Cambodia

Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchyIndependence 9 November 1953 (from France)

Cambodia as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 155 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, UTC+7
Position13 00 N, 105 00 E
Area181,035 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Populationas each edition published it
14.95 million July 2012 est. · 6.99m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.687% 2012 est. · 4.41% in 1993
Median ageyears
23.3 years 2012 est. · 19.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
63.04 years 2012 est. · 49.06 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.78 children per woman 2012 est. · 4.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
54.08 deaths per 1,000 live births 2012 est. · 128 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,400 2012 est. · $280 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.5% 2012 est. · 7.5% in 1994

Introduction

1 field

Background

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 April 1975, after a five-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 December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war.

The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability.

The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, with little of the pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2008 were relatively peaceful.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 181,035 sq km

arable land 20.44%permanent crops 0.59%other 78.97% (2005)irrigated 2,850 sq km (2003)
Area
181,035sq km
country comparison to the world: 90land: 176,515 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq kmslightly smaller than Oklahoma
Coastline
443km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 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

oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita:
290 cu m/yr (2000)

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, most of the population does not have access to potable water;
  • declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea

Geography - note

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

People and Society

30 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)

214,208
65 and over3.8%
355,114
4,621,781
15-6464.3%
4,989,200
2,398,710
0-1431.9%
2,373,652
MaleFemale
Population
14,952,665
(July 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 68growth rate: 1.687% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 71
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Per 1,000 population

Birth
25.17 (2012 est.)Death
7.97 (July 2012 est.)Net migration
-0.33 (2012 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2012 est.)63.04
60.66 · 65.53Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)54.08
61.02 · 46.82Literacy (2004 est.)73.6%
84.7% · 64.1%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2012 est.)23.3
22.6 · 24School life expectancy years (2007)10
10 · 9
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 178 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 37 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Religions(1998 census)

Buddhist (official) 96.4%Muslim 2.1%other 1.3%unspecified 0.2% (1998 census)
Urban population
20%of total population
(2010)rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major cities - population: PHNOM PENH (capital) 1.519 million (2009)
Improved sanitation
29%of population
improved: urban: 67% of populationrural: 18% of populationunimproved: urban: 33% of populationrural: 82% of populationtotal: 71% of population
Maternal mortality rate
250deaths/100,000 live births
(2010)country comparison to the world: 44
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
28.8%
(2008)country comparison to the world: 20

Nationality

noun:
Cambodian(s)
adjective:
Cambodian

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.6 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.78 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Health expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 112

Physicians density

0.227 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density

0.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

63,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Government

Multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy; King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004); Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

77.8%
CPP 77.8%SRP 22.2%Senate - last held on 4 February 2012 (next to be held in February 2018); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013)

Senate, 123 seats, elected 4 February 2012one dot, one seat

CPP 90SRP 26HRP 3FUNCINPEC 2NRP 2

Percent of vote

CPP 77.8%SRP 22.2%

Country name

conventional long form:
Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form:
Cambodia
local long form:
Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)
local short form:
Kampuchea
former:
Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Government type

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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)

Administrative divisions

23 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural)

provinces:
Banteay Mean Choay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Choay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities:
Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh)

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
head of government:
  • Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997];
  • Permanent Deputy Prime Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008);
  • Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992);
  • SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004);
  • BIN CHHIN (since 5 September 2007);
  • KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 24 September 2008);
  • KE KIMYAN (since 12 March 2009)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
  • the king chosen by a Royal Throne Council from among all eligible males of royal descent;
  • following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king

Legislative branch

bicameral, consists of the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held on 4 February 2012 (next to be held in February 2018); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 77.8%, SRP 22.2%;
  • seats by party - CPP 46, SRP 11;
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%, HRP 7%;
  • NRP 6%;
  • FUNCINPEC 5%;
  • others 2%;
  • seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, HRP 3, FUNCINPEC 2, NRP 2

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

  • Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM];
  • Cambodian National Rescue Party or NRP [SAM RANGSI also spelled SAM RAINSY];
  • National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI];
  • Nationalist Party or NP former Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP [SAO RANY]

note: the NRP is a merger between the former Human Rights Party or HRP [KHEM SOKHA, also spelled KEM SOKHA] and the Sam Rangsi Party or SRP

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF;
  • Partnership for Transparency Fund or PTF (anti-corruption organization);
  • Students Movement for Democracy;
  • The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel
other:
human rights organizations; vendors

International organization participation

ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CICA (observer), 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador William E. TODD
embassy:
#1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address:
Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone:
[855] (23) 728-000
FAX:
[855] (23) 728-600

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;
  • red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors

note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

National symbol(s)

Angkor Wat temple; kouprey (wild ox)

National anthem

name:
"Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
lyrics/music:
CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL

note: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime

Economy

Since 2004, garments, construction, agriculture, and tourism have driven Cambodia's growth.

36 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$36.59billion
(2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 108$34.37 billion (2011 est.) · $32.1 billion (2010 est.)note: data are in 2012 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $14.25 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,400
(2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 184$2,300 (2011 est.) · $2,100 (2010 est.)note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real growth rate
6.5%
(2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 317.1% (2011 est.) · 6.1% (2010 est.)industrial production growth: 5.7% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 56
Inflation, consumer prices
4.5%
(2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 1305.5% (2011 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)

agriculture 34.7%industry 24.3%services 41% (2012 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

39.5%
US
Thailand
24.6%
6%
Vietnam
20.6%
China
19.9%
8.2%
Canada
7.8%
Germany
Singapore
7.8%
7.5%
UK
Hong Kong
6%
4.3%
Japan
Exports $6.148 billion (2012 est.)Imports $8.84 billion (2012 est.)(2011)

Budget

Revenues
$2.216 billionExpenditures
$2.934 billion (2012 est.)

Economy - overview

Since 2004, garments, construction, agriculture, and tourism have driven Cambodia's growth. GDP climbed more than 6% per year between 2010 and 2012. The garment industry currently employs more than 335,000 people and accounts for more than 75% of Cambodia's total exports. In 2005, exploitable oil deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a potential revenue stream for the government, if commercial extraction becomes feasible.

Mining also is attracting some investor interest and the government has touted opportunities for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year since 2007. Cambodia, nevertheless, remains one of the poorest countries in Asia and long-term economic development remains a daunting challenge, inhibited by endemic corruption, limited educational opportunities, high income inequality, and poor job prospects.

Approximately 4 million people live on less than $1.25 per day and 37% of Cambodian children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. More than 50% of the population is less than 25 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the impoverished countryside, which also lacks basic infrastructure.

The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs; more than 50% of the government budget comes from donor assistance. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance.

Labor force

8.8 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
57.6%
industry:
15.9%
services:
26.5% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2007 est.) · 2.5% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3%
highest 10%:
37.3% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.4 (2007 est.) · 40 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Investment (gross fixed)

19.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Taxes and other revenues

15.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2008) · 5.25% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 69

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.7% (31 December 2012 est.) · 15.22% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Stock of narrow money

$1.094 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $965.8 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Stock of broad money

$5.695 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $5.037 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Stock of domestic credit

$3.689 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $3.115 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Agriculture - products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, cassava (manioc), silk

Current account balance

-$1.508 billion (2012 est.) · -$1.158 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Exports

$6.148 billion (2012 est.) · $6.018 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Exports - commodities

clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Imports

$8.84 billion (2012 est.) · $8.213 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.732 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $4.069 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Debt - external

$5.071 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $5.03 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,075.4 (2012 est.) · 4,058.5 (2011 est.) · 4,184.9 (2010 est.) · 4,139 (2009) · 4,070.94 (2008)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 390,900 kW(2009 est.)

Fossil fuels 95.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)Hydroelectric plants 3.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)Other renewable sources 1.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)Nuclear fuels 0%
Electricity production
1.137 billion (2009 est.)Electricity consumption
1.759 billion (2009 est.)Electricity imports
842 million (2009 est.)Refined petroleum imports
34,340 (2008 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
39,350 (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.59 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
13.757 million
(2011)
Internet users
13,784
(2012)
Fixed lines
530,000
(2011) · country code .kh

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • adequate fixed-line and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities;
  • mobile-cellular phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network;
  • mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas
domestic:
  • fixed-line connections stand at about 4 per 100 persons;
  • mobile-cellular usage, aided by competition among service providers, is increasing rapidly and stands at 92 per 100 persons
international:
  • country code - 855;
  • 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) (2011)

Broadcast media

  • mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately-owned broadcast media;
  • 9 TV broadcast stations with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting from multiple locations, 6 stations either jointly operated or privately-owned with some broadcasting from several locations, and 2 TV relay stations - one relaying a French TV station and the other relaying a Vietnamese TV station;
  • multi-channel cable and satellite systems are available;
  • roughly 50 radio broadcast stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a large mixture of public and private broadcasters;
  • several international broadcasters are available (2009)

Internet users

78,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 167

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 544 ships by type

bulk carrier 38cargo 459carrier 7chemical tanker 4container 4liquefied gas 1passenger 1passenger/cargo 6petroleum tanker 8refrigerated cargo 11roll on/roll off 4vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 352 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 177, Cyprus 4, Egypt 4, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Japan 1, Lebanon 5, Russia 50, Singapore 3, South Korea 10, Syria 22, Taiwan 1, Turkey 15, UAE 2, UK 1, Ukraine 35, Vietnam 1) (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
1

Networkskm

Roadways
39,618Railways
690Waterways
3,700 (2012)
Roadways: paved: 2,492 km · unpaved: 37,126 km (2009) · Railways: narrow gauge: 690 km 1.000-m gauge note: under restoration (2010) · Waterways: (mainly on Mekong River)

Airports

16 (2012) country comparison to the world: 143

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6; 2,438 to 3,047 m:; 3; 1,524 to 2,437 m:; 2; 914 to 1,523 m:; 1 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Railways

total:
690 km

country comparison to the world: 101

narrow gauge:
690 km 1.000-m gauge

note: under restoration (2010)

Roadways

total:
39,618 km

country comparison to the world: 89

paved:
2,492 km
unpaved:
37,126 km (2009)

Waterways

3,700 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2012) country comparison to the world: 29

Ports and terminals

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Military

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2011)

6 fields
Military expenditures
3%of GDP
(2005 est.)country comparison to the world: 45

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2011)

Military service age and obligation

conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
3,883,724
females age 16-49:
4,003,585 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
2,638,167
females age 16-49:
2,965,328 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
151,143
female:
154,542 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • Cambodia is concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction;
  • Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary;
  • in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site;
  • Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities;
  • progress on a joint development area with Vietnam is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands

Illicit drugs

  • narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police;
  • limited methamphetamine production;
  • vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cambodia.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/2012.