Mongolia

Mongolia (/mɒnˈɡoʊliə/ (listen), Mongolian: Монгол Улс Mongol Uls, Traditional Mongolian: [a] Mongγol ulus) is a landlocked country in East Asia. Its area is roughly equivalent with the historical territory of Outer Mongolia, which is sometimes used to refer to the current state. It is situated between Russia to the north and China to the south, where it neighbours the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, although only 37 kilometres (23 miles) separate them.

Mongolia's area is 1,564,116 square kilometres (603,909 square miles), and with a population of just 3.3 million, makes it the 18th-largest sovereign state and the most sparsely populated.[8][15] It is the world's second-largest landlocked country, behind Kazakhstan, and the largest landlocked country that does not border a closed sea. Mongolia contains very little arable land, as much of its area is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to about 45% of the country's population.[16] It is also ranked the coldest capital city alongside Moscow, Ottawa, and Nur-Sultan.[17][18][19]

Approximately 30% of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic; horse culture remains integral. Buddhism is the majority religion, with the nonreligious being the second-largest group. Islam is the second-largest religion, concentrated among ethnic Kazakhs. Most citizens are ethnic Mongols, with roughly 4% of the population being Kazakhs, Tuvans, and other minorities, who are especially concentrated in the west.

CallSign: JV0YU
DXCC entry: Mongolia (JT)
QTH: Bayan-Ölgii Province
ITU zone: 32
CQ zone: 23
GRID square: NN48BS
WWFF: JTFF-0001