Religiosity of the population of Mongolia: expert assessment of the current state
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Published:
Dec 30, 2025
Keywords:
religiosity, population of Mongolia, expert assessments, institutional conditions, interfaith relations, sociological research
Main Article Content
Olga V. Surtaeva
Email: bubuka_s@mail.ru
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6535-2838
Ekaterina V. Shakhova
Email: EWS05@yandex.ru
Daria K. Shcheglova
Email: sdk@mc.asu.ru
Egor A. Sorokin
Email: egorsorokin776@gmail.com
Purevsuren Tsedenbal
Email: purevsuren.khu@gmail.com
Abstract
The article examines the internal religiosity of the Mongolian population from the perspective of the expert community. The paper presents an analysis of the results of an expert survey conducted in the form of standardized interviews in 2024-2025 in Mongolia (N=102), in-depth interviews (N=16) with the heads of exclusively community organizations and spiritual leaders, and an analysis of the level and structure of religiosity, interfaith relations, and the institutional state of the religious sphere. According to expert estimates, the religiosity of the Mongolian population remains low with pronounced socio-demographic specifics; the highest religiosity is characteristic of the population, phenomenon, and permanent residence of women. The structure of religiosity is distinguished by the practical dominance of aspects over cognitive components. The interfaith situation is characterized by stability and the absence of problems. A three-factor model has been constructed, which includes the following factors: institutional and legal regulation, socio-infrastructural conditions, and interfaith consensus. Religiosity in Mongolia manifests itself through external, event-driven activity amidst internal heterogeneity. The stability of this system is guaranteed not so much by profound faith as by the restraint of religion as a cultural code and ethnic identity in a rapidly changing society.
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How to Cite
Surtaeva, O. V., Shakhova, E. V., Shcheglova, D. K., Maksimova, V. M., Sorokin, E. A., & Tsedenbal, P. (2025). Religiosity of the population of Mongolia: expert assessment of the current state. Society and Security Insights, 8(4), 32-49. https://doi.org/10.14258/ssi(2025)4-02
Section
SECURITY AND INTEGRATION IN COUNTRIES OF ASIAN REGION
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References
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Glock C. Y., Stark R. (1965). Religion and Society in Tension. San Francisco: Rand McNally, 1965. 316 p.
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Holdcroft B. B. What Is Religiosity? // Journal of Catholic Education. 2006. Vol. 10, no. 1. P. 89–103. doi:10.15365/joce.1001082013.
Mattis, J. S., Jagers, R. J. (2001). A Relational Framework for the Study of Religiosity and Spirituality in the Lives of African Americans // Journal of Community Psychology. Vo. 29, no. 5. P. 519–539. doi:10.1002/jcop.1034.
McAndrew S., Voas D. Measuring religiosity using surveys // SQB Topic Overview. 2011. No. 4. P. 1-15.
Saroglou V. Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: The big four religious dimensions and cultural variation // Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 2011. Vol. 42, no. 8. P. 1320–1340. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022022111412267
Tsang J., McCullough M. E. Measuring religious constructs: A hierarchical approach to construct organization and scale selection / Snyder C. R. Handbook of positive psychological assessment. American Psychological Association, 2003. P. 345–360.
REFERENCES
Allport, G. W., & Ross, J. M. (1967). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5(4), 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0021212
Cornwall, M., Albrecht, S. L., Cunningham, P. H., & Pitcher, B. L. (1986). The dimensions of religiosity: A conceptual model with an empirical test. Review of Religious Research, 27(3), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.2307/3511418
French, D. C., Purwono, U., & Shen, M. (2020). Religiosity and positive religious coping as predictors of Indonesian Muslim adolescents’ externalizing behavior and loneliness. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000300
Glock, C. Y., & Stark, R. (1965). Religion and society in tension. Rand McNally.
Hill, P. C. (2005). Measurement in the psychology of religion and spirituality: Current status and evaluation. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 43–61). Guilford Press.
Holdcroft, B. B. (2006). What is religiosity? Journal of Catholic Education, 10(1), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.15365/joce.1001082013
Mattis, J. S., & Jagers, R. J. (2001). A relational framework for the study of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of African Americans. Journal of Community Psychology, 29(5), 519–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.1034
McAndrew, S., & Voas, D. (2011). Measuring religiosity using surveys. SQB Topic Overview, 4, 1–15.
Saroglou, V. (2011). Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: The big four religious dimensions and cultural variation. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 42 (8), 1320–1340. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022111412267
Tsang, J., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Measuring religious constructs: A hierarchical approach to construct organization and scale selection. In C. R. Snyder (Ed.), Handbook of positive psychological assessment (pp. 345–360). American Psychological Association.
Aktamov, I. G., Badmatsyrenov, T. B., & Tsetsenbilig, Ts. (2024). Buddhism and post-secular society: Socio-religious processes in Mongolia at the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century. Narody i religii Evrazii, 30(1), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.14258/nreur(2025)1-08 (In Russ.).
Badmatsyrenov, T. B. (2012). Sangha and politics: Political aspects of the functioning of the Buddhist clergy in Mongolia and Buryatia. Vestnik Buryatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Filosofiya, 14, 26–34. Retrieved December 3, 2025 (In Russ.).
Vanchikova, Ts. P., & Tsedendamba, S. (2014). Religious situation in Mongolia: 1990-2009. Part 1. Gumanitarnyy vektor. Seriya: Istoriya, politologiya, 3(39), 67–72. (In Russ.).
Gantuyaa, M. (2021). Some methodological approaches to the study of religiosity of citizens in the territories of Mongolia bordering Russia. ECh, V, 101–108. (In Russ.).
Mikhalev, A. V. (2018). The Russian world on the outskirts of Asia: Politics in conditions of institutional asymmetry. Politika i obshchestvo, 10, 53–63. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0684.2018.10.27617 (In Russ.).
Tsybikdorzhiev, D. V., & Batoeva, D. B. (2014). Factors of success of religious revival in Mongolia. Vlast', 5, 40–44. (In Russ.).
Бадмацыренов Т.Б. Сангха и политика: политические аспекты функционирования буддийского духовенства Монголии и Бурятии //Вестник Бурятского государственного университета. Философия. 2012. №14.
Ванчикова Ц.П., Цэдэндамба С. Религиозная ситуация в Монголии: 1990-2009 гг. 1 // Гуманитарный вектор. Серия: История, политология. 2014. №3 (39). С.67-72.
Гантуяа М. Некоторые методологические подходы исследования религиозности граждан приграничных с Россией территорий Монголии // Ермолаевские чте ния : материалы юбилейной V научно-практической конференции с международным участием, посвященной 100‑летию образования Тувинской Народной Республики, Кызыл, 26–27 августа 2021 года. Кызыл: Издательский отдел Национальной библиотеки им. А.С. Пушкина Республики Тыва. 2021. С. 101–108. URL: https://doi.org/10.24412/2686–9624–2021–101–108.
Михалев А.В., Русский мир на окраине Азии: политика в условиях институциональной асимметрии // Политика и общество. 2018. №10. С. 53-63, DOI: 10.7256/2454-0684.2018.10.27617.
Цыбикдоржиев Д.В., Батоева Д.Б. Факторы успеха религиозного возрождения в Монголии // Власть. 2014. №5. С.40-44.
Allport G.W., Ross J.M. Personal Religious Orientation and Prejudice // Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1967. No 5 (4). P. 447–457. doi:10.1037/h0021212.
Cornwall M., Albrecht S. L., Cunningham P. H., Pitcher B. L. The Dimensions of Religiosity: A Conceptual Model with an Empirical Test // Review of Religious Research. 1986. Vo. 27, no. 3. P. 226–244. doi:10.2307/3511418.
French, D. C., Purwono U., Shen M. Religiosity and Positive Religious Coping as Predictors of Indonesian Muslim Adolescents’ Externalizing Behavior and Loneliness // Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. 2020. doi:10.1037/rel0000300.
Glock C. Y., Stark R. (1965). Religion and Society in Tension. San Francisco: Rand McNally, 1965. 316 p.
Hill P. C. Measurement in the psychology of religion and spirituality: Current status and evaluation / Paloutzian R. F., Park C. L. Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality. Guilford Press, 2005. P. 43-61.
Holdcroft B. B. What Is Religiosity? // Journal of Catholic Education. 2006. Vol. 10, no. 1. P. 89–103. doi:10.15365/joce.1001082013.
Mattis, J. S., Jagers, R. J. (2001). A Relational Framework for the Study of Religiosity and Spirituality in the Lives of African Americans // Journal of Community Psychology. Vo. 29, no. 5. P. 519–539. doi:10.1002/jcop.1034.
McAndrew S., Voas D. Measuring religiosity using surveys // SQB Topic Overview. 2011. No. 4. P. 1-15.
Saroglou V. Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: The big four religious dimensions and cultural variation // Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 2011. Vol. 42, no. 8. P. 1320–1340. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022022111412267
Tsang J., McCullough M. E. Measuring religious constructs: A hierarchical approach to construct organization and scale selection / Snyder C. R. Handbook of positive psychological assessment. American Psychological Association, 2003. P. 345–360.
REFERENCES
Allport, G. W., & Ross, J. M. (1967). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5(4), 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0021212
Cornwall, M., Albrecht, S. L., Cunningham, P. H., & Pitcher, B. L. (1986). The dimensions of religiosity: A conceptual model with an empirical test. Review of Religious Research, 27(3), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.2307/3511418
French, D. C., Purwono, U., & Shen, M. (2020). Religiosity and positive religious coping as predictors of Indonesian Muslim adolescents’ externalizing behavior and loneliness. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000300
Glock, C. Y., & Stark, R. (1965). Religion and society in tension. Rand McNally.
Hill, P. C. (2005). Measurement in the psychology of religion and spirituality: Current status and evaluation. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 43–61). Guilford Press.
Holdcroft, B. B. (2006). What is religiosity? Journal of Catholic Education, 10(1), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.15365/joce.1001082013
Mattis, J. S., & Jagers, R. J. (2001). A relational framework for the study of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of African Americans. Journal of Community Psychology, 29(5), 519–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.1034
McAndrew, S., & Voas, D. (2011). Measuring religiosity using surveys. SQB Topic Overview, 4, 1–15.
Saroglou, V. (2011). Believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging: The big four religious dimensions and cultural variation. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 42 (8), 1320–1340. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022111412267
Tsang, J., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Measuring religious constructs: A hierarchical approach to construct organization and scale selection. In C. R. Snyder (Ed.), Handbook of positive psychological assessment (pp. 345–360). American Psychological Association.
Aktamov, I. G., Badmatsyrenov, T. B., & Tsetsenbilig, Ts. (2024). Buddhism and post-secular society: Socio-religious processes in Mongolia at the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century. Narody i religii Evrazii, 30(1), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.14258/nreur(2025)1-08 (In Russ.).
Badmatsyrenov, T. B. (2012). Sangha and politics: Political aspects of the functioning of the Buddhist clergy in Mongolia and Buryatia. Vestnik Buryatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Filosofiya, 14, 26–34. Retrieved December 3, 2025 (In Russ.).
Vanchikova, Ts. P., & Tsedendamba, S. (2014). Religious situation in Mongolia: 1990-2009. Part 1. Gumanitarnyy vektor. Seriya: Istoriya, politologiya, 3(39), 67–72. (In Russ.).
Gantuyaa, M. (2021). Some methodological approaches to the study of religiosity of citizens in the territories of Mongolia bordering Russia. ECh, V, 101–108. (In Russ.).
Mikhalev, A. V. (2018). The Russian world on the outskirts of Asia: Politics in conditions of institutional asymmetry. Politika i obshchestvo, 10, 53–63. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0684.2018.10.27617 (In Russ.).
Tsybikdorzhiev, D. V., & Batoeva, D. B. (2014). Factors of success of religious revival in Mongolia. Vlast', 5, 40–44. (In Russ.).