Mongolia: environment

How bad is air pollution in Mongolia?

Average annual PM2.5 concentrations at monitoring stations in Ulaanbaatar ranged from 0.02 to 0.05 mg/m3 in 2025, according to the NSO air pollutants table, based on Ministry of Environment and Climate Change data. The highest reading in the table was 0.08 mg/m3, at Darkhan-01. The World Bank puts mean annual exposure to PM2.5 in Mongolia at 42.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023, according to its PM2.5 series.

0.02 mg/m3 equals 20 micrograms per cubic metre. Monthly readings by station are in separate NSO tables.

Official sources: NSO: Average annual concentrations of air pollutants, by station · World Bank: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, Mongolia

What are Mongolia's greenhouse gas emissions?

Mongolia emitted 104.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, excluding land use and forestry, up from 93.7 million tonnes in 2023, according to World Bank Open Data. CO2 emissions per person were 7.8 tonnes in 2024, according to the per capita series.

The total covers the six Kyoto Protocol gases from energy, industry, waste and agriculture. The World Bank takes the figures from the EDGAR database of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

Official sources: World Bank: Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF, Mongolia · World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita excluding LULUCF, Mongolia

How much of Mongolia's energy is renewable?

Renewable energy made up 3.0% of Mongolia's total final energy consumption in 2021, according to World Bank Open Data, up from 2.9% in 2020.

The share counts all renewable sources in final energy use, including heat and fuels as well as electricity. It is a share of all energy consumed, not of electricity generated. The World Bank takes the figure from International Energy Agency energy statistics, and 2021 is the latest year it publishes for Mongolia.

Official sources: World Bank: Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption), Mongolia

What is Mongolia's carbon footprint per person?

In 2024, carbon dioxide emissions per person in Mongolia was 7.8 tonnes, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. That is the highest since at least 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.1 tonnes; Mongolia is 8th highest of 30. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 24th highest.

What are Mongolia's emissions?

104 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent: that is total greenhouse gas emissions in Mongolia for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 11th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 45.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. World rank, highest first: 50th of 186.

How much of Mongolia's energy is renewable?

The IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO puts the renewable share of final energy use in Mongolia at 3.0% in 2021. The peak was 5.3% in 2005 and the low 1.8% in 2017. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 14.9%, and Mongolia placed 24th highest of 30. Of 191 countries with 2021 data, 165th highest.

What is Mongolia's forest cover?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2024, is 9.1%. No year since 2005 has been lower. East Asia & Pacific median: 53.6%; Mongolia is 28th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 156th of 190.

How polluted is the air in Mongolia?

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Mongolia was 42.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 27.0 micrograms per cubic metre (2005) to 48.7 micrograms per cubic metre (2021). It is 1st highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 11.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 19th highest.

What share of Mongolia is protected land?

According to the UN Environment Programme, the share of land in protected areas in Mongolia was 19.8% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2013. East Asia & Pacific median: 15.8%; Mongolia is 9th highest of 30. Of 192 countries with 2025 data, 85th highest.

What is water stress in Mongolia?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2022, is 3.4%. The peak was 4.0% in 2009 and the low 3.2% in 2015. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 13.1%, and Mongolia placed 17th highest of 20. Worldwide: 136th of 175.