Mongolia: Urban Sector Fact Sheet

In 1950, only 20% of Mongolians were living in urban areas. Since then, Mongolia has experienced rapid rural–urban migration, especially after its transition from a centrally planned to a market-based economy in 1991. Today, the urban population represents 70% of the country’s 3.3 million population, while the average urbanization ratio in Asia is 50%. Ulaanbaatar accounts for 63% of gross domestic product, about half of the country’s population, and 70% of the urban population.

Since 1997, ADB has worked with the Government of Mongolia in finding and financing solutions to enable municipal governments to expand and improve urban services, and to develop cities as a catalyst of growth to support green urban–rural linkages, economic diversification and employment generation, and afforable housing. ADB has provided financial and technical support through grants, loans, and technical assistance amounting to a combined $423 million.