Country List | World Factbook Home
The World Factbook 2002
| Cambodia |

Introduction | Cambodia

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 13 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.

Geography | Cambodia

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
Area: | total: 181,040 sq km land: 176,520 sq km water: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries: | total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: | 443 km
Maritime claims: | contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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
Elevation extremes: | 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
Land use: | arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% other: 78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
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 | Cambodia

Population: | 12,775,324 note: estimates for this country explicitly 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 2002 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 40.7% (male 2,646,883; female 2,550,015) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 3,373,692; female 3,758,736) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 182,149; female 263,849) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.24% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: | 32.93 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: | 10.51 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | 64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 57.1 years female: 59.5 years (2002 est.) male: 54.81 years
Total fertility rate: | 4.66 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 4.04% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 220,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 14,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups: | Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions: | Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages: | Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35% male: 48% female: 22% (1990 est.)

Government | Cambodia

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* (Sihanoukville), 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
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
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 NA) and TOL LAH (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly
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 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA July 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 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: | 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, 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: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN embassy: 16-18 Mongkol lem St. 228, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436 FAX: [855] (23) 216-437
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

Economy - overview: | Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 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%. GDP growth for 2000 had been projected to reach 5.5%, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural crops, and high oil prices hurt industrial production, and growth for the year is estimated at only 4%. In 2001, severe floods damaged an estimated 15% of the area devoted to rice. Tourism now is Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in 2001 before the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. 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. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $18.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 5.3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 36% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 40.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force: | 6 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 2.8% (1999 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $363 million expenditures: $532 million, including capital expenditures of $225 million (2000 est.)
Industries: | tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | 132 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 62.12% hydro: 37.88% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: | 122.76 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: | rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports: | $1.05 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: | timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish
Exports - partners: | US 46.4%, Vietnam 26.1%, Germany 5.6%, Singapore 5.0%, UK 3.9% (2000)
Imports: | $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles
Imports - partners: | Singapore 22.5%, Thailand 19.8%, Hong Kong 15.6%, China 4.9%, Vietnam 4.9% (2000)
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)
Currency code: | KHR
Exchange rates: | riels per US dollar - 3,895.0 (January 2002), 3,918.5 (2001), 3,840.8 (2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Cambodia

Telephones - main lines in use: | 21,800 (mid-1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 80,000 (2000)
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)
Radios: | 1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 5 (1999)
Televisions: | 94,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .kh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)
Internet users: | 6,000 (2001)

Transportation | Cambodia

Railways: | total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge (2001 est.)
Highways: | total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997)
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: 404 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,889,404 GRT/2,740,232 DWT ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 312, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 5, container 7, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Aruba 1, Belize 8, British Virgin Islands 1, Bulgaria 3, China 21, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Egypt 7, Estonia 1, Georgia 1, Germany 1, Greece 12, Honduras 5, Hong Kong 12, Iceland 1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 2, Lebanon 5, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Panama 7, Romania 4, Russia 67, Saint Kitts and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Singapore 15, South Korea 24, Syria 13, Thailand 1, Turkey 22, Ukraine 13, United Arab Emirates 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 5, Vietnam 2, Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: | 20 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 15 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13
Heliports: | 2 (2001)

Military | Cambodia

Military branches: | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: | 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 2,990,790 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,673,713 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 162,643 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3% (FY01 est.)

Transnational Issues | Cambodia

Disputes - international: | demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is nearing completion; accuses Thailand of moving or destroying boundary markers and encroachment, of not respecting its claims, and of sealing off access to the Preah Vihear temple ruin awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962; accuses Vietnam of territorial encroachments and initiating armed border incidents in seven provinces, despite substantial demarcation efforts to date; disputes several offshore islands with Vietnam, which prevents delimitation of a maritime boundary
Illicit drugs: | 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

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002