2008 Edition

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 and it 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. In October 2004, King SIHANOUK abdicated the throne due to illness and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, and there was little in the way of pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections are scheduled for July 2008.

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%) per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Total renewable water resources

476.1 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

25.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 56.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.69 years male: 59.65 years female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73.6% male: 84.7% female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Median age

total: 21.7 years male: 21 years female: 22.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

14,241,640 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.752% (2008 est.)

Religions

Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural) 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 municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)

Capital

name: Phnom Penh geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation) local short form: Kampuchea former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carol A. RODLEY 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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MENG EANG NAY chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742

Executive branch

chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Permanent Deputy Prime Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008); Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); BIN CHHIN (since 5 September 2007); KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 25 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister elections: 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

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381

[855] (23) 728-600

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 note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

Government type

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, 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

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; 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) elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%, others 20%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, others 7; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

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

Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF; Partnership for Transparency Fund or PTF (anti-corruption organization); Students Movement for Democracy; The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel other: human rights organizations; vendors

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Budget

revenues: $1.015 billion expenditures: $1.168 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

riel (KHR)

Currency code

KHR

Current account balance

-$506.3 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$3.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.7 (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$698.2 million pledged in grants and concession loans for 2007 by international donors (2007)

Economy - overview

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. 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. 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 more than 9% growth in 2007. Its vibrant garment industry employs more than 350,000 people and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. The Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy supporting high labor standards in an attempt to maintain buyer interest. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country, and the government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed and the first round of discussions took place in early 2007. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals reaching 2 million in 2007. In 2007 the government signed a joint venture agreement with two companies to form a new national airline. 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

1.178 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production

1.163 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003)

Exports

$4.089 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 58.1%, Germany 7.3%, UK 5.2%, Canada 4.6%, Vietnam 4.5% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 31% industry: 26% services: 43% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

10.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.604 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$26.19 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 34.8% (2004)

Imports

$5.424 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Thailand 23.1%, Vietnam 16.9%, China 15%, Hong Kong 10.4%, Singapore 7.5%, Taiwan 7.2%, South Korea 4.8% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

15% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

7 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

NA

Oil - consumption

3,736 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

3,618 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

35% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.143 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.131 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$513.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2000 est.)

Internet country code

.kh

Internet hosts

1,230 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

70,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 17, shortwave NA (2003)

Radios

1.34 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition among service providers, is increasing and stands at nearly 20 per 100 persons domestic: 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) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

37,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.583 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

9 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2006)

Televisions

94,000 (1997)

Airports

17 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 626 by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 530, carrier 3, chemical tanker 10, container 8, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 467 (Canada 2, China 193, Cyprus 7, Egypt 13, Gabon 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan 1, South Korea 22, Latvia 1, Lebanon 8, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 83, Singapore 4, Syria 48, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, Ukraine 34, UAE 2, US 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Railways

total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 38,257 km paved: 2,406 km unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,759,034 females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,581,045 females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 185,959 female: 182,558 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2008)

Disputes - international

Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part of a planned UN World Heritage site

Illicit drugs

narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008