In 1989, after a long period of socialist rule, Mongolia initiated a democratisation
process of its political system together with a transition towards a market economy.
This paper examines how changes in socio-economic conditions in Mongolia have
affected fertility patterns in recent times. It also provides an outline of changes that
have taken place in terms of pro-natalist policies. The study is based on data from the
Reproductive Health Survey of Mongolia (RHSM) conducted in 1998. In terms of
economic activity we find an inverse, although weak, relationship for older cohorts.
This is in strong contrast to the young cohort, for which the economic downturn has
had a strongly depressing effect on fertility. We also find important effects of micro
level variables, including education and housing. Our findings suggest that the
fertility decline observed for the older cohorts are very much part of the first
demographic transition, in which the collapse of pro-natalist policies has been
influential.