Temperatures are very cold in winter and warm to hot in summer. Mongolia's primary resources are its stock-raising prairies, its fur trade, and its mostly unexploited minerals. Other groups are Buryat Mongols and Kazaks. Many people speak Mongolian, an Altaic language, although Russian was formerly taught in the schools. The traditional faith, Lamaist Buddhism, has been suppressed since 1929.
Primary education is compulsory.
Economy Mongolia's economy depends mainly on livestock herding, including sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and camels. Mineral production includes iron, coal, copper, tungsten, and fluorspar. A free-market economy was adopted after 1991. The president, also elected to a four-year term, is head of state. Mongolia declared independence from China after the Chinese revolution of 1911.