Cambodia

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 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.

Geography

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: 181,035 sq km
country comparison to the world: 90 land:176,515 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

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 (2008)

Total renewable water resources

476.1 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.08cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita:290cu m/yr (2000)

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, most of the population does not have access to potable water

declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment – international 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

Geography – note

a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective:Cambodian

Ethnic groups

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Languages

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Religions

Buddhist (official) 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998 census)

Population

14,701,717 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 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: 32.2% (male 2,375,155/female 2,356,305)
15-64 years:64.1% (male 4,523,030/female 4,893,761)
65 years and over:3.8% (male 208,473/female 344,993) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.9 years
male:22.2 years
female:23.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.698% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Birth rate

25.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Death rate

8.07 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Net migration rate

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Urbanization

urban population: 20% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

PHNOM PENH (capital) 1.519 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.6 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

290 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 46

Infant mortality rate

total: 55.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 38 male:62.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female:48.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.67 years
country comparison to the world: 177 male:60.31 years
female:65.13 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.84 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Health expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 112

Physicians density

0.227 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148

Hospital bed density

0.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 183

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 81% of population
rural: 56% of population
total: 61% of population
unimproved:
urban: 19% of population
rural: 44% of population
total: 39% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 67% of population
rural: 18% of population
total: 29% of population
unimproved:
urban: 33% of population
rural: 82% of population
total: 71% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

63,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

HIV/AIDS – deaths

3,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Major infectious diseases

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 (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

28.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 153

Literacy

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)

total: 10 years
male:10 years
female:9 years (2007)

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 Mean Choay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Choay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities:Phnum Penh (Phnom 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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012)

National Assembly – last held on 27 July 2008 (next to be held in July 2013)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%

seats by party – CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2

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]

Human Rights Party or HRP [KHEM SOKHA, also spelled KEM SOKHA]

National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]

Nationalist Party or NP [CHHIM SEAK LENG] (formerly the NRP)

Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI, also spelled SAM RAINSY]

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 (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, 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 (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires Jeff DIGLE
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

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

red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors
note:only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

National symbol(s)

Angkor Wat temple

kouprey (wild ox)

National anthem

name: “Nokoreach” (Royal Kingdom)
lyrics/music:CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
note:adopted 1941, restored 1993

the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime

Economy

Economy – overview

From 2004 to 2007, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction, agriculture, and tourism. GDP contracted slightly in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but climbed more than 4% in 1010, driven by renewed exports. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The garment industry currently employs more than 280,000 people – about 5% of the work force – and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia’s exports. In 2005, exploitable oil 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 northern parts of the country. 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 several rounds of discussions have been held since 2007. Rubber exports increased about 25% in 2009 due to rising global demand. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08

however, economic troubles abroad dampened growth in 2009. The global financial crisis is weakening demand for Cambodian exports, and construction is declining due to a shortage of credit. 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 25 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)

$30.18 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 $28.47 billion (2009 est.)
$29.04 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.63 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 -2% (2009 est.)
6.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188 $2,000 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 33.4%
industry:21.4%
services:45.2% (2009 est.)

Labor force

8.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 57.6%
industry:15.9%
services:26.5% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 2.5% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

31% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%:37.3% (2007)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

44.4 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43 40 (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Budget

revenues: $1.472 billion
expenditures:$2.159 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129 -0.7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 72 5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.633% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40 15.812% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$789.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146 $742.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.832 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126 $3.875 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125 $1.979 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, 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.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity – production

1.377 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity – consumption

1.559 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

374 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Oil – consumption

32,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Oil – imports

33,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Current account balance

-$990.6 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134 -$865.7 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$5.527 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107 $4.302 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports – partners

US 47.3%, Canada 7.5%, UK 6.8%, Germany 6.4%, Thailand 4.3%, Japan 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$7.38 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 $5.876 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports – partners

Thailand 26.5%, Singapore 25.1%, China 15.3%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Vietnam 6.5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.802 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93 $3.288 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.431 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 $4.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar -
4,145 (2010)
4,139 (2009)
4,070.94 (2008)
4,006 (2007)
4,103 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

17 (2010)
country comparison to the world:142

Airports – with paved runways

total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Railways

total: 690 km
country comparison to the world: 101 narrow gauge:690 km 1.000-m gauge
note:under restoration (2010)

Roadways

total: 38,093 km
country comparison to the world: 93 paved:2,977 km
unpaved:35,116 km (2007)

Waterways

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 36

Merchant marine

total: 620
country comparison to the world: 20 by type:bulk carrier 40, cargo 526, carrier 5, chemical tanker 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:426 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 203, Cyprus 8, Egypt 12, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Japan 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 6, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 60, Singapore 4, South Korea 11, Syria 22, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, UAE 2, UK 3, Ukraine 37, US 4, Vietnam 1)
note:this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag

these ships operate under the laws of the flag state (2010)

Ports and terminals

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Military

Military branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2011)

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.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 151,143
female:154,542 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Cambodia is concerned about Laos’ extensive upstream dam construction

Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary

in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site

Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities

Progress on a joint development area with Vietnam is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands

Illicit drugs

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