Which groups of people live in the Gobi Desert?

The population density of the Gobi Desert is low, with fewer than three persons per square mile. The inhabitants are primarily Mongols, who traditionally live as nomads in yurts and other tent structures, and Han Chinese, who are concentrated in Inner Mongolia and typically reside in clay homes.12

While the Mongol population is largely engaged in nomadic livestock raising—herding sheep, goats, cattle, and Bactrian camels—the Chinese population in the region is more focused on agriculture, which is practiced primarily along river valleys. Since 1950, the Chinese population in Inner Mongolia has increased significantly.1