Cambodia

Kingdom of CambodiaPreahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)

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

Cambodia as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 166 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
15.46 million July 2014 est. · 6.99m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.63% 2014 est. · 4.41% in 1993
Median ageyears
24.1 years 2014 est. · 19.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
63.78 years 2014 est. · 49.06 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.66 children per woman 2014 est. · 4.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
51.36 deaths per 1,000 live births 2014 est. · 128 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,600 2013 est. · $280 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
7% 2013 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, as were commune council elections in June 2012.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 181,035 sq km

arable land 22.09%permanent crops 0.86%other 77.05% (2011)irrigated 3,536 sq km (2006)
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
2,530km
border countries: Laos 555 km, Thailand 817 km, Vietnam 1,158 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:
2.18 cu km/yr (4%/2%/94%)
per capita:
159.8 cu m/yr (2006)

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 (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)

People and Society

37 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)

229,684
65 and over4%
380,953
298,733
55-645.1%
482,588
2,938,366
25-5438.9%
3,082,496
1,565,135
15-2420.5%
1,596,099
2,460,659
0-1431.6%
2,423,619
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.6 % · youth dependency ratio: 49 % · elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 % · potential support ratio: 11.6 (2014 est.)
Population
15,458,332
country comparison to the world: 69growth rate: 1.63% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 75
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 (July 2014 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)

Birth
24.4Death
7.78Net migration
-0.32

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2014 est.)63.78
61.35 · 66.32Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)51.36
58.1 · 44.31Literacy (2009 est.)73.9%
82.8% · 65.9%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2014 est.)24.1
23.4 · 24.8School life expectancy years (2008)11
12 · 10Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2008)3.4%
3.5% · 3.3%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 179 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 36 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 141

Ethnic groups

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

Religions(2008 est.)

Buddhist (official) 96.9%Muslim 1.9%Christian 0.4%other 0.8% (2008 est.)
Urban population
20%of total population
(2011)rate of urbanization: 2.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: PHNOM PENH (capital) 1.55 million (2011)
Improved drinking water
71.3%of population
improved: urban: 93.9% of populationrural: 65.6% of populationunimproved: urban: 6.1% of populationrural: 34.4% of populationtotal: 28.7% of population (2012 est.)
Improved sanitation
36.8%of population
improved: urban: 81.6% of populationrural: 25.5% of populationunimproved: urban: 18.4% of populationrural: 74.5% of populationtotal: 63.2% of population (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
250deaths/100,000 live births
(2010)country comparison to the world: 45Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.8note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Cambodian(s)
adjective:
Cambodian

Languages

Khmer (official) 96.3%, other 3.7% (2008 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.6 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.66 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 118

Physicians density

0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

76,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial 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 (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

2.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 183

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29% (2011) country comparison to the world: 20

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 152

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
1,345,269
percentage:
39 % (2001 est.)

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%CNRP (SRP) 22.2%Senate - last held on 4 February 2012 (next to be held in February 2018); National Assembly - last held on 28 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2018)

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

CPP 68CNRP 55

Percent of vote

CPP 77.8%CNRP (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 Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo
municipalities:
Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Constitution

previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993; amended 1999, 2008 (2008)

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 28 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2018)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 77.8%, CNRP (SRP) 22.2%;
  • seats by party - CPP 46, CNRP (SRP) 11;
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 48.8%, NRP 44.5%, FUNCINPEC 3.9%, others 2.8%;
  • seats by party - CPP 68, CNRP 55

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
Supreme Court (organized into 5- and 9-judge panels and includes a court chief and deputy chief); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members);
  • note - in 1997, the Cambodian Government requested UN assistance in establishing trials to prosecute former Khmer Rouge senior leaders for crimes against humanity committed during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime;
  • the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts in Cambodia were established and began hearings for the first case in 2009
judge selection and term of office:
  • Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judge candidates recommended by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, a 9-member body chaired by the monarch and includes other high-level judicial officers;
  • judges of both courts appointed by the monarch;
  • Supreme Court judge tenure NA;
  • Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of the court renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts:
  • municipal and provincial courts;
  • appellate courts;
  • military court

Political parties and leaders

  • Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]
  • Cambodian National Rescue Party or CNRP [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 CNRP 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, MINUSMA, 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 (since 29 January 2009)
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 (since 17 April 2012)
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)

Economy

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

39 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$39.64billion
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 107$37.04 billion (2012 est.) · $34.52 billion (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $15.64 billion (2013 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,600
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 183$2,400 (2012 est.) · $2,300 (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Real growth rate
7%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 217.3% (2012 est.) · 7.1% (2011 est.)industrial production growth: 9.5% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 17
Inflation, consumer prices
3.2%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 1192.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)

agriculture 34.8%industry 24.5%services 40.7% (2013 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

32.6%
US
Thailand
27.1%
5.7%
Vietnam
20.3%
China
19.5%
8.3%
UK
7.7%
Germany
7.7%
Canada
6.6%
Singapore
7.1%
Hong Kong
5.8%
4.7%
Japan
South Korea
4.3%
Exports $6.781 billion (2013 est.)Imports $8.895 billion (2013 est.)(2012)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
74.7%Government consumption
7.7%Fixed capital
16.4%Inventories
2.1%Exports
65.3%Imports
-66.2%
(2013 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$2.685 billionExpenditures
$3.1 billion (2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Since 2004, garments, construction, agriculture, and tourism have driven Cambodia's growth. GDP climbed more than 7% per year between 2010 and 2013. The garment industry currently employs more about 400,000 people and accounts for about 70% 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 and reaching over 3 million visitors in 2012.

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 Asian Development Bank, 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.

Gross national saving

9.6% of GDP (2013 est.) · 9.1% of GDP (2012 est.) · 12% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Labor force

7.9 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
55.8%
industry:
16.9%
services:
27.3% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

0% (2011 est.) · 0.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.9 (2008 est.) · 41.9 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Taxes and other revenues

17.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Public debt

NA% of GDP

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2012) · 5.25% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 64

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13% (31 December 2013 est.) · 12.98% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Stock of narrow money

$1.206 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $995.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Stock of broad money

$8.373 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $7.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Stock of domestic credit

$5.705 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.801 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Current account balance

-$1.262 billion (2013 est.) · -$1.208 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Exports

$6.781 billion (2013 est.) · $6.016 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$8.895 billion (2013 est.) · $7.965 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.415 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.938 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Debt - external

$4.912 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.567 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,037.6 (2013 est.) · 4,033 (2012 est.) · 4,184.9 (2010 est.) · 4,139 (2009) · 4,070.94 (2008)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 359,900 kW(2010 est.)

Fossil fuels 94.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Hydroelectric plants 3.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Other renewable sources 1.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Nuclear fuels 0%
Electricity production
1.019 billion (2011 est.)Electricity consumption
2.573 billion (2011 est.)Electricity imports
1.83 billion (2011 est.)Refined petroleum imports
26,250 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
39,350 (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

0.5 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
19.1 million
(2012)
Internet users
13,784
(2012)
Fixed lines
584,000
(2012) · 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 (2013) country comparison to the world: 142

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 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

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: 88

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

major seaport(s):
Sihanoukville (Kampong Saom)
river port(s):
Phnom Penh (Mekong)

Military

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2013)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.54%of GDP
(2012)country comparison to the world: 601.5% of GDP (2011) · 1.54% of GDP (2010)

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2012)

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

3 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 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

Trafficking in persons

current situation:
  • Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking;
  • Cambodian men, women, and children migrate to countries within the region for legitimate work but are subsequently subjected to sex trafficking, domestic servitude, debt bondage, or forced labor;
  • the inability to understand formal obligations, read contracts, or pay processing fees, and inadequate government regulatory oversight renders some Cambodian migrant workers vulnerable to such exploitation;
  • poor Cambodian children are subject to forced labor, including forced begging in Thailand and Vietnam;
  • Cambodian and ethnic Vietnamese women and girls are trafficked from rural areas to urban centers for sexual exploitation;
  • Cambodian men are the main exploiters of child prostitutes, but men from other Asian countries, the US, and Europe travel to Cambodia for child sex tourism
tier rating:
  • Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
  • however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
  • the government has prosecuted and convicted fewer trafficking offenders and identified fewer victims than in the previous year;
  • corruption continues to impede anti-trafficking endeavors;
  • authorities systematically refer identified victims to NGO shelters, which provide the majority of services but lack long-term care services, making victims, particularly children, vulnerable to re-trafficking;
  • the government has established a migration working group within its anti-trafficking committee to better address the exploitation of Cambodian workers abroad, but laws governing migrant workers abroad remain weak (2013)

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 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cambodia/2014.