2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural)

municipalities

Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)

provinces

Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754) 15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Airports

20 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Area

land

176,520 sq km

total

181,040 sq km

water

4,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Background

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. Geography Cambodia

Birth rate

26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$931.8 million; including capital expenditures of $291 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$731 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

11 33 N, 104 55 E

name

Phnom Penh

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

443 km

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Cambodia

conventional short form

Cambodia

former

Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

local long form

Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)

local short form

Kampuchea

Currency (code)

riel (KHR)

Currency code

KHR

Current account balance

$-412 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$3.664 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI

embassy

#1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh

mailing address

Box P, APO AP 96546

telephone

[855] (23) 728-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador EK SEREYWATH

telephone

[1] (202) 726-7742

Disputes - international

Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand of obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004, Cambodian-Laotian and Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions re-erected missing markers completing most of their demarcations

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by international donors

Economy - overview

In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government made progress on economic reforms. The US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the industry. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced producing countries such as China and India. Better-than-expected garment sector performance led to about 6% growth per year in 2005-06. Faced with the possibility that its vibrant garment industry, with more than 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger, the Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy of continued support for high labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign visitors surpassing 1 million for per year beginning in 2005. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government once commercial extraction begins in the coming years. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

Electricity - consumption

121.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

131 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

65%

hydro

35%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

lowest point

Gulf of Thailand 0 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, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

riels per US dollar - 4,119 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister

chief of state

King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)

elections

none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king

head of government

Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006)

Exports

$3.331 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports - partners

US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381

[855] (23) 728-600

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Cambodia

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; only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design Economy Cambodia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

35%

industry

30%

services

35% (2004)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.122 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$36.78 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Heliports

2 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

15,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.8% (1997)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Illicit drugs

narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin and methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$4.477 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports - partners

Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand 11.2%, Taiwan 10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1% (2005)

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

22% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

77.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

68.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.kh

Internet hosts

1,378 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

41,000 (2005) Transportation Cambodia

Investment (gross fixed)

18.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

2,700 sq km (2003)

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

Labor force

7 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

NA%

services

NA% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

total

2,572 km

Land use

arable land

20.44%

other

78.97% (2005)

permanent crops

0.59%

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year terms)

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2 (January 2006)

elections

National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be held in July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

61.32 years (2006 est.)

male

57.35 years

total population

59.29 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

64.1% (2004 est.) Government Cambodia

male

84.7%

total population

73.6%

Location

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

3,108,254 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,002,718

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

2,048,611 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,955,141

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

172,788 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

175,497

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

21.4 years (2006 est.)

male

19.9 years

total

20.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker 11, container 10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned

407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128, Cyprus 12, Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Japan 4, South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Russia 105, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2, Turkey 26, UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)

total

544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/2,529,708 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$112 million (FY01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (FY01 est.) Transnational Issues Cambodia

Military service age and obligation

conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service obligation is 18 months (2006)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Nationality

adjective

Cambodian

noun

Cambodian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,750 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP [Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

13,881,427

note

estimates for this country 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 growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Phnom Penh, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville) Military Cambodia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 17 (2003)

Radios

1.34 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

total

602 km

Religions

Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.385 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

2,406 km

total

38,257 km

unpaved

35,851 km (2004)

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas

international

country code - 855; 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

36,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.062 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

11 (including two TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)

Televisions

94,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Total fertility rate

3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women and children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; men are trafficked primarily to Thailand for forced labor in the construction and agricultural sectors, particularly the fishing industry, while women and girls are trafficked for factory and domestic work; children are trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forced begging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women from Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexual exploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders, from rural areas to the cities

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is committed to making significant efforts to sustain progress over the coming year

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2000 est.)

Waterways

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)