republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators
Independence date
11 July 1921 (from China)
Religions
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 1,170 (2007), 1,165 (2006), 1,205 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
0
Location
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Area
1,564,116 km sq
322,463 km sq
Coastline
0 km
515 km
Climate
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
