Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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 almost 20 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
in 1998. |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand,
Vietnam, and Laos |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 00 N, 105 00 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast
Asia |
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Area:
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total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Oklahoma |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228
km |
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Coastline:
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443 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December
to April); little seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower
potential |
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.96%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 78.43% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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2,700 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
|
|
Population:
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13,124,764
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 and growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and
sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 39.3% (male 2,606,568; female 2,557,736)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 3,599,216; female 3,962,520)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 148,287; female 250,437) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 19.2 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 20 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.8% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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27.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 75.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 84.96 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 57.92 years
male: 55.49 years
female: 60.47 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.58 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.7% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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170,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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12,000 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% |
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Religions:
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Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% |
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Languages:
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Khmer (official) 95%, French, English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 80.5%
female: 60.3% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local short form: Kampuchea
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
former: Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic |
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Government type:
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multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established
in September 1993 |
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Capital:
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Phnom Penh |
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Administrative divisions:
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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*, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng,
Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev |
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Independence:
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9 November 1953 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 9 November (1953) |
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Constitution:
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promulgated 21 September 1993 |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 1993) and TOL
LAH (since 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 27 July 2003 (next
to be held in July 2007); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next
to be held in 2004)
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
- NA%; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (2003)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution
and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises
judicial authority |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador ROLAND ENG
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438
FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811 |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 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 5.0%. Despite severe flooding, GDP grew at 5.0% in 2000,
6.3% in 2001, and 5.2% in 2002. Tourism was Cambodia's fastest growing
industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in 2001
before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Even
given these stout growth estimates, 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. The government is addressing these issues
with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.5% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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36% (1997 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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40.4 (1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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6 million (1998 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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2.8% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $396 million
expenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures
of $254 million (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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16% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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119 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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110.6 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, rubber, corn, vegetables |
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Exports:
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$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish |
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Exports - partners:
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US 60.2%, Germany 9.1%, UK 7.1%, Singapore 4.4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery,
motor vehicles |
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Imports - partners:
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Thailand 24.8%, Singapore 16.9%, China 12.1%, Hong Kong 10.9%, South
Korea 5.5%, Vietnam 5.2% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$829 million (1999 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by
international donors |
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Currency:
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riel (KHR) |
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Currency code:
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KHR |
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Exchange rates:
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riels per US dollar - 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75
(2000), 3,807.83 (1999), 3,744.42 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
|
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Railways:
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total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 12,323 km
paved: 1,996 km
unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est) |
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Waterways:
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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 |
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Ports and harbors:
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Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
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Merchant marine:
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total: 527 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,328,371 GRT/3,294,028
DWT
ships by type: bulk 49, cargo 412, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 4, container 17, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional
large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated
cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Aruba 1, Belize 11, Bulgaria 3, Cambodia
194, Canada 4, China 25, Cyprus 14, Egypt 10, Estonia 2, France
1, Georgia 1, Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Honduras 8, Hong
Kong 12, Iceland 1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Japan
2, Jordan 1, North Korea, 1, South Korea, 25, Latvia 3, Lebanon
6, Liberia 7, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Netherlands
1, Norway 1, Panama 10, Romania 2, Russia 75, Saint Kitts and Nevis
4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 17, Syria 20, Turkey
18, Ukraine 16, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 1, United
States 5, Vietnam 3 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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21 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 16
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13 |
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Heliports:
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2 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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