Cambodia

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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 1975, after a seven-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 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off 13 years of internecine warfare in which a coalition of Khmer Rouge, Cambodian nationalists, and royalist insurgents, with assistance from China, fought the Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). <br><br>The 1991 Paris Agreements ended the country’s civil war and mandated democratic elections, which took place in 1993 and ushered in a period of multi-party democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Norodom SIHANOUK was reinstated as head of state, and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC party formed a coalition government.  Nevertheless, the power-sharing arrangement proved fractious and fragile, and in 1997, a coup led by CPP leader and former PRK prime minister HUN SEN dissolved the coalition and sidelined FUNCINPEC. Despite further attempts at coalition governance, the CPP has since remained in power through elections criticized for lacking fairness, political and judicial corruption, media control, and influence over labor unions, all of which have been enforced with violence and intimidation. HUN SEN remained as prime minister until 2023, when he transferred power to his son, HUN MANET. HUN SEN has subsequently maintained considerable influence as the leader of the CPP and the Senate. The CPP has also placed limits on civil society, press freedom, and freedom of expression. Despite some economic growth and considerable investment from China over the past decade, Cambodia remains one of East Asia's poorest countries.<br><br>The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in 1999. A UN-backed special tribunal established in Cambodia in 1997 tried some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal concluded in 2022 with three convictions.

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Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

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13 00 N, 105 00 E

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Southeast Asia

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1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma

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443 km

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tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

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mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

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oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land

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3,540 sq km (2012)

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Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh; further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers

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monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

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a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)

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Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7% (2019-20 est.)

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Buddhist (official) 97.1%, Muslim 2%, Christian 0.3%, other 0.5% (2019 est.)

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0.95% (2025 est.)

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17.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh; further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers

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2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)

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23.3 years (2021-22 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

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137 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.14 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.05 (2025 est.)

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0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

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0.7 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)

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3.9% (2016)

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16.3% (2021 est.)

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67.2% (2022 est.)

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habitat and biodiversity loss from illegal logging and strip mining; destruction of mangrove swamps; soil erosion; limited access to potable water in rural areas; illegal fishing and overfishing; deforestation leading to sediment build-up in coastal ecosystems

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tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

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18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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476.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary constitutional monarchy

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24 provinces (<em>khett</em>, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (<em>krong</em>, singular and plural) <br><br><strong>provinces:</strong> Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmum <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)

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civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note: </strong> MANET succeeded his father, HUN SEN, who had been prime minister since 1985

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Cambodian People's Party (CPP) <br>United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC)

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<strong>note:</strong>  the Cambodian Government has disqualified the main opposition Candlelight Party

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ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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9 November 1953 (from France)

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Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

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<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double-width), and blue; a three-towered, stylized white temple outlined in black is in the center of the red band, representing Angkor Wat<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors

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<strong>note:</strong> only national flag to prominently incorporate an identifiable building into its design; Afghanistan, San Marino, Portugal, and Spain show small generic buildings as part of their coats of arms on the flag

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Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox)

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red, blue

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Cambodia’s coat of arms is also the Royal Arms of Cambodia; the lions symbolize strength, courage, and the divine protection of the monarchs; the lion on the left is a <em>gajasingha</em> (a lion with an elephant’s trunk), and the lion on the right is a <em>rajasingha</em> (royal lion); both hold five-tiered umbrellas representing the king and queen, and they stand on a blue ribbon that says “<em>Preah Chao Krung Kampuche”</em>' (King of the Kingdom of Cambodia); between the lions is a crown with the Unalome, the Buddhist and Hindu symbol for the spiritual path to enlightenment, under it and a ray of light on top

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one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies; rebounding tourism and clothing exports; substantial manufacturing and construction sectors; new trade agreements expanding agricultural markets; significant public debt; investing in new ports and roads

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$46.353 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

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9.5% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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9.904 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<strong>note:</strong> central government debt as a % of GDP

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12.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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mix of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned broadcast media; 27 TV stations, with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station with multiple locations and 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned, some with several locations; multi-channel cable and satellite systems; 84 radio stations, including 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a mix of public and private broadcasters; one international broadcaster is available, as well as one TV station that is jointly run by China and the Ministry of Interior; several TV and radio operators broadcast online only (often via Facebook) (2019)

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.kh

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XU

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12 (2025)

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1 (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> under restoration

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Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie (Military Police); National Committee for Maritime Security (2025)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the National Committee for Maritime Security performs coast guard functions and has representation from military and civilian agencies<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Cambodian National Police are under the Ministry of Interior

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information varies; estimated 200,000 Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)

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the RCAF is armed largely with older Chinese and Russian/Soviet origin armaments; in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern equipment from several suppliers, particularly China (2025)

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18 is the legal minimum age for military service for men and women (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> in 2006, Cambodia's parliament approved a law requiring all Cambodians aged 18 to 30 to serve in the military for 18 months, although the law has never been enforced (service was to be voluntary for women); in 2025, the Cambodian Government announced that the 2006 conscription law would be enforced beginning in 2026 and have a 24-month service requirement

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340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL)&nbsp; (2025)

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the primary responsibilities of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam; in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RCAF and the military forces of Thailand clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border; both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones<br><br>the RCAF was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999 (2025)