Mongolia

Is Mongolia safe to visit?

Yes, for prepared travellers. Mongolia has no conflict, a US Level 1 advisory and the best Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary rank in the region, 34th of 163. Most visitors never meet crime beyond a pickpocket. The risks are physical: roads that kill 12 to 16 people per 100,000 a year depending on the source, a capital with some of the worst winter air of any city, and a climate that swings from +35°C to -40°C across a country where the nearest hospital may be hours away. We score it 68, below Kazakhstan (74), mainly because of the roads and the air.

The roads are the main danger

WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 12.4 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. The UN Road Safety Fund reports 551 deaths on Mongolia's roads in 2023, about 16 per 100,000, and over 3,000 injuries. Either figure is several times the rate in Western Europe. Most crashes happen in Ulaanbaatar, but 82% of the deaths happen in the countryside, where speeds are higher and help is far away.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary puts it plainly: low driving standards, speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and difficult terrain. Outside the capital only about 10% of roads are paved, and many routes are tracks across the steppe with no signs. In Ulaanbaatar, traffic is heavily congested.

Do not drive yourself in the countryside. Book a tour with an experienced driver and a well-maintained vehicle, such as a Land Cruiser or a Russian UAZ van, and ask about seat belts before you set off. Avoid night driving, when livestock and unlit vehicles are hard to see.

Ulaanbaatar's winter air

From October to March, Ulaanbaatar burns coal and wood for heat, much of it in the ger districts on the city's edge. Cold air traps the smoke in the valley, and on bad days the city ranks among the most polluted in the world. Across Mongolia, average exposure to fine particlesPM2.5Tiny airborne particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller. They reach deep into the lungs and are the air pollutant most linked to early death.More in the glossary was 42.7 µg/m³ in 2023, according to the World Bank, or about 8.5 times the WHO guideline, and the capital's winter levels are far higher than that average.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns that the smog can aggravate asthma, sinus and bronchial conditions, and that children, older people and anyone with heart or lung disease are most at risk. If that is you, visit between May and September. In winter, spend as little time as possible outdoors in the city, wear an FFP2 or N95 mask, and check the live air quality index before going out.

Cold, heat and remote country

The climate is the second physical risk. Winter nights on the steppe fall to -40°C, and the weather changes without warning. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary lists year-round warnings for floods, dust storms, heavy snow, blizzards, strong winds and heatwaves, worst in the Gobi and on the steppe. Summer flash floods also hit Ulaanbaatar and river valleys.

Large parts of the country have no phone signal. For any trip beyond the main towns, carry a satellite phone or messenger, enough water and food for delays, and leave your route with someone. Doctors can be days away, so travel with a first-aid kit and your own medicines.

Crime in Ulaanbaatar

UNODC recorded 5.9 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2023, higher than Kazakhstan or Armenia, though most cases involve people who know each other, often with heavy drinking. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says violent incidents against foreigners are rare but have happened in Ulaanbaatar, mainly at night, and advises not walking alone after dark.

Petty theft is more likely. Pickpockets work in markets, on crowded buses and at events, especially during Tsagaan Sar, the lunar new year, and Naadam in July. The FCDO also describes groups, sometimes including children and teenagers, who surround people for money as they get into cars or enter pubs. Keep your passport, phone and cash in a secured bag, and leave the rest in the hotel safe.

Carry your passport at all times, because police do not accept copies, and do not photograph police or soldiers.

Health care

Outside Ulaanbaatar, health care is basic and doctors may not speak English. Hospitals usually want 80% of the cost paid in advance. Your insurance should cover air ambulance evacuation, because a serious injury in the Gobi or the Altai may mean a long journey before treatment. Pharmacies stock mainly Chinese and Russian brands, so bring what you need.

How to stay safe in Mongolia

• Travel outside the cities with a reputable operator and an experienced driver.
• Avoid driving at night and do not drive yourself on steppe tracks.
• Plan winter visits to Ulaanbaatar around the air: masks, indoor time, live AQI checks.
• Pack for -40°C in winter, and for sun and sudden storms in summer.
• In Ulaanbaatar at night, use UBCab or a car booked by your hotel.
• Save 102 for police and 103 for an ambulance.

How we scored it

Conflict (88) is the strongest factor: Mongolia is peaceful and politically open. Health (55) is the weakest, reflecting winter air pollution and limited care outside the capital, followed by road safety (59), scored at the low end of its band because the 2023 national count is higher than WHO's 2021 estimate, and natural hazards (62) for the extreme climate. Violent crime (68) is held back by a homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary higher than its neighbours'. The newest national road figure dates from 2023, so confidence is medium.