Cambodia

Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993Independence 9 November 1953 (from France)

Cambodia as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 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, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
2003

Every edition of Cambodia

Populationas each edition published it
13.12 million July 2003 est. · 6.99m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.8% 2003 est. · 4.41% in 1993
Median ageyears
19.2 years 2002 · 28.3 yrs in 2025
Life expectancyyears at birth
57.92 years 2003 est. · 49.06 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.58 children per woman 2003 est. · 4.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
75.94 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 128 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,600 2002 est. · $280 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.5% 2002 est. · 7.5% in 1994

Introduction

1 field

Background

Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off almost 20 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces in 1998.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 181,040 sq km

arable land 20.96%permanent crops 0.61%other 78.43% (1998 est.)irrigated 2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
181,040sq km
land: 176,520 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq kmslightly smaller than Oklahoma
Coastline
443km
contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 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

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

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 have resulted 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, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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

19 fields
Population
13,124,764
growth rate: 1.8% (2003 est.)
Note
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth
27.28Death
9.26Net migration
0

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)57.92
55.49 · 60.47Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)75.94
84.96 · 66.51
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)69.9%
80.5% · 60.3%Median age years (2002)19.2
18.4 · 20
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:
39.3% (male 2,606,568; female 2,557,736)
15-64 years:
57.6% (male 3,599,216; female 3,962,520)
65 years and over:
3.1% (male 148,287; female 250,437) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.59 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.58 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

12,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Cambodian(s)
adjective:
Cambodian

Religions

Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Government

Multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993; King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993); Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 1993) and TOL LAH (since 1998)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

47%
CPP 47%SRP 22%FUNCINPEC 21%other 10%National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be held in July 2007); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held in 2004)

National Assembly, 61 seats, elected 27 July 2003one dot, one seat

CPP 31FUNCINPEC 21SRP 7other (2003) 2

Percent of vote

CPP 47%SRP 22%FUNCINPEC 21%other 10%

Country name

conventional long form:
Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form:
Cambodia
local short form:
Kampuchea
local long form:
Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
former:
Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic

Government type

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Capital

Phnom Penh

Administrative divisions

  • 20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural);
  • Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 1993) and TOL LAH (since 1998)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:
  • none;
  • the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;
  • following 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 king

Legislative branch

bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be held in July 2007); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held in 2004)
election results:
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%;
  • seats by party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24;
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (2003)

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

  • Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY];
  • Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM];
  • Khmer Citizen Party or KCP [NGUON SOEUR];
  • National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH];
  • Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) [SAM RANGSI]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador ROLAND ENG
FAX:
[1] (202) 726-8381
telephone:
[1] (202) 726-7742
chancery:
4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY
embassy:
27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address:
Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone:
[855] (23) 216-436/438
FAX:
[855] (23) 216-437/811

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

Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting.

37 fields
Real growth rate
4.5%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.8%
(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 40%industry 20%services 40% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

60.2%
US
Thailand
24.8%
4.4%
Singapore
16.9%
China
12.1%
Hong Kong
10.9%
9.1%
Germany
7.1%
UK
South Korea
5.5%
Vietnam
5.2%
Exports $1.38 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)Imports $1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)(2002)

Budget

Revenues
$396 millionExpenditures
$607 million (2001 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $254 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 65%hydro 35%other 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
119 million (2001)Electricity consumption
110.6 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 5.0%. Despite severe flooding, GDP grew at 5.0% in 2000, 6.3% in 2001, and 5.2% in 2002.

Tourism was Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in 2001 before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Even given these stout growth estimates, the long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge.

The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. The government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.9%
highest 10%:
33.8% (1997)

Labor force

6 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Agriculture - products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Exports

$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish

Imports

$1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$829 million (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by international donors

Currency

riel (KHR)

Exchange rates

riels per US dollar - 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75 (2000), 3,807.83 (1999), 3,744.42 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
80,000
(2000)
Fixed lines
21,800
(mid-1998) · country code .kh

Telephone system

general assessment:
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 (1999)

Internet users

10,000 (2002)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
1
914 to 1,523 m
13
under 914 m
1
Paved 5Unpaved 16

Networkskm

Highways
12,323Railways
602Waterways
3,700
Highways: paved: 1,996 km · unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est) · Railways: narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2002) · Waterways: note: navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m

Railways

total:
602 km
narrow gauge:
602 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

Highways

total:
12,323 km
paved:
1,996 km
unpaved:
10,327 km (2000 est)

Waterways

3,700 km note: navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:
527 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,328,371 GRT/3,294,028 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 49, cargo 412, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 4, container 17, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 2

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Aruba 1, Belize 11, Bulgaria 3, Cambodia 194, Canada 4, China 25, Cyprus 14, Egypt 10, Estonia 2, France 1, Georgia 1, Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Honduras 8, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Japan 2, Jordan 1, North Korea, 1, South Korea, 25, Latvia 3, Lebanon 6, Liberia 7, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Panama 10, Romania 2, Russia 75, Saint Kitts and Nevis 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 17, Syria 20, Turkey 18, Ukraine 16, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 5, Vietnam 3 (2002 est.)

Airports

21 (2002)

Heliports

2 (2002)

Military

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,275,533 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,829,535 (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • completed boundary demarcation with Thailand;
  • accuses Vietnam of moving and destroying boundary markers and encroachments, initiating border incidents;
  • accuses Thailand of preventing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;
  • maritime boundary with Vietnam hampered by dispute over offshore islands

Illicit drugs

  • 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;
  • vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/2003.

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