Discover
The identity of the nation
Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries on the planet, a vast territory located between Russia and China, where the landscape alternates between endless steppes, mountains, and the Gobi Desert. For centuries, its people lived as nomadic herders, following herds of horses, sheep, goats, yaks, and camels across the steppe, living in gers (the round felt tents that still symbolize Mongolian identity today). Nearly half the population is now concentrated in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, but many families still live scattered across the countryside, far from roads, churches, and any urban infrastructure.
The predominant faith is Tibetan Buddhism, intertwined for centuries with shamanism, the belief that spirits inhabit the mountains, rivers, and sky. This blend of traditions survived even seventy years of Soviet communism, between 1921 and 1990, when temples were closed and monks persecuted in the name of the state’s official atheism. Centuries earlier, however, some Mongol tribes, among them the one from which one of the mothers of the empire’s great khans came, had already embraced an ancient form of Christianity that came from the Middle East. That memory, however, nearly disappeared over time.
It was only after the fall of communism, in 1990, that the Christian church returned to Mongolia, practically starting from zero. Within a few decades, a handful of believers grew into a small but living evangelical community, concentrated mainly in Ulaanbaatar. Even so, Christians are estimated at little more than 2% of the population, and most Mongolians still see the Christian faith as something foreign, distant from the Buddhist tradition that defines national identity.
Outside the capital, the picture is even more challenging: nomadic herding communities remain isolated, with no contact at all with the gospel, and minorities such as the Muslim Kazakhs in the west remain practically untouched by the Christian message. Life on the steppe, alcoholism, and rapid migration to the cities leave deep marks on Mongolian families, who face the shift from an age old way of life to the reality of urban living.
Even so, there are signs of hope: a new generation of Mongolians has already translated the Scriptures into their own language and taken up leadership of the local church, without depending on outside voices. Mongolia, historically a bridge between Central and East Asia, now carries the potential to become a bridge for the gospel to the peoples of the steppe who do not yet know it.
- 1206 Genghis Khan is proclaimed great khan and founds the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous territory in history.
- 1271 The descendants of Genghis Khan extend Mongol rule into China, founding the Yuan dynasty.
- 1691 Mongolia becomes part of the Manchu Qing empire, losing its independence for more than two centuries.
- 1921 With Soviet support, Mongolia declares independence and forms a revolutionary government.
- 1924 The Mongolian People's Republic is proclaimed, the world's second communist country.
- 1990 A peaceful revolution ends seven decades of communist rule and opens the way to multiparty democracy.
- Today A democratic country seeking to balance its nomadic heritage with urban life and integration into the global economy.
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Mongolian (Khalkha)official, spoken by more than 90% of the population, written in the Cyrillic alphabet
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Kazakhspoken by the Kazakh minority, concentrated in Bayan-Ölgii province in the west of the country
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Classical Mongolianthe ancient vertical script of the Mongol people, now reintroduced in school education
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Russian and Englishthe most widely studied foreign languages, used in business, science, and tourism
Mongolia is a landlocked country wedged between Russia and China, with an immense territory and one of the lowest population densities on the planet. The landscape alternates between endless steppes, where horses, sheep, and camels graze, the Altai Mountains to the west, and the Gobi Desert to the south. Much of the territory is still inhabited by families who move from place to place with the seasons in search of pasture for their animals.
Major cities
- UlaanbaatarCapital and only major city, home to nearly half the country's population
- ErdenetSecond-largest city, a hub for copper and molybdenum mining
- DarkhanAn important industrial center in the north of the country
- ChoibalsanA city in the east, gateway to the vast eastern plains
- KharkhorinFormer capital of the Mongol Empire, today home to the historic Erdene Zuu Buddhist monastery
- MörönGateway to Lake Khövsgöl, one of the greatest strongholds of nomadic tradition in the north of the country
Climate and temperature
Buuz
A steamed dumpling filled with meat, the most traditional dish on the Mongolian table.
Khorkhog
Meat cooked with hot stones inside a sealed container, a festive dish served on special occasions.
Airag
Fermented mare's milk, a traditional drink of the steppe's nomadic herders.
Suutei tsai
Salted milk tea, drunk daily in nearly every Mongolian home.
