2010 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 surviving Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. 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 Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, with little of the pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2008 were relatively peaceful.

Area

land

176,515 sq km

total

181,035 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

290 cu m/yr (2000)

total

4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)

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

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%

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

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: 32.6% (male 2,388,922/female 2,336,439) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 4,498,568/female 4,743,677) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 197,649/female 329,038) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

6,900 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

75,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

49.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

64.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

56.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.72 years (2010 est.)

male

59.95 years

total population

62.28 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

64.1% (2004 est.)

male

84.7%

total population

73.6%

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 (2009)

Median age

female

23.3 years (2010 est.)

male

21.8 years

total

22.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Cambodian

noun

Cambodian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

14,453,680 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.705% (2010 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2007)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.045 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

22% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

23 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural)

municipalities

Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh)

provinces

Banteay Mean Choay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Choay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev

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)

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Cambodia

conventional short form

Cambodia

former

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

local long form

Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)

local short form

Kampuchea

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Carol A. RODLEY

embassy

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

FAX

[855] (23) 728-600

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 HENG HEM

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381

telephone

[1] (202) 726-7742

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)

elections

the king chosen by a Royal Throne Council from among all eligible males of royal descent; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition 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) [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 24 September 2008); KE KIMYAN (since 12 March 2009)

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; red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors 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

ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA (observer), 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, UNIFIL, 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 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) and the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%, HRP 7%; NRP 6%; FUNCINPEC 5%; others 2%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, HRP 3, FUNCINPEC 2, NRP 2

elections

Senate - last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL note: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime

name

"Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Political parties and leaders

Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Human Rights Party or HRP [KHEM SOKHA, also spelled KEM SOKHA]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Nationalist Party or NP [CHHIM SEAK LENG] (formerly the NRP); Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI, also spelled SAM RAINSY]

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, silk

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2008) 5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2009) 16.01% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance

-$918 million (2010 est.) -$865.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$4.338 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.284 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43 (2007 est.) 40 (2004 est.)

Economy - overview

From 2004 to 2007, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction, agriculture, and tourism. GDP contracted 1.5% in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but climbed more than 4% in 1010, driven by renewed exports. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The garment industry currently employs more than 280,000 people - about 5% of the work force - and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. In 2005, exploitable oil 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 northern parts of the country. 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 several rounds of discussions have been held since 2007. Rubber exports increased about 25% in 2009 due to rising global demand. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08, however, economic troubles abroad dampened growth in 2009. The global financial crisis is weakening demand for Cambodian exports, and construction is declining due to a shortage of credit. 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 25 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

1.272 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

167 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

1.273 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,217.96 (2010), 4,139.33 (2009), 4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006)

Exports

$5.212 billion (2010 est.) $4.302 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 45.32%, Singapore 9.46%, Germany 7.52%, UK 7.07%, Canada 6.31%, Vietnam 4.15% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

29%

industry

30%

services

41% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2010 est.) $2,000 (2009 est.) $2,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2010 est.) -1.5% (2009 est.) 5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.36 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.46 billion (2010 est.) $28.3 billion (2009 est.) $28.73 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 34.2% (2007)

Imports

$6.944 billion (2010 est.) $5.876 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Thailand 24.83%, Vietnam 19.73%, China 14.08%, Singapore 11.34%, Hong Kong 7.41%, Taiwan 5.1%, South Korea 4.06% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (2010 est.) -0.7% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

8 million (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

67.9%

industry

12.7%

services

19.5% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

30,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

31% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.899 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.195 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$850.7 million (31 December 2010 est) $747.2 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2007 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)

Broadcast media

mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately-owned broadcast media; 9 TV broadcast stations with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting from multiple locations, 6 stations either jointly operated or privately-owned with some broadcasting from several locations, and 2 TV relay stations - one relaying a French television station and the other relaying a Vietnamese television station; multi-channel cable and satellite systems are available; roughly 50 radio broadcast stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private broadcasters; several international broadcasters are available (2009)

Internet country code

.kh

Internet hosts

5,452 (2010)

Internet users

78,500 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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 40 per 100 persons

general assessment

adequate fixed-line and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-cellular phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; 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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

54,200 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.593 million (2009)

Airports

17 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 40, cargo 526, carrier 5, chemical tanker 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

426 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 203, Cyprus 8, Egypt 12, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Japan 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 6, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 60, Singapore 4, South Korea 11, Syria 22, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, UAE 2, UK 3, Ukraine 37, US 4, Vietnam 1) (2010)

total

620

Ports and terminals

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Railways

narrow gauge

690 km 1.000-m gauge note: under restoration (2010)

total

690 km

Roadways

paved

2,977 km

total

38,093 km

unpaved

35,116 km (2007)

Waterways

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,980,995 females age 16-49: 3,970,244 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,751,618 females age 16-49: 2,835,807 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

166,418 (2010 est.)

male

168,519

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2010)

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)

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================