Mongolia
Known as Outer Mongolia before 1911, Mongolia is struggling to re-establish its identity. Now independent from Russia and China, the country still faces fearsome odds.
Population: 2.83 million; Density: 1.8 per sq km; 94.9% Khalkh Mongolian; 5% Turkic; 0.1% Other [Chinese, Russian]
There is also a large Mongolian minority in northern China, where Mongolian-Altaic peoples outnumber ethnic Mongolians in Mongolia.
Population growth towards the end of the 20th century was rapid. Today two-thirds of the population is aged under 30.
Mongolia is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. Much of it is rural, but very little is used for arable farming.
Religions: Buddhism/Shamanism 53.7%; Non religious/other 41.6%; Muslim 4%; Christian 0.7%
Buddhism was vigorously suppressed by the Communists, but there has been a resurgence and monasteries have multiplied from one to over 100 since 1990.
Marxist ideology has been renounced and the constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
Mongolia country profile.pdf
