Updated
Overview
Russia has 40 times the population of Mongolia: 143.51 million people against 3.57 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 101 times the size of Mongolia's, at $2.56T versus $25.37B.
Per person, Russia is the wealthier of the two: $17,547 against $7,108 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Mongolia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $25.37B | 2025 | $2.17T / $23.59B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $17,547 | $7,108 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 6.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 8.6% | 2025 | 6.7% / 6.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 34 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $777 | $561 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $208 | $195 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 3.57 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 3.28 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 26.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 2.58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 73.4 yrs | 72.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 71% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 85% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 1,564,110 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 2.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 45 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 12.3 t | 12.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $180.84M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 18,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Mongolia is growing much faster: 6.8% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 8.7% in Russia and 8.6% in Mongolia.
Average monthly earnings favour Russia: $777 against $561 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mongolia is the far younger society: median age 26.9 versus 40.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Russia (73.4 vs 72.4).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 11 times the size of Mongolia: 17,098,242 km² versus 1,564,110 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Russia is far more densely settled: 8 people per km² against 2.
Military
Russia spends 824 times as much on defence as Mongolia: $148.97B versus $180.84M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 18,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Mongolia?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Mongolia covers 1,564,110 km², so Russia is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Mongolia?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 3.57 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Mongolia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Russia is richer: $17,547 against $7,108. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $25.37B for Mongolia.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Mongolia?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $180.84M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).