Vi er i Mongolia

Mongolian society has undergone rapid social, economic and political changes in recent decades. Poverty and unemployment were widespread during the first decades after the fall of the Soviet Union. However, the economy began to recover, growing by an average of nine per cent between 2004 and 2008. Gross domestic product rose by 7.8 per cent in 2014. The unemployment rate stands at around eight per cent (2014 est.). At present, approximately 50 per cent of the population works in the services; industry accounts for around 21 per cent and agriculture for about 29 per cent. Some analysts believe that the country could be transformed into one of the world's fastest growing economies if its rich natural resources were exploited.

In spite of recent improvement in living conditions, the level of poverty has remained persistently high over the past two decades; around 30 per cent of people live under the nationally-defined poverty line. People in rural areas face many disadvantages: the poverty rate has increased in recent years. In addition, the economic uncertainties and the lack of opportunities have forced families to migrate to cities in search of work. Approximately 72 per cent of the population lives in urban areas, but the number is increasing rapidly.

There are around 862,000 children under the age of 18 living in Mongolia. Over the past decades, the government has increasingly promoted and protected the rights of children by ratifying international treaties and implementing national legislation. The lives of children have improved in many ways, for example, infant and child mortality has decreased. However, they have also been affected by the on-going challenges posed by the political, economic and social changes. The high poverty rate and the social and geographic inequalities have hindered progress towards improving the lives of children.

Young boy during class (photo: C. Martinelli)