2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.
Geography
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
illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: 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
2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Land use
arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% other: 78% (1998 est.)
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 2,646,883; female 2,550,015) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 3,373,692; female 3,758,736) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 182,149; female 263,849) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
32.93 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
10.51 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
4.04% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
14,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
220,000 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate
64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Life expectancy at birth
59.5 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 4.66 children born/woman (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Population
12,775,324 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
2.24% (2002 est.)
Religions
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4 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, Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
Capital
Phnom Penh
Constitution
promulgated 21 September 1993
Country name
Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Kampuchea former: Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN embassy: 16-18 Mongkol Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone:
Diplomatic representation in the US
[1] (202) 726-8381 telephone:
Executive branch
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since NA) and TOL LAH (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly
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 democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Independence
9 November 1953 (from France)
International organization participation
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Judicial branch
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority
Legal system
primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years
Legislative branch
bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA July 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Political parties and leaders
Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Khmer Citizen Party or KCP [NGUON SOEUR]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Budget
revenues: $363 million expenditures: $532 million, including capital expenditures of $225 million (2000 est.)
Currency
riel (KHR)
Currency code
KHR
Debt - external
$829 million (1999 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
40.4 (1997)
Economic aid - recipient
$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by international donors
Electricity - consumption
122.76 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
132 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 62.12% hydro: 37.88% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
riels per US dollar - 3,895.0 (January 2002), 3,918.5 (2001), 3,840.8 (2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997)
Exports
$1.05 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities
timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish
Exports - partners
US 46.4%, Vietnam 26.1%, Germany 5.6%, Singapore 5.0%, UK 3.9% (2000)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity - $18.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.3% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Imports
$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles
Imports - partners
Singapore 22.5%, Thailand 19.8%, Hong Kong 15.6%, China 4.9%, Vietnam 4.9% (2000)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force
6 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 80% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
36% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.8% (1999 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.kh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
6,000 (2001)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios
1.34 million (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little telephone service domestic: NA international: adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use
21,800 (mid-1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular
80,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations
5 (1999)
Televisions
94,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
20 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 15 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13
Heliports
2 (2001)
Highways
total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997)
Merchant marine
total: 404 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,889,404 GRT/2,740,232 DWT ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 312, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 5, container 7, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Aruba 1, Belize 8, British Virgin Islands 1, Bulgaria 3, China 21, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Egypt 7, Estonia 1, Georgia 1, Germany 1, Greece 12, Honduras 5, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 2, Lebanon 5, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Panama 7, Romania 4, Russia 67, Saint Kitts and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Singapore 15, South Korea 24, Syria 13, Thailand 1, Turkey 22, Ukraine 13, United Arab Emirates 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 5, Vietnam 2, Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors
Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
Railways
total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge (2001 est.)
Waterways
3,700 km note: navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m
Military and Security
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
3% (FY01 est.)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 2,990,790 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 1,673,713 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 162,643 (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is nearing completion; accuses Thailand of moving or destroying boundary markers and encroachment, of not respecting its claims, and of sealing off access to the Preah Vihear temple ruin awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962; accuses Vietnam of territorial encroachments and initiating armed border incidents in seven provinces, despite substantial demarcation efforts to date; disputes several offshore islands with Vietnam, which prevents delimitation of a maritime boundary
Illicit drugs
possible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Chad