Boortsog
Small pieces of fried dough, served with milk tea on nearly every visit to a Mongolian home.
Tsuivan
Homemade noodles stir fried with meat and vegetables, one of the country's most popular everyday dishes.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Hospitality of the steppe
Welcoming and feeding visitors, even strangers, is considered nearly sacred among Mongolians.
Respect for elders
Family hierarchy is taken seriously, with gestures of reverence toward the elderly and hosts.
Life in communion with nature
Many Mongolians believe that spirits inhabit the mountains, rivers, and sky, shaping their relationship with the land.
Pride in nomadic heritage
Even in the cities, the memory of the horse, the ger (the nomads' round tent), and herding remains central to national identity.
Naadam, the festival of the three manly games
Wrestling, horse racing, and archery bring the whole country together every July, celebrating Mongolia's warrior heritage.
Music of the steppe
The throat singing khöömei and the two stringed morin khuur fiddle express the people's deep bond with nature and their ancestors.
- Refusing food or drink that is offered It is seen as a serious lack of respect toward the host in a Mongolian home.
- Stepping on the threshold of a ger It is traditionally considered a bad omen inside the nomads' round tent.
- Pointing your feet at the altar or at people Feet are considered the most impure part of the body in local culture.
- Treating the nomadic way of life as backward Traditional herding is a source of pride, not a sign of poverty or backwardness.
- Whistling inside a ger It is traditionally seen as an invitation to wind and bad luck inside the tent.
- Offering or receiving something with only the left hand Objects and food should be passed with the right hand, or with both hands together, as a sign of respect.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Buddhism is intertwined with national identity, which makes the Christian faith seem foreign.
Belief in nature spirits and divination still shapes everyday decisions.
Excessive alcohol consumption destroys families and is one of the country's deepest social wounds.
Whole families leave the countryside for the city and lose the communal bonds of the steppe.
Nomadic communities scattered across the steppe remain practically without contact with the gospel.
High rates of depression and suicide reveal a deep spiritual void among the young.
Mineral wealth has bred greed and inequality amid the poverty of many families.
Rituals to ward off evil spirits reveal a people living under constant dread.
Seventy years of communism left marks of distrust toward organized religion.
Young people who accept Christ face rejection from their families for leaving the Buddhist tradition.
Religious freedom is guaranteed by Mongolia’s Constitution, and violent persecution against Christians is rare in the country. The pressure believers face is mostly social and familial: since Buddhism is deeply tied to national identity, many Mongolians see Christianity as a foreign faith, and young people who convert can face rejection from parents and community for abandoning the family’s tradition.
Since the end of communism in 1990, the Christian church has grown rapidly in the capital, but in absolute terms it is still a very small minority, concentrated mainly in Ulaanbaatar. Outside the capital, especially among the nomadic herders scattered across the steppe, access to the gospel remains rare, and some communities have never had contact with a Christian.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Mongolia has 25 catalogued ethnic groups, and the vast majority still have no significant access to the gospel. The Khalkha, the population's overwhelming majority, are predominantly Buddhist, with a still very small evangelical church. Minorities such as the Kazakhs in the west, who are predominantly Muslim, and other Mongol peoples such as the Oirats and the Dorbet remain among the least reached peoples in the country.
- 3.2M Unreached 93,5%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 225K Partially reached 6,5%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
- 17 Unreached 68%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 8 Partially reached 32%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol
Uyghur Frontier
Tsaatan Frontier
Khotogoid
Mongol khamnigan Frontier
Dungan Frontier
Uzemchin Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
much cheaper than the Western average, but Ulaanbaatar has the highest prices in the country
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Prepare for extreme cold: winters reach -30°C, even in the capital.
- Pack layered clothing because of the wide temperature swings between day and night.
- Learn a few words of Mongolian: outside Ulaanbaatar, English is rarely spoken.
- Respect local customs when visiting a ger, the nomads' traditional tent.
- Distances in the countryside are enormous; plan your travel between cities carefully.
- Account for Ulaanbaatar's altitude on arrival, so you can acclimatize gradually.
- Bring cash (tögrögs); cards are not always accepted outside the capital.
- A local SIM card makes communication easier; internet coverage is limited in the countryside.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.