Ulaanbaatar - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The expat community is very small. If you’re social, you’ll meet just about all of them in the first few months. Morale is okay. I wouldn’t say it’s great but definitely not bad. Winters are tough but you get used to it. - Jan 2024
The expatriate community in Ulaanbaatar is pretty small and consists largely of English teachers, mining workers, NGO workers, diplomats, and the occasional entrepreneurs. Many of the long term expatriates are married to Mongolians and don't interact with the U.S. Embassy often. The U.S. Embassy has over 50 USDH employees and the morale is very high. - Aug 2022
Small since the pandemic. Normally there would be more foreigners with the mining companies. Morale is generally fine. - Jan 2022
It's a small diplomatic community, but there are many Australians here with OT (mining). Lots of Australian kids at the school. Most other embassies are small with few people here. Prior to COVID morale was very high. Unfortunately, most families left due to COVID and have not yet returned. Those remaining have suffered and morale has declined. I anticipate it will go back to what it was before when COVID settles down. - Sep 2020
Pretty big and active. Large Australian mining expat community. Life in the city is good, lots of restaurant and nightlife options. - Aug 2020
Morale is fine in the summer, but towards the end of winter it gets low. - Jul 2019
The embassy community seems like a close group. There are many activities and you can be as involved as you like. Morale is higher in the summer/fall than the bitter cold winter! - Oct 2016
It varies according to the state of the mining sector, and with the downturn the current expat numbers are substantial, but not high. With mining-related personnel making up the vast majority of foreigners, morale is also closely correlated to that industry's fortunes. Given the major backlash in Mongolia against mining (due to concerns about environmental damage, conflict with the nomadic lifestyle, corruption) this can be expected to continue. Several mining executives have been prevented from leaving the country recently pending legal proceedings, and this had a major impact. For the diplomatic community, morale tends to be good. - Feb 2015
Expats are not hard to meet. - May 2012
Large. - Feb 2012
It ranges between 250 - 300 people, and this includes the embassy direct-hires, mining companies, NGOs and Peace Corps volunteers. It's a small community, but seems to be relatively close-knit one. - Feb 2011
Two thousand. - Jan 2009
Small. - Oct 2008
