Cambodia

Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea

multiparty liberal democracy under aIndependence 9 November 1953 (from France)

Cambodia as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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

11.63 million July 1999 est. · 6.99m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.49% 1999 est. · 4.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

48.24 years 1999 est. · 49.06 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.81 children per woman 1999 est. · 4.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

105.06 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 128 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$700 1998 est. · $280 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0% 1998 est. · 7.5% in 1994

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 181,040 sq km

arable land 13%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 11%forests and woodland 66%other 10% (1993 est.)irrigated 920 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

181,040sq km

land: 176,520 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq kmslightly smaller than Oklahoma

Coastline

443km

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

Highest point

1,810m

Phnum Aorallowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m

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, Vietnam, and Laos

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

Natural resources

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

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 are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries);
soil erosion;
in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography--note

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

People

15 fields

Population

11,626,520

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.49% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

41.05Death

16.2Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)48.24

46.81 · 49.75

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1990 est.)35%

48% · 22%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 2,667,768; female 2,587,590)
15-64 years:: 52% (male 2,821,772; female 3,197,604)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 143,016; female 208,770) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

105.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cambodian(s)
adjective:: Cambodian

Government

Multiparty liberal democracy under a; King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993); Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

41%

-CPP 41%FUNCINPEC 32%SRP 14%other 13%last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

National Assembly, 122 seats, elected 26 July 1998one dot, one seat

-CPP 64FUNCINPEC 43SRP 15

Percent of vote

-CPP 41%FUNCINPEC 32%SRP 14%other 13%

Country name

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

Government type

multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Administrative divisions

20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural);
Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev

note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin

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 in recent years

Executive branch

chief of state:: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
head of government:: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:: percent of vote by party--CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party--CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15

note: pursuant to the coalition agreement signed in November 1998, a Senate is being created and the legislature will thus become bicameral

Judicial branch

Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority

Political parties and leaders

National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
chancery:: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy:: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address:: Box P, APO AP 96546

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

Economy

After four years of solid macroeconomic | performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due | to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political | infighting.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$700

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 7% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

(1998 est.)

Labor force

2.5million to 3 million

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 51%industry 15%services 34% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$261 millionExpenditures

$496 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 61.54%hydro 38.46%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

195 million (1996)Electricity consumption

195 million (1996)

Economy--overview

After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment fell off, and tourism has declined from 1996 levels. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought.

The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. Human resource levels in the population are low, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will continue to hinder development.

Recurring political instability and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. Even so, growth may resume in 1999 at, say, 2%.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Exports

$736 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities

timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame

Exports--partners

Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, US

Imports

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities

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

Imports--partners

Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand

Debt--external

$2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$569.8 million (1995)

Currency

1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen

Exchange rates

riels (CR) per US$1--3,772.0 (January 1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995), 2,545.3 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

7,000

(1981 est.)

Telephone system

adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little telephone service

domestic:: NA
international:: 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

Television broadcast stations

1 government-operated station and four commercial stations broadcasting to Phnom Penh and major provincial cities via relay (1998)

Televisions

800,000 (1996 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 141 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 598,867 GRT/841,240 DWT

barge carrier 1bulk 16cargo 108container 4livestock carrier 2multifunctional large-load carrier 1oil tankers 1refrigerated cargo 4roll-on/roll-off cargo 4note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5, Singapore 1 (1998 est.)

Networkskm

Highways

35,769Railways

603

Highways: paved: 4,165 km · unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Railways

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

Highways

total:: 35,769 km
paved:: 4,165 km
unpaved:: 31,604 km (1997 est.)

Waterways

3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m

Ports and harbors

Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh

Airports

20 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Heliports

3 (1998 est.)

Military

7 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

2.4%

(1998)

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)--created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin;
possible money laundering;
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police;
possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production;
large producer of cannabis for the international market

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/1999.

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