from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Cambodia
Introduction
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. Cambodia
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 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.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,
between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic 13 00 N, 105 00 E
coordinates:
Map Southeast Asia
references:
Area: total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Oklahoma
comparative:
Land total: 2,572 km
boundaries: border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam
1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
extremes: highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore,
resources: manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated 2,700 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
hazards: occasional droughts
Environment - illegal logging activities throughout the country and
current strip mining for gems in the western region along the
issues: 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 - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong
note: River and Tonle Sap
People
Population: 13,881,427
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 and death rates, lower population growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population by
age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)
15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 20.6 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population 1.78% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 77.35 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 59.29 years
expectancy at male: 57.35 years
birth: female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2.6% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 170,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 15,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and
Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations
note: at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal
risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could
occur among US citizens who have close contact with
infected birds or poultry (2005)
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: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
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: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic
Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of
Cambodia
Government multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
type:
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 20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4
divisions: 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, Preah Seihanu
Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
National Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
holiday:
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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October
branch: 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14
January 1985) and 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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by
the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister
elections: none; 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 bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123
branch: 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 2003
(next to be held in July 2008); Senate - last held 22
January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%;
seats by party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate -
percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP
10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2
(January 2006)
Judicial Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the
branch: constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme
Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority
Political Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party)
parties and or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front for an
leaders: Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative
Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Sam Rangsi
Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
representation chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
representation embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun
from the US: Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600
Flag three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double
description: width), and blue with a white three-towered temple
representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center
of the red band; only national flag to incorporate an
actual building in its design
Economy
Economy - In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the
overview: government made progress on economic reforms. 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. 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. 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. Although initial 2005 GDP growth
estimates were less than 3%, better-than-expected
garment sector performance led the IMF to forecast 6%
growth in 2005. Faced with the possibility that its
vibrant garment industry, with more than 200,000 jobs,
could be in serious danger, the Cambodian government
has committed itself to a policy of continued support
for high labor standards in an attempt to maintain
favor with buyers. The tourism industry continues to
grow rapidly, with foreign visitors surpassing 1
million for the year by September 2005. In 2005,
exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found
beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a
new revenue stream for the government once commercial
extraction begins in the coming years. The long-term
development of the economy remains a daunting
challenge. The Cambodian government continues to work
with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the
World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many
pressing needs. In December 2004, official donors
pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on the condition
that the Cambodian government implement steps to reduce
corruption. 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 20 years or younger.
The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which
suffers from an almost total lack of basic
infrastructure. Fully 75% of the population remains
engaged in subsistence farming.
GDP $34.08 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $4.729 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 13.4% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $2,500 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 35%
composition by industry: 30%
sector: services: 35% (2004)
Labor force: 7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 75%
by occupation: industry: NA%
services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment 2.5% (2000 est.)
rate:
Population 40% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2.9%
income or highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 40 (2004 est.)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 5.8% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 23.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $559.4 million
expenditures: $772 million; including capital
expenditures of $291 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
products:
Industries: tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood
products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial 22% (2002 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 123.7 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 65%
production by hydro: 35%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 115 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 3,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-166 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
commodities:
Exports - US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6%
partners: (2005)
Imports: $3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction
commodities: materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical
products
Imports - Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand
partners: 11.2%, Taiwan 10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%,
Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of $1.145 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $800 million (2003 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans
recipient: for 2005 by international donors
Currency riel (KHR)
(code):
Currency code: KHR
Exchange riels per US dollar - 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004),
rates: 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 36,400 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1.062 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular
system: service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities;
mobile phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural
areas
domestic: NA
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)
Radio AM 2, FM 17 (2003)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 1.34 million (1997)
Television 11 (including two TV relay stations with French and
broadcast Vietnamese broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV
stations: stations (2006)
Televisions: 94,000 (1997)
Internet .kh
country code:
Internet 1,378 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 41,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 20 (2006)
Airports - total: 6
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 14
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 12,323 km
paved: 1,996 km
unpaved: 10,327 km (2000)
Waterways: 2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
Merchant total: 544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/
marine: 2,529,708 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker
11, container 10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo
4, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/
roll off 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128,
Cyprus 12, Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15,
Indonesia 1, Japan 4, South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon
6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Russia 105,
Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2, Turkey 26,
UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and Phnom Penh
terminals:
Military
Military Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army,
branches: Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)
Military conscription law made effective in October 2006
service age requires all males between 18-30 to register for
and military service; service obligation is 18 months
obligation: (2006)
Manpower males age 18-49: 3,002,718
available for females age 18-49: 3,108,254 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 1,955,141
for military females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 175,497
reaching females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $112 million (FY01 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 3% (FY01 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Southeast Asian states have enhanced border
international: surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia
and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing
boundary markers and Thai encroachments into Cambodian
territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered
by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia
accuses Thailand of obstructing access to Preah Vihear
temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in
1962; in 2004, Cambodian-Laotian and Laotian-Vietnamese
boundary commissions re-erected missing markers
completing most of their demarcations
Trafficking in current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination,
persons: and transit country for men, women, and children
trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and
forced labor; a significant number of women and
children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; men
are trafficked primarily to Thailand for forced labor
in the construction and agricultural sectors,
particularly the fishing industry, while women and
girls are trafficked for factory and domestic work;
children are trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the
purpose of forced begging; Cambodia is a transit and
destination point for women from Vietnam trafficked for
sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexual
exploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders,
from rural areas to the cities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking; however, it is committed to
making significant efforts to sustain progress over the
coming year
Illicit drugs: narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some
in the government, military, and police; possible
small-scale heroin and methamphetamine production;
vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based
economy and porous borders