Landlocked between the Russian Federation and China, Mongolia is the fifth largest country in Asia with a total area of 1565 million square kilometres (km2).  In 2002, the population of Mongolia was 2.5 million, with 57.4% classified as urban and 42.6% as rural.

As reported in Mongolia’s Human Development Report 2003, the birth rate has declined by nearly 52% over 10 years as a result of a 40% drop in the marriage rate, greater use of contraceptives, legalization of abortions, delayed marriage, and a longer interval between births.  In 2002 the population growth rate was 12.7 per 1000 population.  Life expectancy at birth was 63.5 (60.8 years for males and 66.5 years for females) in 2002.  Adult literacy rate is 97.8% and the GDP per capita was US$ 447 in 2002.  Mongolia is included in a group of countries with mid-level human development and average life expectancy.

The main pillar of the economy continues to be the agriculture sector, including livestock, which provided 20.7% of GDP in 2002. The other main sectors in 2002 were trade and services (27.6%), transport and communication (14.0%), manufacturing (9.5%) and mining (8.6%).

Mongolia has a severe continental climate with freezing conditions throughout the long winter and a short summer with limited rainfall.  Large numbers of people continue to migrate to urban centres after having lost all or most of their animals during hard winters.  Others are looking for employment, better education or better services.  The 2003 Human Development Report highlights high levels of spatial inequality in access to essential services, including health services.   Access to water and sanitation is a challenge for many in non-urban settings.

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