several decades, though the country continues to face challenges rooted in geography, climate, and uneven access to healthcare services. As of the most recent available data, Mongolia's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 14 to 16 deaths per 1,000 live births. This represents a dramatic improvement from the early 1990s, when the rate exceeded 60 deaths per 1,000 live births following the collapse of the Soviet-era healthcare system and the economic disruptions of the transition to a market economy. Several factors contribute to the remaining infant mortality burden. Mongolia's extreme continental climate, with harsh winters regularly reaching minus 30 to minus 40 degrees Celsius, poses serious risks to newborns and young infants, particularly among nomadic herding families living in remote rural areas. Access to trained medical personnel, functioning health facilities, and emergency obstetric care remains limited outside of Ulaanbaatar and major provincial centers. Respiratory infections, pneumonia, and neonatal complications — including birth asphyxia and infections — are among the leading causes of infant deaths. Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, which during winter months ranks among the worst in the world due to coal and biomass burning for heating, has been identified as a contributing factor to respiratory illness and adverse birth outcomes in the capital. Urban-rural disparities are notable. Infants born in rural aimags (provinces) face considerably higher mortality risks than those born in the capital, largely due to the distance from hospitals and the difficulty of transportation across Mongolia's vast, sparsely populated terrain. The Mongolian government, in partnership with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and other international health organizations, has implemented programs aimed at improving neonatal care, expanding skilled birth attendance, and strengthening community-level health services. Increased rates of facility-based delivery and immunization coverage have been key drivers of the overall mortality decline observed over the past three decades.

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Buddhist Lamaism50.0%
• Other / None40.0%
• Shanism, Christian6.0%
• Muslim4.0%

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian

• Khalkha Mongol
• Russian

Crime Information

Street crime is common in Mongolia, particularly in Ulaanbaatar, the capital. Most of the street crime is non-violent, but violent incidents do occur regularly. The most common crimes against foreigners are pickpocketing and bag snatching. There are reports of organized groups operating in open areas, usually after dark, surrounding, grabbing, and choking an individual in order to search his or her pockets. Thieves have also cut victims’ bag straps and clothing in attempts to reach wallets, cell phones, and other valuables. If you detect pickpocket attempts, you should not confront the thieves, since they may become violent. It is best not to walk alone through Ulaanbaatar after dark. Inter-racial couples are targeted for assault. The perpetrators usually target foreign men with local women. These assaults range from organized attacks by nationalist groups to spontaneous incidents in bars. Since the spring of 2010, the U.S. Embassy has received an increased number of reports of apparently xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.These attacks occurred without provocation, and robbery was not the motive. Attackers targeted the victim(s) based solely on their ethnicity or perceived foreign nationality. Some of these attacks were directed against U.S. citizens. Additionally, nationalist groups frequently mistake Asian-Americans for ethnic Chinese or Koreans and may attack without warning or provocation. Asian-Americans should exercise caution at all times when walking the streets of Ulaanbaatar. In general, you should be extremely cautious at these locations: Chinggis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar: Organized groups frequently target tourists for robbery and pickpocketing at this airport. The State Department Store and the area around the Circus: Organized pickpocket gangs target tourists at the entries/exits/elevators of the store and in surrounding areas, along Peace Avenue, and down to the Circus. Naran Tuul Covered Market: Organized criminal groups target foreigners for robbery and pickpocketing. You should also be careful in crowded public areas, such as open-air markets, the Central Post Office, and the Gandan Monastery. In addition, you should be alert for potential criminal activity when you use public transportation or taxis. There have been several reports of foreigners being robbed and/or assaulted while riding in taxis. You may wish to ask your hotel, a restaurant, or store to make taxi arrangements for you. Also, you may wish to request that a native speaker write your destination address in Mongolian, since most cab drivers do not speak English. Private unmarked cars often act as taxis in Mongolia; their availability is high, but their consistency of performance, fare, and safety is low. You should not use unmarked taxis. If you find a cab driver whom you like (English speaker, trustworthy, clean car, etc.), request his mobile phone number for future use. Crime rises sharply before, during, and after the Naadam Summer Festival in July, throughout the summer tourist season, and during and after Tsagaan Sar, the Winter Festival, in January or February. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegged items illegal in the United States, but you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Mongolia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mongolia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. If you are arrested in Mongolia, Mongolian authorities are required to notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should ask the police or prison officials to notify the U.S. embassy of your arrest. You may need to make repeated requests to authorities to speak to a consular officer. Authorities may be unaware of your rights to consular access.