Cambodia
Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)
parliamentary constitutional monarchyIndependence 9 November 1953 (from France)
Cambodia as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 149 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 1975, after a seven-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 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off 13 years of internecine warfare in which a coalition of Khmer Rouge, Cambodian nationalists, and royalist insurgents, with assistance from China, fought the Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK).
The 1991 Paris Agreements ended the country’s civil war and mandated democratic elections, which took place in 1993 and ushered in a period of multi-party democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Norodom SIHANOUK was reinstated as head of state, and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC party formed a coalition government. Nevertheless, the power-sharing arrangement proved fractious and fragile, and in 1997, a coup led by CPP leader and former PRK prime minister HUN SEN dissolved the coalition and sidelined FUNCINPEC. Despite further attempts at coalition governance, the CPP has since remained in power through elections criticized for lacking fairness, political and judicial corruption, media control, and influence over labor unions, all of which have been enforced with violence and intimidation.
HUN SEN remained as prime minister until 2023, when he transferred power to his son, HUN MANET. HUN SEN has subsequently maintained considerable influence as the leader of the CPP and the Senate. The CPP has also placed limits on civil society, press freedom, and freedom of expression. Despite some economic growth and considerable investment from China over the past decade, Cambodia remains one of East Asia's poorest countries.
The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in 1999. A UN-backed special tribunal established in Cambodia in 1997 tried some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal concluded in 2022 with three convictions.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
20 fieldsLand useshare of 181,035 sq km
Climate
- tropical;
- rainy, monsoon season (May to November);
- dry season (December to April);
- little seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land
Major rivers (by length in km)
Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution
- population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh;
- further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers
Geography - note
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)
People and Society
36 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2019-20 est.)
Religions(2019 est.)
Languages
Khmer (official) 95.8%, minority languages 2.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnamese 0.5%, other 0.2% (2019 est.); major-language sample(s): សៀវភៅហេតុការណនៅលើពិភពលោក។ ទីតាំងពត៏មានមូលដានគ្រឹះយាងសំខាន់។. (Khmer); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Population distribution
- population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh;
- further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.55 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 4.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 4.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 1.9% (2022)
- women married by age 18:
- 17.9% (2022)
- men married by age 18:
- 3.3% (2022)
Environment
10 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- habitat and biodiversity loss from illegal logging and strip mining;
- destruction of mangrove swamps;
- soil erosion;
- limited access to potable water in rural areas;
- illegal fishing and overfishing;
- deforestation leading to sediment build-up in coastal ecosystems
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- Law of the Sea
Climate
- tropical;
- rainy, monsoon season (May to November);
- dry season (December to April);
- little seasonal temperature variation
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 25.6% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
18.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 8.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 10.753 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 1.089 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 12.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 98 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 33 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 2.053 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy; King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004); Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023)
26 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Cambodia
- conventional short form:
- Cambodia
- local long form:
- Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)
- local short form:
- Kampuchea
- former:
- Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
- etymology:
- the name is derived from Kambu, a legendary ancestor of the Cambodian people
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)
- etymology:
- the name means "mountain of plenty," from the Cambodian words phnom (mountain or hill) and penh (full)
Administrative divisions
24 provinces ( khett , singular and plural) and 1 municipality ( krong , singular and plural)
- provinces:
- Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmum
- municipalities:
- Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)
Legal system
civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993
- amendment process:
- proposed by the monarch, by the prime minister, or by the president of the National Assembly if supported by one fourth of the Assembly membership;
- passage requires two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership;
- constitutional articles on the multiparty democratic form of government and the monarchy cannot be amended
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Cambodia
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 7 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
- election/appointment process:
- monarch chosen by the 9-member Royal Council of the Throne from among all eligible males of royal descent;
- after 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 monarch
note: MANET succeeded his father, HUN SEN, who had been prime minister since 1985
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name:
- National Assembly (Radhsphea Ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea)
- number of seats:
- 125 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- proportional representation
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 7/23/2023
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Cambodian People's Party (CPP) (120); United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) (5)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 13.6%
- expected date of next election:
- July 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name:
- Senate
- number of seats:
- 62 (60 indirectly elected; 2 appointed)
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 6 years
- most recent election date:
- 2/25/2024
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 19.4%
- expected date of next election:
- February 2030
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Council (organized into 5- and 9-judge panels and includes a court chief and deputy chief); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court and Constitutional Council judge candidates recommended by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, a 17-member body chaired by the monarch and includes other high-level judicial officers;
- judges of both courts appointed by the monarch;
- Supreme Court judges appointed for life;
