Ulaanbaatar is one of the top-ten most polluted cities in the world. The scale of the migration is astounding.  In the last decade, around 20% of the country’s population of three million has moved to Ulaanbaatar over the last decade, which has doubled the city’s population and further increased pollution. The influx has also brought other problems.  There has been an increase in crime, severe gridlock, problems with urban planning, and pressure on the housing, health and social care systems.

In January of this year, Ulaanbaatar Mayor S.Batbold issued three decrees primarily designed to combat air pollution. The decree entitled “Restriction Action” has received the most attention as its purpose has been to limit migration to the city from rural areas. The decree states that rural residents, apart from those who require long-term medical care, those who already own an apartment, and those who have a mortgage loan, will be restricted from taking up residence in Ulaanbaatar.

This restriction is in place until 1 January 2020. Even though freedom of movement is the constitutional right of every citizen, the threat of air pollution in the capital has reached a point where it could potentially affect national security.

For the first time, the population of the Mongolian capital has actually decreased. According to the latest statistics that cover until November, over 11,000 people have left the city.