Mongolia boasts a well-established and extensive education system with a literacy rate of 98.7% as of 2023—an impressive achievement for a developing country. Education has long been a priority in Mongolia, and the nation’s commitment to accessible, high-quality education has transformed the landscape over the past century.
Prior to the 1921 revolution, Mongolia had no formal schooling system. Boys learned to read and write in Tibetan and Mongolian in monasteries, while children from elite families received private education at home. Following the revolution, Mongolia embarked on creating its first public schools to provide free education for all, building a foundation for universal literacy and educational attainment.
Modeled initially after the Soviet system, Mongolia’s education system offered a structured, ten-year program that has since evolved to align with European standards. Today, children begin primary school at age 6, progressing through five years of primary education, four years of middle school, and three years of high school. Compulsory education lasts nine years, with the school year beginning on September 1.
By 2022, Mongolia’s network of 820 primary and secondary schools included 662 public schools and 158 private institutions, providing students with a variety of options. Higher education, introduced after the revolution, follows a Soviet-inspired framework. The National University of Mongolia, established in 1942 in Ulaanbaatar, was the nation’s first university and remains one of its most respected, initially offering programs in education, medicine, and veterinary science.
Today, Mongolia’s higher education sector includes 94 universities and colleges that serve over 157,000 students. While tuition was introduced after the 1990s, the government and institutions offer scholarships to support students.
With a deep-rooted appreciation for learning, Mongolia continues to prioritize education for future generations, fostering a culture that values knowledge as a key to national progress and individual growth.
