Cambodia

Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea

multiparty liberal democracy under aIndependence 9 November 1949 (from France)

Cambodia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 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

Position13 00 N, 105 00 E

Area181,040 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,

Populationas each edition published it

10.86 million July 1996 est. · 6.99m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.77% 1996 est. · 4.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

49.86 years 1996 est. · 49.06 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.81 children per woman 1996 est. · 4.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

107.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 128 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$660 1995 est. · $280 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.7% 1995 est. · 7.5% in 1994

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 181,040 sq km

arable land 16%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 3%forest and woodland 76%other 4%irrigated 920 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

181,040sq km

land area: 176,520 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Coastline

443km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

2,572km

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

Location

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

International disputes

offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute;
maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined;
parts of border with Thailand in dispute;
maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Climate

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

lowest point:: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point:: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:: logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries);
deforestation;
soil erosion;
in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
natural hazards:: monsoonal rains (June to November);
flooding;
occasional droughts
international agreements:: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note

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

People

15 fields

Population

10,861,218

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.77% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

43.5Death

15.78Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years49.86

48.39 · 51.39

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy35%

48% · 22%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 2,505,998; female 2,432,620)
15-64 years:: 51% (male 2,579,986; female 3,007,838)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 143,759; female 191,017) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

107.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cambodian(s)
adjective:: Cambodian

Government

Multiparty liberal democracy under a; King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) is a constitutional monarch; power shared between First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN (since NA 1993) who were appointed by the king

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Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

FUNCINPEC 58CPP 51Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party 10Molinaka 1

Name of country

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form:: Cambodia
local long form:: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
local short form:: Kampuchea

Data code

Type of government

multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Capital

Phnom Penh

Administrative divisions

21 provinces (khett, singular and plural);
Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev

note: a new province of Otdar Mean Cheay may have been created from parts of Banteay Mean Cheay and Siem Reab

Independence

9 November 1949 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November 1949

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Legal system

currently being defined

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) is a constitutional monarch
head of government:: power shared between First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN (since NA 1993) who were appointed by the king
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the king

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Assembly

members elected for five-year terms;
elections last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (120 total) FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51, Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party 10, Molinaka 1

note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which became the National Assembly after the new constitution was promulgated in September 1993

Judicial branch

Supreme Court provided for by the constitution has not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet to be defined by law

Political parties and leaders

National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH;
Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM;
Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, SON SANN faction;
Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party, IENG MOULY faction;
Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN;
Molinaka, PROM NEAKAREACH

International organization participation

ACCT, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
chancery:: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:: [1] (202) 726-7742

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy:: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address:: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone:: [855] (23) 426436, 426438

FAX

[855] (23) 426437

Flag

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

Economy

The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by | decades of war - is slowly recovering.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$660

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

6.7%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 7.9% (1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1995 est.)

Labor force

2.5million to 3 million

by occupation: agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1993)

agriculture 52%industry 13.5%services 34.5% (1993)

Budget

Revenues

$210 millionExpenditures

$346 million (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 40,000 kW

Electricity production

160 millionElectricity consumption per capita

14 (1993)

Economic overview

The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by decades of war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving toward restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established good working relations with international financial institutions. Growth, starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-95.

Despite such positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces many tough challenges because of the persistence of internal political divisions and the related lack of confidence of foreign investors. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer live, remains mired in poverty.

The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will hinder development and will contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural areas over the near term. Moreover, the government's lack of experience in administering economic and technical assistance programs and rampant corruption among officials will slow the growth of critical public sector investment. The decline of inflation from the 1992 rate of more than 50% is one of the bright spots.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7 billion (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Illicit drugs

key transshipment country for Golden Triangle heroin en route to West;
possibly becoming money-laundering center;
high-level narcotics-related corruption in government, military, and police;
possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production;
large producer of cannabis

Exports

$240.7 million (1995 est.)

commodities:: timber, rubber, soybeans, sesame
partners:: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia

Imports

$630.5 million (1995 est.)

commodities:: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles
partners:: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia

External debt

$383 million to OECD members (1993)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA note: IMF pledged $120 million in aid for 1995-98

Currency

1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen

Exchange rates

riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,585 (December 1994), 2,470 (December 1993), 2,800 (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 14 in all

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

34,100Railways

603

Highways: paved: 3,000 km · unpaved: 31,100 km (1994 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Railways

total:: 603 km
narrow gauge:: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways

total:: 34,100 km
paved:: 3,000 km
unpaved:: 31,100 km (1994 est.)

Communications

10 fields

Fixed lines

7,000

(1981 est.)

Telephone system

service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public

domestic:: NA
international:: landline international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies;
note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)

Resistance forces

National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49:: 2,336,606
males fit for military service:: 1,302,234
males reach military age (18) annually:: 79,514 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $85 million, 1.4% of GDP (1995)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/1996.

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