resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The
principality also is a major banking center and has successfully
sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added,
nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low
business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who
have established residence and for foreign companies that have set
up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free
shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp
duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show
that three-quarters of profits are generated within the
principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey
list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues
to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws
and help combat tax evasion. The state retains monopolies in a
number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the
postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to
those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
Labor force:
44,000
country comparison to the world: 191
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 1
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 54
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$716.3 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 161
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Imports:
$916.1 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 172
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
35,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephones - mobile cellular:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's
sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to
residential and business customers
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
exceeds 100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system
Broadcast media:
TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; Radio Monte-Carlo has
both an Italian-language and a French-language network; a few
private radio stations operating (2008)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts:
23,621 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 104
Internet users:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Transportation ::Monaco
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 217
paved: 50 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 14, Bermuda 2, Comoros 1,
Cyprus 1, Liberia 10, Marshall Islands 21, Norway 1, Panama 14,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
Ports and terminals:
Monaco
Military ::Monaco
Military branches:
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial
duties
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,814 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,680
females age 16-49: 4,691 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 147
female: 133 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Monaco
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Mongolia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis
KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest.
After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol
states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols
eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the
late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its
independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was
installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however,
represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; more
ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in
the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a
peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's
Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was
defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the
2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004
election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from
2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008
parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition
government with the Democratic Party. In 2010 the MPRP voted to
retake the name of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), a name it
used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members
are MPP members.
Geography ::Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 19
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west
and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use:
arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is
harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of
former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial
growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of
soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People ::Mongolia
Population:
3,086,918 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 436,391/female 418,923)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 1,031,819/female 1,033,806)
65 years and over: 4% (male 52,430/female 67,773) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.8 years
male: 25.3 years
female: 26.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.495% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Birth rate:
21.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Death rate:
6.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 116
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.56 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 69
male: 41.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.98 years
country comparison to the world: 153
male: 65.54 years
female: 70.54 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other
(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none
40% (2004)
Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 65
Government ::Mongolia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan,
Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan),
Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon,
Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:
11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:
13 January 1992
Legal system:
blend of Soviet and German systems that employ "continental" or
"civil" code; case-precedent may be used to inform judges, but all
decisions must refer to the law as written; constitution ambiguous
on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29
October 2009); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since
20 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since
6 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
24 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2013); following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually
elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ
elected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar
ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPP 46, DP 27, others 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial
courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are
nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People's Party
or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: human rights groups; women's groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171
Mongolia
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329-095
FAX: [976] (11) 320-776
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and
prosperity
National anthem:
name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and
Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem's lyrics
have been altered on numerous occasions
Economy ::Mongolia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on
herding and agriculture - Mongolia's extensive mineral deposits,
however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper,
gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten
deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct
investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height
one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction
and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely
because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008
Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year
inflation reaching nearly 30% - the highest inflation rate in over a
decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of
the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower
inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in
spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a
$236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia, and the country has
started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector
remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter
supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed
long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop
Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world's
largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew an estimated 7%
in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and
international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all
time high for Mongolia. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily
influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum
products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia,
leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China
represents more than half of Mongolia's total external trade - China
receives about two-thirds of Mongolia's exports. Remittances from
Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the
economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia
joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its
participation in regional economic and trade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.16 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$9.5 billion (2009 est.)
$9.654 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.807 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
-1.6% (2009 est.)
8.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$3,100 (2009 est.)
$3,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 29.5%
services: 49.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
1.068 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 5%
services: 61% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
2.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22
3% (2007)
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.9% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.8 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 97
44 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
28% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.82% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
14.78% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.67% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
20.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$451.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
$510.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.996 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.791 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.664 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$1.183 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$430.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
$407 million (31 December 2008)
$612.2 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses
Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and
beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber
manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - production:
4.03 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - consumption:
3.439 billion kWh (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - exports:
21.2 million kWh (2009)
Electricity - imports:
186.1 million kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
5,100 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - exports:
5,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Current account balance:
-$228.7 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
-$710 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$1.902 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
$2.539 billion (2008)
Exports - commodities:
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal
Exports - partners:
China 78.52%, Canada 9.46%, Russia 3.02% (2009)
Imports:
$2.131 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
$3.224 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial
consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:
China 35.99%, Russia 31.56%, South Korea 7.08%, Japan 4.8% (2009)
Debt - external:
$1.86 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.6 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,442.8 (2009), 1,267.51
(2008), 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006)
Communications ::Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:
188,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.249 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been
installed that is improving broadband and communication services
between major urban centers with multiple companies providing
inter-city fiber-optic cable services
domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple
mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7
Broadcast media:
following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV
provider converted to a public service provider; also available are
private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel
satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations,
including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster;
transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
(2008)
Internet country code:
.mn
Internet hosts:
7,942 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 134
Internet users:
330,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
Transportation ::Mongolia
Airports: