Tag Archive for: Poverty in Mongolia

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Poverty Reduction in Mongolia Through Social Protection Programs

Poverty Reduction in MongoliaMongolia has made significant progress in reducing poverty and inequality through its social protection programs. In 2022, the country’s tax and social assistance system reduced the national poverty rate by 1.8 percentage points and lowered income inequality by nine Gini points.

However, challenges remain, with 27.8% of the population living below the poverty line. The government continues to implement policies to support vulnerable households and improve financial security.

The Child Money Program

One of Mongolia’s most impactful social assistance programs is the Child Money Program (CMP), which provides financial support to households with children. Under the program, children receive a monthly payment of MNT 100,000 (approximately $30), deposited into an account registered in their name.

The benefit helps families cover everyday expenses and provides additional financial support for children’s needs. Today, the CMP remains one of Mongolia’s most significant social protection measures. According to a 2025 World Bank Commitment to Equity assessment, direct transfers reduce Mongolia’s poverty rate by 14.1 percentage points, with the CMP accounting for more than half of that impact, highlighting its important role in supporting vulnerable households.

The Food Support Program

Another important part of Mongolia’s social protection system is the Food Support Program (FSP), which assists low-income households. The program is particularly effective at reaching the country’s poorest populations. Although the FSP operates on a smaller scale and provides more limited benefits than some other social assistance programs, it plays an important role in ensuring support reaches those most in need.

In 2020, food stamps benefited 240,500 Mongolians, including more than 118,000 children. Women and girls made up 53% of recipients.

After revisions in 2025, the program more specifically targets those with the most urgent needs, and monthly support for low-income households, especially those with children, has increased. By targeting vulnerable households, the program helps strengthen financial security and the country’s overall efforts for poverty reduction in Mongolia.

Current Poverty Reduction Efforts

In March 2026, Mongolia launched the National Initiative to Support Household Employment and Reduce Poverty, a program designed to help low-income households achieve financial stability by addressing issues such as limited access to education, low labor force participation and poor health and living conditions. This will be done through microloans, support for agricultural production, new contributors to social insurance and other targeted services. The government is working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to reach 5,000 low-income households in 2026.

By increasing employment opportunities and providing targeted assistance to vulnerable populations, the initiative seeks to improve household incomes and independence. These efforts reflect Mongolia’s commitment to strengthening financial security and reducing poverty across the country.

Looking Ahead

While poverty remains a challenge, Mongolia’s social protection programs continue to provide essential support to vulnerable households. Through initiatives that strengthen financial security and opportunity, these efforts are helping to advance poverty reduction in Mongolia and build greater economic resilience for families across the country

– Michelle Kurniali

Michelle is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Notable USAID Programs in Mongolia

USAID Programs in MongoliaEven with its significant economic growth in recent decades, poverty remains a serious issue in Mongolia. According to the Asian Development Bank, 27.1% of the population—about 900,000 people—lived below the poverty line in 2022. The World Bank reports that while Mongolia’s economy grew by 6.9% in 2025, inflation also increased from 6.8% in 2024 to 8.6% in 2025. Higher food and energy costs have made everyday essentials more expensive, while global trade disruptions and the Third Gulf War could further slow economic growth.

The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) recent launch of the five-year Mongolia Strategic Framework in 2023 aims to facilitate the country’s economic growth. As stated in a GoGo Mongolia article, the framework’s primary goals are to improve how democracy functions in Mongolia, strengthen its independence and expand its economy—goals that directly address the root causes of poverty in the country. Here are three specific USAID programs in Mongolia operating under this framework:

1. BEST

One of the key USAID programs in Mongolia is called the Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) Program. USAID created this program in 2019 to help the country’s smaller businesses grow. The BEST program received $15 million in USAID funding to teach business owners how to handle their money, market their products and fill out loan paperwork. USAID especially wanted to reach two groups: businesswomen and business owners living in Mongolia’s countryside.

By December 2024, a news release from the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia stated that 5,397 small businesses acquired loans totaling $100.4 million through the program. These loans helped create more than 4,000 jobs. Women-led businesses received more than half of all loan funding, benefiting 3,005 female entrepreneurs. Another $500,000 went to 176 rural businesses, helping them buy new equipment and hire more workers.

By helping small businesses access financing and expand operations, the BEST program creates income opportunities for Mongolians. Its focus on women-led enterprises and rural businesses is particularly important because these groups often face greater barriers to economic opportunity and financial services. The creation of more than 4,000 jobs demonstrates how the program can help impoverished families improve their financial stability.

2. MEG

Another of the USAID programs in Mongolia focuses on the country’s struggling energy sector. Mongolia relies heavily on old coal plants that cannot keep up with demand, forcing the government to buy power from Russia and China. Though the nation has plenty of sun and wind for clean energy, the coal industry has blocked progress. This has contributed to the rising air pollution in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. In 2022, USAID launched the Mongolia Energy Governance (MEG) activity in collaboration with Abt Global to fix these issues.

The program works with the government and energy companies to make the power sector more secure by encouraging private investment, developing contingency plans and adopting clean energy technology. So far, MEG has shown real results. The Abt Global 2024 report says 1,727 people have received direct help from the program, 40% being women. With MEG’s help, Mongolia strives to make all of its own electricity by 2030 and sell clean power to neighboring countries by 2040.

Reliable and affordable electricity is integral to poverty reduction. When power shortages occur, households and businesses face higher costs and fewer economic opportunities. By advocating for cleaner, more reliable energy sources, the MEG activity strengthens access to dependable electricity, minimizing disruptions to the economy and reducing pollution that disproportionately affects lower-income communities.

3. CRC

A third USAID program in Mongolia is the Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) project, which helped Mongolians prepare for climate-related disasters through improved disaster planning and climate-smart agriculture. Funded by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, the project operated in Ulaanbaatar and the provinces of Dornod, Dundgobi, Dornogobi, Gobi-Altai and Uvs before ending early in March 2025 due to a U.S. government Stop Work Order.

Despite the early shutdown, the project directly benefited 65,666 people and supported 29 community-led disaster preparedness projects involving 4,217 participants, according to World Vision Mongolia. The project also helped herders grow their own animal feed through soil-free planting methods. Four herder groups received training and $201,576 in equipment, harvesting more than 40 tons of livestock feed that helped animals survive harsh winter conditions.

Climate disasters can push vulnerable families deeper into poverty by killing livestock and reducing agricultural production. Because many rural Mongolians depend on herding and farming for income, improving disaster preparedness can help protect households from economic setbacks. The CRC project preserved an important source of income and food for rural families, ensuring that they won’t be susceptible to poverty-causing weather conditions.

Why It Matters

These three programs demonstrate the benefit of a long-term effort like the Mongolia Strategic Framework. For Mongolia, a country facing challenges in jobs, energy and climate, this support makes a real difference. That is why USAID programs in Mongolia matter. They help the country build a more resilient future that can benefit the U.S., opening new markets for American products and maintaining a stronger standing for democracy in Asia. With continued funding, Mongolia can thrive.

– Melody Ruiz

Melody Ruiz is based in the Bronx, NY and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Environmental Risks to Children’s Health in Central Asia

Industrial smokestacks emitting pollution under cloudy skies, highlighting environmental risks to children's health.Every year, billions of children suffer from illnesses related to environmental risks. Ambient air pollution and mercury poisoning are linked to a shocking 1.7 million child deaths under the age of 5 each year. Reducing environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asian countries, like Mongolia, through changing energy usage practices and reducing child exposure to mercury and other toxic materials would prevent an estimated one in five child deaths annually.

Household Air Pollution (HAP)

An annual 2.9 million deaths are attributed to HAP worldwide. Some common conditions include ischaemic heart disease, stroke and lower respiratory infections, which cause a total of 76% of HAP-related deaths per year. In Mongolia, where coal is the predominant energy source for those living in poverty, indoor and outdoor air pollution cause 132 out of every 100,000 people to die prematurely each year.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia. With 60% of the city’s population living in ger districts and many living in traditional felt tents, known as “gers” and small houses, a large number of children are exposed to extreme levels of HAP every day.

The country’s harsh climate, which can cause temperatures to plummet to as low as -20°C, forces Mongolians to heavily rely upon coal to survive, with three to six tons being burned annually in order to cook and provide warmth to their homes.

A study by Zaiyou Dai and colleagues in 2025 investigated the effects of HAP on the health of 1,279 infants by monitoring their health at 7, 13 and 36 months. They found the following results:

  • A positive correlation between the HAP score and the hazard ratio for pneumonia, which increased by 2% for every HAP score increase.
  • A positive correlation between HAP score and height for age (HAZ) score, which decreased as exposure to HAP increased.

The incomplete combustion caused by burning other materials, such as wood and charcoal, can also result in the emission of toxic gases like carbon monoxide. As one of the biggest environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asia, it is critical that energy production shift permanently away from burning these fossil fuels.

Mercury Poisoning

Mercury can be extremely harmful if consumed or inhaled. Central Asia has some of the most mercury-contaminated countries on the planet. For example, China contributes more than 600 tons of Hg to global emissions.

Toxic to humans, most people who experience mercury poisoning have come into contact with the chemical element by eating contaminated fish or inhaling vapors during industrial processing. Exposure can cause difficulties in child development both in utero and early life, as well as the following issues:

  • Toxic and damaged kidneys
  • Dysfunctional motor and cognitive skills
  • Impaired neuromuscular functions.

Due to fish being a key food source for lower-income families, children all over the world are put at risk of mercury poisoning. A study by Zhen-Yan Gao and colleagues in 2015 found that more than 14,000 Chinese children aged 0 to 6 years old had higher mercury levels than normal, with concentrations rising significantly if their diets included the frequent consumption of fish. These levels are an extreme cause for concern.

Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet rays, which individuals are vulnerable to during any exposure to sunlight, can be a useful source of much-needed vitamin D, but they can also have some disastrous and harmful effects. Because they are immunosuppressive, UV-B rays can cause skin damage and autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Sufferers of lupus, otherwise known as systemic lupus erythematosus, often experience:

  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Rashes caused by sun exposure
  • Weight and hair loss.

A long-term condition, lupus is life-changing and, while rare, about 15-20% of lupus patients are diagnosed as children. As the ozone layer slowly thins due to the changing climate, it is more critical than ever to protect children’s skin and their health from ultraviolet radiation.

While new environmental issues arise every day, it is also important to acknowledge the progress being made toward protecting children’s health. People from hundreds of nations are collaborating to find solutions to the many environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asia.

UNICEF and Its Fight Against Air Pollution

In 2021, UNICEF launched a program called UniSat, which was designed to help protect children’s health in Central Asia by educating youths. Girls from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan were taught how to use nanosatellites and other technology that can be used to monitor air, so the future generation can make life-saving, progressive changes that will reduce air pollution in their country and consequently protect thousands of children’s health.

The staggering loss of 1.7 million lives each year emphasizes the significance of the environment and its impact on health, a harsh reality now catalyzing countless life-changing, innovative programs and policies, such as UniSat and the Minamata Convention. With the ever-changing climate and a surge in pollution worldwide, it is now more important than ever to rethink energy usage and direct attention toward achieving a safe environment where children can thrive, not just survive.

– Ruby Fraser

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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ADRA Mongolia: Protecting Vulnerable Communities

Justice, Compassion, Love: The success of ADRA Mongolia in protecting vulnerable communitiesThe Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was established in 1983 as the humanitarian branch of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1994, ADRA became the first NGO to open a branch in Mongolia following the nation’s regime change. During this period of civil unrest, the charity focused on providing basic necessities. However, as the country stabilized, the charity’s mission expanded. This makes it important to understand the success of ADRA Mongolia in protecting vulnerable communities, as the NGO provides a model of proactive survival techniques and long-term community development.

The Mission

For 32 years, ADRA Mongolia’s mission has been to support Mongolia’s most vulnerable communities, particularly rural nomadic populations living in ecologically dangerous regions. To better support Mongolia’s poorest communities and their varied needs, the charity divided its mission into five categories: health, livelihood, agriculture, emergency and outreach.

Protecting Vulnerable Communities

  • Health Programs. ADRA states that “health is at the heart of so much of the world’s poverty and suffering.” For this reason, ADRA Mongolia spends significant resources connecting rural families with physicians and medical facilities. Health concerns in the region also prompted the NGO to provide citizens with practical health information. This approach appears in ADRA Mongolia’s recent health project, “Next Gen Celebrations,” which focuses on teaching children ages 12-15 about noncommunicable diseases and prevention strategies.
  • Livelihood Support. ADRA Mongolia also supports the livelihoods of households across Mongolia, some of which survive on as little as $1.90 a day. Financial insecurity remains a significant challenge in Mongolia, where women have only recently gained formal rights and many still struggle to engage with financial systems. By 2021, ADRA Mongolia had supported 3,636 households, helping prevent them from falling below the extreme poverty line. The NGO also runs sustainable livelihood programs that teach rural farmers and herders improved techniques to increase long-term economic stability.
  • Agricultural Programs. Although agriculture forms part of its livelihood programs, ADRA Mongolia treats agriculture as a separate focus because of the region’s harsh ecological conditions. In the Mongolian province of Bayan-Ölgii, winters can reach −50°C, rainfall is scarce and weather conditions can change rapidly. Despite these challenges, ADRA Mongolia runs the CANSAP program in the region, teaching farmers how to extend the growing season and protect crops from failure.
  • Emergency Response. Mongolia faces severe emergency conditions known as the “dzud phenomenon,” during which shifting and dangerous weather places up to 90% of the population and livelihoods at risk. ADRA Mongolia identifies the dzud crisis as one of its central priorities, as Mongolia lost 5,900,000 livestock to the phenomenon in 2024 alone. To deliver emergency relief, ADRA Mongolia launched the “Dzud Emergency Response,” which provided support to 167 of the most severely affected households.
  • Outreach Programs. The final focus category for the charity is outreach, which remains important in Mongolia, where 50% of the population lives in the capital, while the remainder lives across the vast steppes. Outreach work for the NGO includes identifying vulnerable communities and individuals and providing them with a space to voice their needs. To support this effort, ADRA Mongolia established the “ChEMP” program, which equips local churches with disaster management training and regular meetings. These centers serve as community anchor points where people can seek support.

Looking Ahead

ADRA Mongolia differs from many religious charities because it serves people regardless of background or religion. The success of ADRA Mongolia in protecting vulnerable communities demonstrates the impact of multi-layered approaches to poverty reduction and disaster preparedness, supporting thousands of households facing economic and environmental challenges.

– Eli Thomson

Eli is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Good News, Technology and Solutions, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Development in Mongolia

Digital Development in MongoliaMost of Mongolia’s population resides in the country’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, which serves as a large urban area; the Asian country can be categorized into two different areas: urban and rural. In fact, one of the things Mongolia is most known for is its population of grazing livestock, due to the fact that about three-fourths of the country is made up of pastureland. As of 2025, the country has over 3.5 million citizens, spanning over three topographical zones.

Background

As late as 2018, 90% of the population in Mongolia had access to the internet, along with widespread 3G and 4G. In fact, in the last 10 years, the use of technology, particularly among younger citizens, has only increased. This statistic includes Mongolia’s more nomadic communities, who are a part of more rural, isolated areas, where civilians may not get the same speedy internet connection as soon as the more urban communities have.

While it is evident that Mongolia is not as technologically advanced as other countries are in this day and age, such as China or the U.S., the country is working to change that, especially when it comes to its more remote communities.

e-Mongolia

Teamed up with the e-Mongolia Initiative, a platform in Mongolia that works to deliver public services to every single area of the East-Asian country, the Government’s Digital Nation Strategy is working to increase the overall digital literacy in Mongolia. As the e-Mongolia Initiative works to serve the most remote and nomadic areas of the country, the Mongolian government plans to help increase digital literacy within those specific communities.

In addition to the government’s plans with the country-wide internet services, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), with UNDP and UNICEF are all partnering with the government for this project. With this collaboration, the UNDP, RCO, and UNICEF are hoping to help the specific areas of DarkhanUul, Khentii, Dornod, and Ulaanbattar in expanding their digital literacy.

Digital Literacy

While the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) never states that Mongolia needs more digital literacy, it points out the positives that come with a more technologically advanced society.

The Head of the Government E-Services Department in the Darkhan-Uul Province, Soyolmma Namkhajav, stated, “We are happy to collaborate on this project to deliver faster and more accessible online public services to citizens.”

These partnerships work to improve digital literacy within the country, in order to improve the public online services that are already available throughout the country, particularly in nomadic areas. In addition to improving already available services, the government hopes to improve education with technology.

The UNSDG held information training session for 60 teachers across thirty schools in Mongolia for a year in 2024. Citing one of the teachers who participated in the session, in addition to helping schools integrate technology into their students’ learning, education leaders are learning how to teach their students how to be safe when browsing the internet.  In addition to serving schools, the government is hoping to make training and other valuable resources more accessible online for public servants and local communities.

The Future

Recently, the RCO has been mobilizing resources with the United Nations to help support the digital future in Mongolia, including the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications of Mongolia, which is persistent in making sure that this program that focuses on national priorities and government ownership. Relevant governmental ministries are hoping to train at least 3,000 citizens, 1,500 women in particular, apart of three different regions, including Uaanbattar, to learn these important digital skills.

– Megan Akers

Megan is based inFredericktown, OH, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Organizations Assisting Mongolia After the Catastrophic Dzud

DzudKnown locally as the ‘white death’, a dzud is an extreme weather event that occurs in Mongolia when a harsh winter follows a summer drought. Temperatures can plummet to below -30 degrees and heavy snowfall blankets the country. Traditionally occurring every few years, climate change has impacted the frequency of this catastrophic weather event, causing some regions to experience it annually. The consequences can be particularly devastating for rural populations who rely on livestock for food and income.

The Impact of Dzud

The winter of 2022-2023 was particularly brutal. Mongolia saw 90% of its territory covered in a thick layer of snow, making it the heaviest snowfall the country had seen in 49 years. Millions of livestock died from the extreme cold, but many also died of malnutrition as only a minimal amount of food had been cultivated over the summer months due to the droughts the country faced. Unfortunately, it is the country’s herding population that suffers the hardest impact. The death of livestock often means a loss of livelihood for many, as it is through selling their produce that many families make a living.

The heavy snow also makes it difficult to get to markets during the winter and the reduction in food supply drives up market prices, making many at risk of suffering from malnutrition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5.9 million people died in 2023 as a result of the dzud and 9% of the country’s total herd was lost.

When the snow eventually melts, the remaining water leads to widespread flooding across the country. These floods cause further destruction, damaging infrastructure and grazing land, while also increasing the risk of food and waterborne diseases, particularly in poorer regions with simple sanitation systems. The dzud is therefore not only a natural disaster but also a social and economic crisis.

Ongoing Intervention Efforts

Many aid organizations and government officials have been assisting the country. The WHO and World Bank have collaborated with the Mongolian Ministry of Health to ensure those in rural areas receive the help they need. Frontline health workers with medical supplies and the capacity to offer psychological support to those affected have been offering aid in the 21 affected provinces.

The World Bank has also been working alongside the meteorological and environmental monitoring agency to compile a comprehensive disaster risk financing strategy. Weather data gathered is used to trigger the release of funding ahead of catastrophic weather events, ensuring herding families are protected with financial assistance before the dzud even begins.

One year after the 2024 dzud, the Mongolian Red Cross Society has been particularly helpful. It has continued to help herder households get back on their feet, delivering critical humanitarian assistance where needed and offering services such as psychological support to the families who suffered the hardest hit.

Looking Ahead

The dzud remains one of Mongolia’s most pressing climate challenges, threatening both livelihoods and long-term stability. Yet the efforts of organizations like the WHO, World Bank and Mongolian Red Cross Society show that early intervention, social protection programs and community support can make a difference.

– Niamh Trinder

Niamh is based in Leicester, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Lamp Of The Path: Fighting Hunger in Mongolia

hunger in mongoliaHome to around 3.5 million people, Mongolia adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda in 2015. In 2021, the U.N. reported that the Mongolian Government was “stepping up its efforts to achieve food security”. Since then, fighting hunger in Mongolia has gained momentum thanks to government initiatives and grassroots organizations collaborating.

Hunger and Poverty in Mongolia

Malnutrition continues to affect many Mongolians, particularly children. In 2017, 27% of children under 5 were anemic, 21% had iron deficiencies, 70% lacked sufficient vitamin A levels and 90% experienced inadequate vitamin D levels. Household food insecurity affected 65% of households in 2018, with 23% experiencing severe food insecurity. By 2022, one in four Mongolians still experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. In 2023, approximately 213,000 people endured limited food, largely due to dzuds (extreme winter weather) killing livestock, consequently causing significant challenges with food production.

Poverty compounds these challenges.Mongolia’s national poverty rate was 28.4% in 2018, but only 0.5% of citizens lived below the international poverty line. In 2021, 22% of the Mongolian population did not have access to sufficient dietary energy daily, making it challenging to live normal, active lifestyles. As the U.N. emphasized, food insecurity is largely due to economic struggles rather than physical and social access.

Lamp Of The Path

Established in 2003, Lamp of the Path (LOP) is the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition’s (FPMT) social project. The name in itself represents the light of the Buddhist teachings, guiding people on their way to the higher goal of all Mahayana Buddhists – the state of enlightenment. LOP aims to follow in the footsteps of historic Buddha Shakyamuni, who found enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in India, later finding a medicine to cease all types of suffering.

Running for 22 years, LOP has supported some of the most vulnerable people in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. Different food projects are run, providing both immediate food relief and sustainable nutrition, successfully fighting hunger in Mongolia. The project also provides clothing, health checks at home or in their clinic, along with toothbrushes and other essentials – helping in the fight against homelessness and poverty too.

LOP Projects

LOP opened its first project, the Soup Kitchen, in August 2003. In 2019, the kitchen served 14,793 bowls of soup to between 50 and 70 people each day. During winter, volunteers increase output to 60 liters of soup being served between 11 am and 1:30 pm. For many visitors, this remains their only guaranteed hot meal of the day, an essential step in fighting hunger in Mongolia.

In 2022, LOP expanded its reach with the Mobile Kitchen Project. After identifying extreme poverty in nearby areas, volunteers began delivering 20 hot meals to elderly and disabled people, along with fresh fruit and vegetables from the gardens. This often extends to those who simply cannot visit the Soup Kitchen, ensuring inclusivity in fighting hunger in Mongolia.

In the past decade, LOP launched a Vegetable Garden Project that produces fresh vegetables and fruit for both their Soup Kitchen and Mobile Kitchen. The Vegetable Garden supplements meals for vulnerable families and reduces reliance on imported produce. Because of dzuds, LOP grows their fruit and vegetables in summer, focusing on crops that can be preserved for the winter. This Project is a crucial step in fighting hunger in Mongolia year-round.

Conclusion

Lamp Of The Path demonstrates how grassroots organizations can provide both emergency relief and long-term solutions. Through its Soup Kitchen, Mobile Kitchen and Vegetable Garden Projects, LOP directly supports vulnerable communities while reducing poverty and malnutrition. By combining compassion with practical action, the organization continues to play a vital role in fighting hunger in Mongolia and building resilience for the future.

– Rebecca Lamb-Busby

Rebecca is based in Hull, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About HIV/AIDS in Mongolia

HIVAIDS in MongoliaMongolia is a vast country in East Asia, bordered by China and Russia, with a population of about 3.5 million people, nearly half of whom live in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. Once part of the Mongol Empire and later a Soviet satellite, Mongolia has undergone a rapid political and economic transformation since the 1990s. Today, it is a democratic state with a growing, resource-based economy. However, the country still faces infrastructure gaps, urban-rural inequality and a fragile health system stretched across immense distances.

In the context of public health, Mongolia has been largely spared from large-scale epidemics. HIV prevalence remains low, but that does not mean the risk is absent. For a nation often overlooked in global health discussions, Mongolia’s quiet battle against HIV is a story of early success—and urgent, unfinished business. Here is information about HIV/AIDS in Mongolia and efforts to combat it.

The Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mongolia

Mongolia has maintained a low overall HIV prevalence, estimated at around 600 people living with HIV in 2023. Men account for a significantly larger proportion of cases than women. While the numbers remain low compared to other countries, the number of cases has been slowly increasing over time. This highlights the need for sustained prevention efforts and real awareness campaigns.

The country reports fewer than 100 AIDS-related deaths annually, a reflection of progress in raising awareness, early detection and improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, treatment coverage remains below international targets; approximately 39% of people living with HIV receive ART, falling short of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals aimed for 2030. Without adequate treatment, the virus risks spreading further, especially among vulnerable populations.

Key Populations Most Affected by HIV/AIDS

Sexual contact is the primary mode of transmission. Certain groups carry a disproportionate burden of HIV infection:

  • Men who have sex with men face stigma and discrimination, which discourages them from seeking timely treatment.
  • Sex workers are at higher risk due to multiple partners and inconsistent condom use, compounded by social barriers to health care.
  • Transgender people experience similar stigma, limiting their access to prevention and treatment services.
  • People who inject drugs face heightened risk due to needle sharing, with limited awareness of safe injection practices in Mongolia.

Poverty and HIV/AIDS in Mongolia

Poverty exacerbates vulnerability to HIV infection and limits access to health care services in Mongolia. Many people living in poverty, particularly in rural and ger (traditional tent) districts around Ulaanbaatar, face barriers such as transportation costs, limited health care infrastructure and social stigma. These challenges reduce access to testing and treatment, increasing the risk of undiagnosed and untreated infections.

Mongolia’s Efforts To Address HIV/AIDS

To address these challenges, Mongolia has implemented several programs focused on vulnerable populations and poverty reduction:

  • Since August 2023, the Payment-for-Results model has incentivized NGOs to increase HIV testing and outreach among key populations, linking funding to performance outcomes.
  • The Undarga microfinance program, piloted since 2010, targets women engaged in sex work, offering financial education and savings services to reduce reliance on risky income sources.
  • Mobile health clinics that have support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners bring HIV testing and health care services to rural and nomadic communities, overcoming geographic and economic barriers.

Looking Ahead

Mongolia has kept HIV prevalence and AIDS-related deaths relatively low, but a slow rise in new cases, especially among impoverished and stigmatized groups, presents ongoing challenges. Addressing poverty’s role in HIV vulnerability and improving health care access through innovative programs and sustained investment will be essential for Mongolia to sustain its progress and meet international targets. With continued commitment, Mongolia can look forward to a healthier future.

–  Julia Skowrońska

Julia is based in Wrocław, Poland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Ambitious Goals and Quick Results: Mongolia’s Vision 2050

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 Vision 2050 is a long-term policy plan that focuses on a country’s growth by setting up milestones and windows of time to devote resources for specific projects. Multiple countries have a Vision 2050 policy, including Papua New Guinea, Lithuania, and India. Specifically, the policy generally involves making more eco-friendly use of resources, creating more ideal uses of social services, and reducing poverty significantly.

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 was first introduced as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. During 2020, Mongolia experienced an economic reduction of 10%, strikingly fast, unlike previous years. The lockdown on homes also revealed the vulnerability of citizens to poverty, with food insecurity, easy job loss, and a decrease in agricultural products. The policy has three phases: phase one from 2021 to 2030, phase two from 2031 to 2040, and finally from 2041 to 2050.

Mongolia’s Poverty Goals for 2050

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 has many objectives for different parts of the culture and government. For poverty specifically, Mongolia plans to reduce national poverty to 15% by 2030 and 5% by 2050. The first phase, 2021-2030, involves bolstering an economic environment that supports entrepreneurship, expanding the job market by moving many financially unstable citizens to the middle class, and providing at least 75% of herders and farmers with decent equipment and technology to support a stable business flow. On top of this, Mongolia plans to resolve any overdue external debt the government owes while maintaining a stable economy.

By resolving external debt, foreign trade and investment are stronger and less risky, which in turn helps create a steady stream of employment for citizens. If the country improves job opportunities, many Mongolian citizens could transition from poverty into the middle class. One of Mongolia’s Vision 2050 goals is to make the middle class a predominant economic group to encourage job creation and innovation.

The second and third phases, 2031-2050, will foster a competitive nature in business to keep cash flows going smoothly and to prompt innovation among citizens to improve the culture and economy. Alongside these goals is to improve credit ratings and increase national savings. In the last phase, 2041-2050, Mongolia hopes to make the middle class a predominant economic group. With many citizens transitioning to the middle class with a lucrative job environment and encouraging entrepreneurship, inflation should drastically decrease, while employment skyrockets. One of the most ambitious goals in this final stage of Mongolia’s Vision 2050 is to create at least one city completely free of poverty.