- Constitutional Council judges appointed for 9-year terms with one third of the court renewed every 3 years
- subordinate courts:
- Appellate Court;
- provincial and municipal courts;
- Military Court
Political parties
Cambodian People's Party (CPP); United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) note: the Cambodian Government has disqualified the main opposition Candlelight Party
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Koy KUONG (since 11 June 2025)
- chancery:
- 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 726-7742
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 726-8381
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette L. WALKER (since August 2024)
- embassy:
- #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
- mailing address:
- 4540 Phnom Penh Place, Washington DC 20521-4540
- telephone:
- [855] (23) 728-000
- FAX:
- [855] (23) 728-700
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://kh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Flag
- description:
- three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double-width), and blue;
- a three-towered, stylized white temple outlined in black is in the center of the red band, representing Angkor Wat
- meaning:
- red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors
note: only national flag to prominently incorporate an identifiable building into its design; Afghanistan, San Marino, Portugal, and Spain show small generic buildings as part of their coats of arms on the flag
National coat of arms
- Cambodia’s coat of arms is also the Royal Arms of Cambodia;
- the lions symbolize strength, courage, and the divine protection of the monarchs;
- the lion on the left is a gajasingha (a lion with an elephant’s trunk), and the lion on the right is a rajasingha (royal lion);
- both hold five-tiered umbrellas representing the king and queen, and they stand on a blue ribbon that says “ Preah Chao Krung Kampuche” ' (King of the Kingdom of Cambodia);
- between the lions is a crown with the Unalome, the Buddhist and Hindu symbol for the spiritual path to enlightenment, under it and a ray of light on top
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
- lyrics/music:
- CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
- history:
- adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 5 (all cultural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Angkor ;
- Temple of Preah Vihear;
- Sambor Prei Kuk;
- Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapora or Chok Gargyar;
- Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (c)
Economy
29 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2023 est.)
Economic overview
- one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies;
- rebounding tourism and clothing exports;
- substantial manufacturing and construction sectors;
- new trade agreements expanding agricultural markets;
- significant public debt;
- investing in new ports and roads
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 16.6% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 41.8% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 35.6% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Labor force
9.904 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
0.3% (2024 est.) · 0.3% (2023 est.) · 0.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 0.8% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 0.7% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 0.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Average household expenditures
- on food:
- 40.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- on alcohol and tobacco:
- 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
6.1% of GDP (2024 est.) · 6.6% of GDP (2023 est.) · 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
12.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
$222.108 million (2024 est.) · $552.346 million (2023 est.) · -$7.582 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$31.712 billion (2024 est.) · $27.753 billion (2023 est.) · $25.497 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$34.329 billion (2024 est.) · $29.421 billion (2023 est.) · $34.759 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$22.506 billion (2024 est.) · $19.984 billion (2023 est.) · $17.801 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$8.019 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,072.397 (2024 est.) · 4,110.653 (2023 est.) · 4,102.038 (2022 est.) · 4,098.723 (2021 est.) · 4,092.783 (2020 est.)
Energy
6 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 3.673 million kW(2023 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 4.39 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 4.36 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2022–24 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions:
- 29,100 (2024 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2024 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media
- mix of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned broadcast media;
- 27 TV stations, with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station with multiple locations and 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned, some with several locations;
- multi-channel cable and satellite systems;
- 84 radio stations, including 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a mix of public and private broadcasters;
- one international broadcaster is available, as well as one TV station that is jointly run by China and the Ministry of Interior;
- several TV and radio operators broadcast online only (often via Facebook) (2019)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 195 ships by type(2023)
Ports
- total ports:
- 2 (2024)
- large:
- 0
- medium:
- 1
- small:
- 0
- very small:
- 1
- ports with oil terminals:
- 1
- key ports:
- Kampong Saom, Phsar Ream
Military and Security
7 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie (Military Police); National Committee for Maritime Security (2025) note 1: the National Committee for Maritime Security performs coast guard functions and has representation from military and civilian agencies; note 2: the Cambodian National Police are under the Ministry of Interior
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; estimated 200,000 Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the RCAF is armed largely with older Chinese and Russian/Soviet origin armaments;
- in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern equipment from several suppliers, particularly China (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for military service for men and women (2025)
note: in 2006, Cambodia's parliament approved a law requiring all Cambodians aged 18 to 30 to serve in the military for 18 months, although the law has never been enforced (service was to be voluntary for women);
in 2025, the Cambodian Government announced that the 2006 conscription law would be enforced beginning in 2026 and have a 24-month service requirement
Military - note
the primary responsibilities of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam; in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RCAF and the military forces of Thailand clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border;
both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones
the RCAF was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces);
thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999 (2025)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees:
- 28 (2024 est.)
- IDPs:
- 2,526 (2024 est.)
- stateless persons:
- 75,000 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons
- tier rating:
- Tier 3 — Cambodia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cambodia remained on Tier 3;
- for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia.