The number of local media outlets in Mongolia has declined significantly in recent years, according to the Mongolian Media-Today 2026 report published annually by the Press Institute of Mongolia.

The report highlights key statistics on Mongolia’s media sector, noting that the overall number of media outlets has been falling in recent years, with declines in the number of local newspapers, television and radio stations, and online news outlets contributing to the trend. In specific, the number of media outlets operating at the provincial and local levels fell from 128 in 2019 to 85 in 2025. Only eight percent of Mongolia’s media workforce is based in rural areas, according to the report.

The report also found a steady decline in the share of newspaper sales accounted for by local newspapers over the past three years. Local newspapers accounted for seven percent of total newspaper sales in 2023, falling to four percent in 2024 and just two percent last year.

Researchers noted that these figures demonstrate how population concentration, market conditions and economic factors are directly affecting the sustainability of local media outlets. The decline in local media is likely to have broader implications for access to locally relevant information, particularly in provinces and rural communities where local outlets play an important role in covering community issues and developments.