Mongolia's area is , and with a population of just 3.3 million, makes it the 18th-largest sovereign state and the most sparsely populated. It is the world's second-largest landlocked country, behind Kazakhstan, and the largest landlocked country that does not border a closed sea. Mongolia contains very little arable land, as much of its area is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to about 45% of the country's population. It is also ranked the coldest capital city alongside Moscow, Ottawa, and Nur-Sultan.