How the Mongolian Government is using what3words

Mongolia is the second largest landlocked country in the world and, with a population of just 3 million, it is one of the most sparsely populated too. From the bustling city of Ulaanbaatar, to remote grass steppes which are home to semi-nomadic peoples, many of its regions have little to no addressing system in place. Fixing this means that both citizens and visitors are able to access better, more convenient services.

In summer 2023, a number of the country’s ministries and agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore our partnership further. Since then, they’ve been using what3words location technology across a range of projects to improve the efficiency and accessibility of their services and to ensure every citizen benefits from accurate addressing.

Ministry of Digital Development and Communications

“We have integrated what3words into the e-Mongolia app, including into the e-Kids feature, and – when calling for help from the police in an emergency – you can now give a what3words address.”

– Uchral Nyam-Osor, Minister of Digital Development and Communications

The e-Mongolia app enables citizens and businesses to access hundreds of governmental services. It has integrated what3words in a number of ways:

• Users can now give a what3words address as a delivery location when ordering important documents like passports, helping Mongol Post deliver them precisely and efficiently.
• The app’s SOS Emergency Service page displays all the information that’s needed to get help urgently, including the what3words address for a user’s current location.
• Children can share their location at the press of a button using the e-Kids feature – giving guardians and carers peace of mind. Find out more about the e-Kids feature .

In partnership with Mongol Post, what3words and the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications installed over 2,000 what3words address signs outside homes in the Sükhbaatar district in Ulaanbaatar. The aim of this project was to improve the precision and reliability of deliveries, especially for those without an address or with hard-to-find front doors. Watch more .

Ministry of Culture & Ministry of Environment and Tourism

“In Mongolia, there are around 10,000 cultural heritage sites. Using what3words to address these sites makes it much easier to visit them.”

– Nomin Chinbat, Minister of Culture

Here’s how the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism are using what3words to help Mongolians and visitors alike discover the country’s best attractions:

• The National Cultural Heritage Centre has listed the what3words addresses for important heritage sites on its website .
• The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has incorporated what3words into a range of its physical signs and guidebooks.
• what3words addresses have been used elsewhere to help visitors and residents alike, including the Lonely Planet, the Niislel Guide and the Mongolian Travel Passport. Mongolian Airbnb hosts use what3words to tell visitors where to find their homes .

Emergency services

“Since the official start of our partnership in 2020, central and local emergency management agencies have responded to 2,000 calls a year involving the use of what3words.”

– Lieutenant Colonel D. Sodnomragchaa, Head of the IT Department, NEMA

A number of government agencies and organisations are embracing what3words to improve emergency responses:

• NEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, encourages people in need of help to use what3words addresses to report incident locations. In Govisümber Province, the organisation encouraged people to ‘make it a habit of using what3words’ . Read more here .
• The Mongolian Red Cross Society, in partnership with NEMA, installed what3words address signs in high-risk areas. These are designed to help people tell call handlers precisely where they are in an emergency situation.
• EINC, the Emergency Information Network Centre, also accepts what3words addresses, enabling the police, fire and ambulances services to find people faster.

Mongol Post

“As a result of our partnership with what3words, we will be able to find our customers more easily and deliveries will be faster.”
– B. Ankhbaatar, CEO, Mongol Post

Mongol Post, the country’s national postal service, now allows customers to give a what3words address as their delivery location – paving the way for quicker, more efficient deliveries across the country.

Discover how governments around the world are using what3words.