Cambodia

disputed between the National Government of Cambodia (NGC) led by Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK, and the State of Cambodia (SOC) led by HENG SAMRINIndependence 9 November 1953 (from France)

Cambodia as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPhnom Penh

Area181,040 km2

Populationas each edition published it

7.15 million July 1991 · 6.99m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 4.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 49.06 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.5 children per woman 1991 · 4.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

125 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 128 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $280 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 7.5% in 1994

Geography

11 fields

Total area

181,040km2

land area: 176,520 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries

2,572km total

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

Coastline

443 km Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 nm;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes

offshore islands and three sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute;
maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined;
occupied by Vietnam on 25 December 1978

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Natural resources

timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use

arable land 16%;
permanent crops 1%;
meadows and pastures 3%;
forest and woodland 76%;
other 4%;
includes irrigated 1%

Environment

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

People

14 fields

Population

7,146,386

(July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

38Death

16Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Khmer 90%Chinese 5%other 5%

Literacy

35%

(male 48%, female 22%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun--Cambodian(s); adjective--Cambodian

Labor force

2.5-3.0 million; agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

Organized labor

Kampuchea Federation of Trade Unions (FSC); under government control

Government

Disputed between the National Government of Cambodia (NGC) led by Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK, and the State of Cambodia (SOC) led by HENG SAMRIN

14 fields

Legislature, 123 seatsone dot, one seat

-(123 total) KPRP 123

Type

disputed between the National Government of Cambodia (NGC) led by Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK, and the State of Cambodia (SOC) led by HENG SAMRIN

Administrative divisions

NGC--18 provinces (khet, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (rottatheanei);
Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev;
note--the SOC adds a province of Banteay Meanchey and an autonomous municipality of Kampong Saom to the NGC administrative structure

National holidays

NGC--Independence Day, 17 April (1975); SOC--Liberation Day, 7 January (1979)

Executive branch

NGC--president, prime minister; SOC--chairman of the Council of State, Council of State, chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch

NGC--none; SOC--unicameral National Assembly

Judicial branch

NGC--none;
SOC--Supreme People's Court Chief of State--NGC--President Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK (since NA July 1982);
SOC--Chairman of the Council of State HENG SAMRIN (since 27 June 1981) Head of Government--NGC--Prime Minister SON SANN (since NA July 1982);
SOC--Chairman of the Council of Ministers HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)

Political parties and leaders

NGC--three resistance groups including:: Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge) under KHIEU SAMPHAN;
Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) under SON SANN;
and National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) under Prince NORODOM RANNARIDH;
SOC--Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP) led by HENG SAMRIN

Suffrage

NGC--none;
SOC--universal at age 18 NGC--none;
SOC--National Assembly--last held 1 May 1981;
in February 1986 the Assembly voted to extend its term for five years;
results--KPRP is the only party;
seats--(123 total) KPRP 123

Member of

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

none NGC--three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white stylized three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat centered on the red band;
SOC--two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a gold stylized five-towered temple representing Angkor Wat in the center

Economy

Cambodia is a desperately poor country whose economic development has been stymied by deadly political infighting.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$890million

per capita $130; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

50%

(first half 1990)

External debt

$600million

(1989)

Cambodia is a desperately poor country whose economic development has been stymied by deadly political infighting. The economy is based on agriculture and related industries. Over the past decade Cambodia has been slowly recovering from its near destruction by war and political upheaval.

It still remains, however, one of the world's poorest countries, with an estimated per capita GDP of about $130. The food situation is precarious; during the 1980s famine has been averted only through international relief. In 1986 the production level of rice, the staple food crop, was able to meet only 80% of domestic needs.

The biggest success of the nation's recovery program has been in new rubber plantings and in fishing. Industry, other than rice processing, is almost nonexistent. Foreign trade is primarily with the USSR and Vietnam. Statistical data on the economy continues to be sparse and unreliable. Foreign aid from the USSR and Eastern Europe almost certainly is being slashed.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports

$32 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--natural rubber, rice, pepper, wood;
partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India

Imports

$147 million (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--international food aid;
fuels, consumer goods, machinery;
partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

126,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 20 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining

Agriculture

mainly subsistence farming except for rubber plantations;
main crops--rice, rubber, corn;
food shortages--rice, meat, vegetables, dairy products, sugar, flour

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $719 million;
Western (non-US) countries (1970-88), $285 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1,800 million

Currency

riel (plural--riels); 1 riel (CR) = 100 sen

Exchange rates

riels (CR) per US$1--560 (November 1990), 159.00 (1988), 100.00 (1987), 30.00 (1986), 7.00 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 22 total, 9 usable

permanent-surface runways

6runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

2runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Highways

13,351Railroads

612

Highways: ; 2,622 km bituminous; 7,105 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth; 3,624 km unimproved earth; some roads in disrepair · Railroads: , government owned

Railroads

612 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned

Highways

13,351 km total;
2,622 km bituminous;
7,105 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth;
3,624 km unimproved earth;
some roads in disrepair

service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public;
international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries;
stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

Defense Forces

3 fields

Branches

SOC--Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF);
Communist resistance forces--National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge);
non-Communist resistance forces--Armee National Kampuchea Independent (ANKI) which is sometimes anglicized as National Army of Independent Cambodia (NAIC) and Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF)

Manpower availability

males 15-49, 1,869,880;
1,030,356 fit for military service;
57,288 reach military age (18) annually

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/1991.

How to cite ← 1990 edition 1992 edition →