Country explorer: Mongolia

Mongolia has experienced robust economic growth, evidenced by significant improvements in GDP per capita, while grappling with fluctuating unemployment rates and consumer price inflation, illustrating a dynamic yet challenging economic landscape similar to its regional peers in Central and Eastern Asia.

Mongolia has undergone significant demographic transformations, marked by a steady population growth, a reversal from net migration loss to gain, a notable rise in fertility rates from below-replacement to above-replacement levels, and a consistent increase in life expectancy, suggesting improvements in healthcare and living conditions, which aligns with trends observed in several developing countries but showcases Mongolia's unique rapid demographic and social transition.

Mongolia has witnessed significant improvements in basic needs, with remarkable progress in access to electricity and safely managed drinking water, although its improvements in access to clean cooking fuels and safely managed sanitation facilities lag behind, reflecting a distinct blend of advancement and ongoing challenges compared to its peers.

Mongolia has shown consistent improvements in human development indicators, including a notable increase in the Human Development Index, a significant reduction in child mortality rates, substantial growth in literacy rates, and an improvement in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, highlighting its steady advancement in health, education, and living standards, which mirrors the progress seen in some of its regional peers.

Mongolia has exhibited pronounced fluctuations in CO₂ emissions and a significant increase in renewable electricity production, notably from wind and solar, amid ongoing challenges with water scarcity and gradual forest area decrease, reflecting a complex environmental transition towards sustainability in the face of pressing climatic and resource management issues.

Mongolia has demonstrated significant growth in digital connectivity and mobile subscriptions, marked by an overarching increase in internet usage from less than 10% to over 80% of the population, and a surge in mobile phone subscriptions, reflecting a broader trend of rapid technological adoption and integration into global information networks, akin to developments seen in other transitioning economies.

Mongolia has experienced a significant transformation in its culture and society, characterized by a very low foreign-born population, a gradual improvement in self-reported life satisfaction, progressive reductions in gender inequality, and an increasing age dependency ratio, reflecting trends similar to those of middle-income countries but with distinct national characteristics.

Mongolia has shown remarkable improvements in governance, evidenced by notable advances in the rule of law, reductions in corruption perceptions, enhancements in political civil liberties, and significant progress in press freedom, distinguishing it as a country with a relatively strong commitment to democratic principles and transparency when compared to its regional peers.