Mongolia is divided into 22 provinces (aimags) that serve as the country's primary administrative divisions at the first level of governance. These provinces function as the main intermediate layer between the national government and local districts, responsible for implementing central policies while managing regional affairs. Provincial administrations oversee public services including education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and local economic planning within their territories. Each province maintains its own administrative apparatus headed by a governor who coordinates both national directives and local governance needs. The provinces also serve as electoral districts and statistical units for national planning purposes. This administrative structure, established after Mongolia's transition to democracy in the 1990s, balances centralized state authority with regional administrative capacity across Mongolia's vast and sparsely populated territory.