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Introduction - Cambodia
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 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.
Geography - Cambodia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam,
and Laos
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 181,035 sq km
country comparison to the world: 89
land: 176,515 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries:
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline:
443 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to
April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower
potential
Land use:
arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
476.1 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
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
Geography - note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap
People - Cambodia
Population:
14,753,320
country comparison to the world: 66
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 2,399,960/female 2,345,571)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 4,615,599/female 4,850,369)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 202,474/female 339,347) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 23.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.777% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Birth rate:
25.77 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 46
male: 59.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.52 years
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 60.41 years
female: 64.71 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
75,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998 census)
Languages:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 172
Government - Cambodia
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
Government type:
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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)
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular
and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang,
Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb, Krachen, Mondol Kiri,
Otdar Mean Cheay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh)
Independence:
9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution:
promulgated 21 September 1993
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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 24 September 2008); KE
KIMYAN (since 12 March 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the
monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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
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)
elections: Senate - last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July
2013)
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
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
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HENG HEM
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
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
FAX: [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; red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design
Economy - Cambodia
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
dropped to below 7% growth in 2008 and probably contracted in 2009 as a result
of the global economic slowdown. 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 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$28.09 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$28.34 billion (2008 est.)
$26.99 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.03 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
6.7% (2008 est.)
10.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$2,000 (2008 est.)
$1,900 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 30%
services: 41% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
8 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 67.9%
industry: 12.7%
services: 19.5% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 34.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
40 (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Budget:
revenues: $1.185 billion
expenditures: $1.84 billion (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
25% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 41
16.01% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$591.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 126
$513.6 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.197 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
$2.328 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.019 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
$1.67 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, silk
Industries:
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
-6.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - production:
1.273 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - consumption:
1.272 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
167 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - imports:
30,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Current account balance:
-$1.14 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
-$1.051 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$3.647 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$4.708 billion (2008)
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)
Imports:
$5.44 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$6.509 billion (2008)
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$2.641 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.157 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$4.127 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,135.39 (2009), 4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007),
4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005)
Communications - Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.237 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
Telephone system:
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
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 30 per 100 persons
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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 50, shortwave NA (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
9 (2009)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet hosts:
2,480 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Internet users:
74,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 162
Transportation - Cambodia
Airports:
17 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Railways:
total: 602 km
country comparison to the world: 110
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 38,093 km
country comparison to the world: 91
paved: 2,977 km
unpaved: 35,116 km (2007)
Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
Merchant marine:
total: 626
country comparison to the world: 17
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)
Military - Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal
Cambodian Air Force (2010)
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)
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:
male: 168,519
female: 166,418 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Transnational Issues - Cambodia
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
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for
men, women, and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation and forced labor; women and girls are trafficked to Thailand and
Malaysia for exploitative labor as domestic workers and forced prostitution;
parents sometimes sell their children into involuntary servitude to serve as
beggars, into brothels for commercial sexual exploitation, or into domestic
servitude
tier rating: Cambodia is placed on Tier 2 Watch List because it does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but it is
making significant efforts to do so; the government did not show evidence of
progress in convicting and punishing human trafficking offenders - including
complicit public officials - and protecting trafficking victims (2009)
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
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