Mongolian DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Mongolia · East Asia
Mongolia covers the eastern steppe, home of herders and of the empire founded by Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, the largest contiguous land empire in history. Mongolian belongs to the Mongolic language family. In our model, the Mongolian average is 71.1% Ancient Northeast Asian, with 15.7% steppe, 5.2% Arctic Siberian, 3.9% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 2.2% East Asian and 2.0% Iranian Neolithic farmer. That roughly one fifth of West Eurasian-related ancestry is far more than in the Manchu or Xibe, and ancient DNA shows how it came: herders from the western steppe reached Mongolia in the Bronze Age, and later empires such as the Xiongnu and the Mongols mixed eastern and western steppe peoples further. The closest modern averages are the Kalmyks (0.0121), Oirat Mongols who moved to the lower Volga in the 17th century, and Oirat groups of western Mongolia. The closest ancient group is a Mongol-period population from Mongolia (0.025).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Ancient Northeast Asians 71.1%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 15.7%, Arctic Siberian (Nganasan-related) 5.2%
- Closest modern population in our data: Kalmyk, distance 0.0121
- Closest ancient group in our data: Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile), distance 0.0250
Where does Mongolian DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Mongolian individuals sampled in Mongolia and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Mongolian average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Mongolian average, 71.1%, goes to Ancient Northeast Asians, ahead of Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (15.7%) and Arctic Siberian (Nganasan-related) (5.2%). The Ancient Northeast Asians component reflects ancestry most common today in East Asia. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (15.7%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC. With well over half of the total, this single source dominates the profile.
Smaller traces of Anatolian Neolithic farmers, East Asian and Iranian Neolithic farmers (under 5% each) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is loose (fit distance 0.043), which usually means that none of the available reference populations is a close stand-in for part of this ancestry, so read the percentages as rough. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Mongolian
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Mongolian average is Kalmyk, at a distance of 0.012 (very close). Next come Kalmyk (Buzava) at 0.013 and Mongol (Oirat Dorbet Mongolia) at 0.013. By the tenth closest (Buryat (Mongolia)) the distance grows to 0.051, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalmyk | 0.0121 | Very close |
| 2 | Kalmyk (Buzava) | 0.0125 | Very close |
| 3 | Mongol (Oirat Dorbet Mongolia) | 0.0128 | Very close |
| 4 | Kalmyk (Torgut) | 0.0137 | Very close |
| 5 | Mongol (Oirat Bayad Mongolia) | 0.0142 | Very close |
| 6 | Kalmyk (Khoshut) | 0.0147 | Very close |
| 7 | Mongol (Oirat Khoton Mongolia) | 0.0157 | Very close |
| 8 | Buryat (Irkutsk) | 0.0445 | Close |
| 9 | Altaian (Kizhi) | 0.0498 | Close |
| 10 | Buryat (Mongolia) | 0.0509 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Mongolian
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Mongolian average is Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile) (Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD), at 0.025. Kyrgyzstan High Medieval Nomad and Kazakhstan Late Medieval Golden Horde Mausoleum of Bolghan Ana come next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile) | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0250 |
| 2 | Kyrgyzstan High Medieval Nomad | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0310 |
| 3 | Kazakhstan Late Medieval Golden Horde Mausoleum of Bolghan Ana | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0339 |
| 4 | Kazakhstan High Medieval Nomad Janaturmus | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0382 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan Late Antiquity Aktas | Late Antiquity, c. 250-600 AD | 0.0400 |
| 6 | Xinjiang HP Ayousaigoukou | Historical period | 0.0452 |
| 7 | Mongolia Late Medieval Khitan Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile) | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0466 |
| 8 | Kazakhstan Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Xianbei-Hun Gregorievka | Late Antiquity to Early Medieval, c. 250-1000 AD | 0.0490 |
| 9 | Kazakhstan Late Antiquity Hun Elite Kurayly | Late Antiquity, c. 250-600 AD | 0.0492 |
| 10 | Kazakhstan Late Medieval Golden Horde Mausoleum of Jochi Khan | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0506 |
Ancient DNA from Mongolia
Our ancient DNA database holds 622 individuals excavated in present-day Mongolia, dated from about 32,923 BC to 1410 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are R1a (46), Q1b (43) and C2a (39), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are D4 (143), C4 (47) and F1 (37). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Mongolian population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Mongolia
- Reconstructing the genetic history of ancient populations on the Mongolian Steppe through ancient DNA (2026)
- Ancient human genomes from the Altai region reveal population continuity and shifts in the 4th-12th centuries (2026)
- Genomes of the Golden Horde elites and their implications for the rulers of the Mongol Empire (2026)
- Slab Grave expansion disrupted long co-existence of distinct Bronze Age herders in central Mongolia (2025)
- Genomes of the Golden Horde Elites and their Implications for the Rulers of the Mongol Empire (2025)
- Ancient DNA reveals two paternal lineages C2a1a1b1a/F3830 and C2b1b/F845 in past nomadic peoples distributed on the Mongolian Plateau (2020)
- The genome of an ancient Rouran individual reveals an important paternal lineage in the Donghu population (2018)
- The genome of an ancient Rouran individual reveals an important paternal lineage in the Donghu population (2017)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 622 from Mongolia.
Compare yourself with Mongolian
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Mongolian average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Mongolian and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Mongolian individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Mongolian. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Mongolian average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from East Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Mongolian?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Mongolian average is about 71.1% Ancient Northeast Asians, 15.7% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 5.2% Arctic Siberian (Nganasan-related). These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Mongolian?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Mongolian average are Kalmyk, Kalmyk (Buzava) and Mongol (Oirat Dorbet Mongolia). The closest ancient matches are Mongolia Late Medieval Mongol Period (Turanian-Mixed Profile), Kyrgyzstan High Medieval Nomad and Kazakhstan Late Medieval Golden Horde Mausoleum of Bolghan Ana.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Mongolian?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Mongolian average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Mongolian ancestry?
None of our regional reports is built for Mongolian ancestry, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.