[8] The steady increase in youth will enlarge the already large proportion of working-aged individuals and create new opportunities to build human capital and facilitate economic development.

Key: For population growth 1979–2008 * - city proper, Nalaikh, Baganuur, Bagakhangai not included in this figure, they are separated in the table.

Ethnic Mongols account for about 96% of the population and consist of Khalkh and other subgroups, all distinguished primarily by dialects of the Mongolian language.

[citation needed] Turkic speaking Kazakhs form the largest ethnic minority and constitute c. 3.9% of Mongolia's population.

In around 1860, part of the Middle jüz Kazakhs who sought refuge from Qing Empire massacre in Xinjiang came to Mongolia and were allowed to settle down in Bayan-Ölgii Province.

There are smaller numbers of Russian, Chinese, Korean and American people working in Mongolia since 1990.

Such beliefs gradually gave way to Tibetan Buddhism, but shamanism has left a mark on Mongolian religious culture, and continues to be practiced.