By the end of 2003, the Mongolian population reached 2,475,400 an increase of 1.4 per cent compared to the previous year. Currently, 49.6 per cent of the population are male and 50.4 per cent are female. In 2003, the percentage of the population aged less than 15 years was 32.6, aged 15-64 years 63.9 and aged 65 years and over it was 3.5.Due to the decrease in the birth rate, there were some considerable changes in the age structure of the population. The average life expectancy in Mongolia is 63.5 years. Population growth considerably decreased during the last decade. Annual population growth stood at 3.6 per cent in the 1970s, however it has been at 1.4 per cent since 2000.
Researchers worry that if the decrease continues in the next few years, it will be at 1.35 per cent in 2010 and 0.91 per cent in 2025, which may bring bad results for the reproductive ability of population. The percentage of children between 0-14 in the population decreased by 13.8 points, while the percentage of elders increased two fold. Ulaanbaatar city has a youngest population, and the eastern part of Mongolia has an oldest population. The growth of the population at a working age is increasing. Even if the increase reduces the social burdens in population structure, it also affects Mongolia's current situation by increasing unemployment. There are plans to increase employment levels by promoting the economic growth in resent years.
