Asia Economy

This chapter contains useful information for visitors to Mongolia, including visa requirements, accommodation options, and contact information for foreign missions, hospitals, and other institutions. You can also find highlights of Mongolian culture with a special feature on the revival of the traditional sports of polo and archery. Finally, this section provides guidance regarding etiquette,...

The main event for Mongolia’s economy in 2013 will be the opening of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine, which many see as a make-or-break moment. Coal, presently the country’s most important commodity, declined in price by some 15% in 2012, with volumes slipping by around 22%. In 2012 the current account deficit reached 16.7%, excluding mining-related imports, according to the IMF, compared...

With a population of 2.8m inhabiting its wind-swept, grassy steppes and vast expanses of desert, Mongolia is the world’s most sparsely populated country. Its primary religion is Buddhism, though it is estimated that 40% of the population does not practise religion. Ninety per cent of the population speaks Mongolian, most using the Khalkha Mongol dialect, which shares lineage with Turkic,...