IRI Mongolia Poll Shows Concerns with Economy and Corruption, Support for Democratic Governance  

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – A new poll by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows Mongolians have concerns over the economy and corruption, while demonstrating strong support for democratic governance.

When asked about the most important problems facing the country today, most Mongolians chose issues related to the economy. The top three responses show 58% citing high prices and the cost of living, 26% stating unemployment, and 14% declaring other general economic issues.  

In a poll fielded from March to April 2021, 34% cited healthcare and COVID-19 as the top issue in Mongolia.  

The survey also finds that 74% of Mongolians feel that corruption is a very serious problem and there is little faith with institutions to address it. Sixty-four percent have a negative opinion about the Independent Authority Against Corruption, 66% have a negative opinion of the Courts, and 62% of have a negative opinion of the State Great Hural, the unicameral parliament.  

“Our research clearly shows that Mongolians are not happy with the current economy or the government’s efforts to tackle corruption,” said Johanna Kao, IRI Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific. “Elected officials need to do more to address these pressing concerns and they need to act with urgency.”  

Additionally, the poll highlights that 67% of Mongolians believe that democracy is the best form of government.  

“Despite some of the problems confronting the people of Mongolia, it’s reassuring that a strong majority believe in democratic governance,” said Kao. “Increasing accountability, transparency, and inclusivity for more people in the political process will only strengthen the government’s ability to move the country in the right direction.”  

Methodology

The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by Independent Research Institute of Mongolia (IRIM) and made possible by the generous support of USAID. Data collection was conducted between March 01 – April 26, 2022, through computer-assisted telephone interviews. The sample consisted of n=2,500 residents of Mongolia aged 18 and over. 

A multi-stage probability sampling method was used to design a nationally representative sample. The contact information list of the households was compiled from the IRIM’s internal database. The sample was stratified by region and by urban/rural residency. Households were selected by simple random sampling, and respondents were selected by the last birthday method.  

The data was weighted by gender and age groups based on the NSO data for population of Mongolia. The response rate was 19 percent.  The margin of error for the full sample is ± 1.9 percentage points. Charts and graphs may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.