The population of Ulaanbaatar has increased by 70 percent in the past 20 years. A World Bank survey of ger districts divided them into three major regions and found each was especially lacking in one of the three basic services: water supply, transportation, and electricity.

The Bank feels 15-20 years will be needed to build apartments in the ger districts. The leader of the survey team, Takuya Kamata, has said other improvements in living conditions must be provided urgently.  Building apartments will need infusion of huge capital and a resolution of the land issue. Developing infrastructure can begin now, he feels.