Strides in Progress

One of the fastest results that Mongolia’s Vision 2050 accomplished was improved air quality in 2020. This problem partly predated the implementation of Vision 2050, where in 2019, Mongolia’s Voluntary National Review raised the question of growing air pollution, and started taking steps to reduce it. However, thanks to the urgency and efforts of Mongolia’s Vision 2050, in 2020, Mongolia cut air pollution down by 40%.

Halfway through phase one, Mongolia’s Vision 2050 has already yielded some promising results for the rest of the policy plan. The creation of the E-Mongolia app is an e-government service that has been designed for public use. Essentially, the app allows citizens to look up vehicles and property for purchase in a given area. The app also allows citizens to look at personal medical records, prescriptions, and accurate data on floods. The app has made strides in making data, accessibility, and communication easier for citizens and political officials in Mongolia. In other words, the app has improved the quality of life through access and clarification while making political dealings faster and easier.

Value chains for livestock have also improved drastically from 2020 to 2025. Animal husbandry has experienced increases in quality, which has driven down price volatility in Mongolia, specifically for products like cashmere, meat and dairy. The economic potential for livestock bolstering is promising, with many more Mongolian politicians showing an interest in the sector in recent years, and continuing to pour resources and effort into the chain to create a stable pillar of economic income.

The Future

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 continues to work towards the ambitious goals of reducing national poverty to 5% and creating a poverty-free city by 2050. With the swift result of decreased air pollution, the growing focus on the farming economy, and the ease and quality of life improvement brought about by the E-Mongolia app, future success looks tangible and bright for Mongolia.

– Russell Bivins

Russell is based in Phoenix, AZ, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Mongolia Recycling Wastewater to Ease Water Crisis

Mongolia Recycles Industrial Wastewater to Ease Water CrisisMongolia, a country in East Asia rich in history and culture, has long viewed water as a precious resource. However, the nation continues to face major water access challenges. According to UNICEF, 30% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water and only 56% of water cleansing facilities are operational, leaving certain districts especially vulnerable. In response to increasing water scarcity, Mongolia is implementing innovative solutions by recycling industrial wastewater from Coca-Cola’s bottling operations. The Mongolian government, MCS Coca-Cola and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have backed the initiative as part of a broader national effort to promote sustainable water practices and reduce pressure on limited groundwater reserves.

A Creative Response to Growing Water Demand

Over the past two decades, Mongolia’s population has increased by 70%, which has driven significantly higher water usage. Much of the country relies on groundwater and around 500 factories discharge 44,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily, which has intensified the challenge of securing safe and sustainable water sources. In response, MCS Coca-Cola treats more than 500 cubic meters of wastewater per day and plans to supply the Amgalan Thermal Power Plant in Ulaanbaatar. The city plans to use the treated water as a cooling resource during the heating season—a cost-effective, climate-friendly alternative to freshwater.

Investments in Infrastructure and Water Security

The wastewater reuse initiative supports Mongolia’s broader effort to build resilient water infrastructure. The government has committed $111.8 million to support sustainable water systems as part of the $462 million Mongolia Water Compact, jointly funded with the United States (U.S.) Millennium Challenge Corporation.

A major component of the compact is the construction of a new Wastewater Recycling Plant, which will treat up to 50,000 cubic meters of effluent daily. The recycled water is expected to reduce freshwater demand by more than 50 million cubic meters annually, benefiting combined heat and power plants and easing stress on urban water sources. In addition, infrastructure upgrades—including pipelines from factories to treatment plants—are in development to ensure efficient transfer and monitoring of treated water. These improvements are designed to uphold high water quality standards while encouraging other industries to adopt similar recycling practices.

The effort also reflects a shift toward climate-adaptive public works, where water reuse systems support both environmental sustainability and future-ready urban infrastructure in rapidly growing areas like Ulaanbaatar.

Toward a More Water-Secure Future

Recycling wastewater from industrial operations like Coca-Cola’s not only addresses immediate shortages but also establishes a precedent for circular water economy models in Mongolia. It removes the need to rely on unsafe alternatives—some of which may contain contaminants such as lead, arsenic or copper—and enhances public health. By reducing dependence on fragile freshwater sources and investing in recycling systems, Mongolia is taking critical steps toward achieving water security for future generations. With the support of the government, private companies and international partners, this initiative could serve as a blueprint for water-stressed countries around the world.

– Anastasia Flerchinger

Anastasia is based in Richland, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash