1998 Edition

Area

total: 181,040 sq km land: 176,520 sq km water: 4,520 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Climate

tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

443 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Environment-current issues

logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography-note

a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap

Irrigated land

920 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Land use

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

Natural resources

timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Terrain

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,611,684; female 2,533,313) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,729,598; female 3,119,579) 65 years and over: 3% (male 142,836; female 202,552) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

41.63 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

16.49 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Infant mortality rate

106.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Khmer (official), French

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 47.99 years male: 46.64 years female: 49.41 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35% male: 48% female: 22% (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

11,339,562 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.51% (1998 est.)

Religions

Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea local short form: Kampuchea

Data code

CB

Executive branch

chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister UNG HUOT (since NA August 1997) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN (since NA 1993); note-former First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH deposed in July 1997 by forces loyal to HUN SEN cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime ministers appointed by the king

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436, 216-438

[855] (23) 216-437

Flag description

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band

Government type

multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Independence

9 November 1949 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742

Judicial branch

Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997 Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), SON SANN; Buddhist Liberal Party (BLP), IENG MOULY; National Solidarity Party (also known as Democratic Kampuchea, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Movement Pour La Liberation Nationale Khmere (MOLINAKA), PROM NEAKAREACH; Khmer Nation Party (KNP), SAM RANGSI

Legal system

currently being defined

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held 26 July 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51, BLDP 10, MOLINAKA 1 note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which became the National Assembly after the new constitution was promulgated in September 1993

National capital

Phnom Penh

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November 1949

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Budget

revenues: $261 million expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Currency

1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen

Debt-external

$2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA note: international donors pledged a total of $1.8 billion in 1995 and 1996

Economy-overview

After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997 due to the twin shocks of the regional economic crisis and the July violence and political infighting. Economic growth fell from 6.5% in 1996 to 1.5% in 1997, foreign investment slowed, and tourism declined 16% from 1996 levels. Despite these difficulties, inflation accelerated only slightly to 9.5%; the government managed to keep the national budget in balance even with increased expenditures on the military and police; and the economy ran a small balance of payments surplus. The future payments could be adversely affected by the currency crises in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which tends to make Cambodia's exports more expensive at the same time imports from these countries become cheaper. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. Human resource levels in the population are low, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will continue to hinder development. Recurring political instability hinders foreign investment. Corruption and inexperience among Cambodia's government officials will serve as a further drag on the economy.

Electricity-capacity

35,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

18 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

190 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

riels (CR) per US$1-3,537.0 (January 1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995), 2,545.3 (1994), 2,689.0 (1993)

Exports

total value: $615 million (1996 est.) commodities: timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia,

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$7.7 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 47.3% industry: 15.4% services: 37.3% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$715 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

1.5% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $1 billion (1996 est.) commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia

Industrial production growth rate

7% (1995 est.)

Industries

rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Inflation rate-consumer price index

9.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force

2.5 million to 3 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 10, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public domestic: NA international: landline international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries; satellite earth station-1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones

7,000 (1981 est.)

Television broadcast stations

5

Televisions

800,000 (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

20 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (1997 est.)

Heliports

3 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 390,566 GRT/556,743 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 66, container 2, livestock carrier 2, oil tankers 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 8, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5 (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways

3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)-created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$160 million (1996)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,477,842 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,381,787 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 113,098 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand are indefinite; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Illicit drugs

transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin en route to West; possible money-laundering; high-level narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market