Mongolia Country Focus Report

Reporting Period covered: 01 January to 15 November 2025. 

Civil society operates in a dynamic political and economic context shaped by various laws and regulatory frameworks. Although the 1992 Constitution of Mongolia guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all, including freedom of voice, expression, association and assembly, and press, Mongolia’s democracy is referred to as “flawed”, according to the Democracy Index 2025. Most of the laws necessary to protect and defend civil society have been adopted, but their implementation is weak, with the country ranked 67 on the Rule of Law Index for 2025, down 20 places since 2015.

Diversified and growing civil society exists in Mongolia, though with insufficient support from the government. There is growing political hostility towards civil society from politicians. For example, the police raided an independent news outlet, and citizens have been investigated for expressing their views on social media.

Over 70% of the media is affiliated with and under the control of politically exposed persons and more than half of all defamation cases have been brought against journalists and media outlets, resulting in the country falling to 102^nd place on the World Press Freedom Index.

Political stability has been relatively stable in Mongolia for the past five years, but the government was ousted in June 2025, after notable protest that led to a vote of no confidence and the resignation of the prime minister. There have been tensions between the government and teachers over budgets, and between the government and healthcare sector employees demanding better working conditions and an increase in basic salaries, and threatening a nationwide strike. Despite governance challenges, Mongolia performs among the world’s top 25% in terms of Elected Government and Freedom of Movement.