Cambodia  
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This page was last updated on 4 September 2008


Map of Cambodia



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Cambodia Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for crimes against humanity. 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 SIHANOUK abdicated the throne due to illness and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, and there was little in the way of pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections are scheduled for July 2008.
   Geography    Cambodia Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
443 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
2,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
476.1 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap
   People    Cambodia Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,241,640
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 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21.7 years
male: 21 years
female: 22.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.752% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 56.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 61.69 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
170,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.7% (2004)
   Government    Cambodia Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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]; Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006), BIN CHHIN (since 5 September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister
elections: 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:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and 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)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%, others 20%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, others 7; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP [Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design
   Economy    Cambodia Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and tourism. The US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the industry. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced producing countries such as China and India. Better-than-expected garment sector performance led to more than 9% growth in 2007. Its vibrant garment industry employs more than 350,000 people and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. The Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy supporting high labor standards in an attempt to maintain buyer interest. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country, and the government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed and the first round of discussions took place in early 2007. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals reaching 2 million in 2007. In 2007 the government signed a joint venture agreement with two companies to form a new national airline. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. 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. More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$25.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$8.604 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 31%
industry: 26%
services: 43% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 75%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
35% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 34.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
41.7 (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.9% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $972.8 million
expenditures: $1.04 billion (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
134 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
206.6 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
82 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,585 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$77 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.071 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 59.1%, Germany 7.5%, UK 4.7%, Canada 4.6% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.413 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Thailand 27.3%, China 16.8%, Hong Kong 12%, Taiwan 8.9%, Singapore 8.8%, Vietnam 6.1% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$698.2 million pledged in grants and concession loans for 2007 by international donors (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.143 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
riel (KHR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
riels per US dollar - 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Cambodia Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
32,800 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.583 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition among service providers, is increasing and stands at about 8 per 100 persons
domestic: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas
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) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 17, shortwave NA (2003)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
9 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.kh
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
941 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Cambodia Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 38,257 km
paved: 2,406 km
unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 599 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,861,317 GRT/2,612,047 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 39, cargo 501, carrier 3, chemical tanker 8, container 9, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 454 (Canada 2, China 174, Cyprus 9, Egypt 13, Gabon 1, Greece 6, Hong Kong 14, Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Latvia 1, Lebanon 7, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Romania 1, Russia 94, Singapore 3, South Korea 23, Syria 33, Taiwan 1, Turkey 24, UAE 1, Ukraine 32, US 6, Yemen 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)
   Military    Cambodia Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 3,759,034
females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,581,045
females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 185,959
females age 16-49: 182,558 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Cambodia Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part of a planned UN World Heritage site
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 4 September 2008


 

Source : The World Factbook