Mongolia has a population of about three million, but it is the most sparsly populated country on the planet. Mongolian people are actually slightly outnumbered by horses. Less than half of Mongolian people live in their true homeland. Both China and Russia have large Mongol populations and thousands of Mongolians have emigrated around the world. Mongolia, or Outer Mongolia, is still the real Mongol homeland.
Despite Mongolia's extremely vast size, 43 percent of the population lives in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. Ulaanbaatar is much like a normal urban city, with traffic jams, pollution, and pedestrians. Many Mongolians that live in the capital work from 9 until 5 in shops or offices. Others work in restaurants and hospitals. Some Mongolians are teachers, artists, singers, or actors. About 5 to 10 percent of Mongolia's population lives in cities other than Ulaanbaatar. The other half of the population lives in the steppes or Gobi.
A million and a half nomads live on Mongolia's steppes. They herd multiple types of animals such as sheep, goats, yaks, horses, and two-humped camels. The nomads literally live off their herds. They even make their own alcohol from fermented mares' milk. Most nomads live in a circular felt tent called a ger. Amazingly, gers are held together without a single nail and stand as monuments to a nomad's genius and self sufficient way of life. Nomads also live and breathe hospitality.
Despite Mongolia's extremely vast size, 43 percent of the population lives in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. Ulaanbaatar is much like a normal urban city, with traffic jams, pollution, and pedestrians. Many Mongolians that live in the capital work from 9 until 5 in shops or offices. Others work in restaurants and hospitals. Some Mongolians are teachers, artists, singers, or actors. About 5 to 10 percent of Mongolia's population lives in cities other than Ulaanbaatar. The other half of the population lives in the steppes or Gobi.
A million and a half nomads live on Mongolia's steppes. They herd multiple types of animals such as sheep, goats, yaks, horses, and two-humped camels. The nomads literally live off their herds. They even make their own alcohol from fermented mares' milk. Most nomads live in a circular felt tent called a ger. Amazingly, gers are held together without a single nail and stand as monuments to a nomad's genius and self sufficient way of life. Nomads also live and breathe hospitality.