Cambodia Population: 15,205,539
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| A land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos |
| Geographic coordinates: | 13 00 N, 105 00 E |
| Area: | total: 181,035 sq km land: 176,515 sq km water: 4,520 sq km Size comparison: 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: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 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: | oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential |
| Land use: | arable land: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 2,850 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 15,205,539 (July 2013 est.) 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 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.7% (male 2,428,507/female 2,397,327) 15-24 years: 21.2% (male 1,597,990/female 1,627,161) 25-54 years: 38.2% (male 2,828,752/female 2,985,226) 55-64 years: 4.9% (male 287,073/female 464,991) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 221,356/female 367,156) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 23.3 years male: 22.6 years female: 24 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.687% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 25.17 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 61.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 63.04 years male: 60.66 years female: 65.53 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.72 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.5% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 63,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 3,100 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian |
| Ethnic groups: | Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% |
| Religions: | Buddhist (official) 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998 census) |
| Languages: | Khmer (official) 95%, French, English |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.6% male: 85.1% female: 70.9% (2008 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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: | promulgated 21 September 1993 |
| Legal system: | civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia) customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law |
| 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 the World 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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 about 398,000 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $36.64 billion (2012 est.) $34.37 billion (2011 est.) $32.1 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $14.25 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.6% (2012 est.) 7.1% (2011 est.) 6.1% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,400 (2012 est.) $2,300 (2011 est.) $2,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 34.7% industry: 24.3% services: 41% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 7.9 million (2011 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 55.8% industry: 16.9% services: 27.3% (2010 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 0% (2011 est.) 0.3% (2010 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 20% (2012 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 19.1% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $2.049 billion expenditures: $2.704 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | NA % of GDP |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, cassava (manioc), silk |
| Industries: | tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 5.7% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 1.019 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 2.573 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 1.83 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.508 billion (2012 est.) -$1.122 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $6.148 billion (2012 est.) $6.155 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear |
| Exports - partners: | US 39.5%, Canada 8.2%, Germany 7.8%, UK 7.5%, Vietnam 6%, Japan 4.3% (2011) |
| Imports: | $8.84 billion (2012 est.) $8.213 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products |
| Imports - partners: | Thailand 24.6%, Vietnam 20.6%, China 19.9%, Singapore 7.8%, Hong Kong 6% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $3.732 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.069 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $3.992 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.611 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| 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 |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 530,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 95 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 13.757 million (2011) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .kh |
| Internet hosts: | 13,784 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 78,500 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 16 (2012) country comparison to the world: 142 |
| Airports (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) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| Railways: | total: 690 km narrow gauge: 690 km 1.000-m gauge note: under restoration (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 39,618 km paved: 2,492 km unpaved: 37,126 km (2009) |
| Waterways: | 3,700 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2012) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 544 by type: bulk carrier 38, cargo 459, carrier 7, chemical tanker 4, container 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-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) |
| Ports and terminals: | Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2013) |
| 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.) |
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