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Background
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 13 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.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Area
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Border countries
Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
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, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use
arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong 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.)
Population growth rate
1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate
26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate
68.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 59.29 years
male: 57.35 years
female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)
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
local short form: Kampuchea
Government type
multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Capital
Phnom Penh
Independence
9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Economy
Overview
Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 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 4%. GDP growth for 2000 had been projected to reach 5.5%, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural crops, and high oil prices hurt industrial production, and growth for the year is estimated at only 4%. Tourism is Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000. 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. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP by sector
agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (2004)
Population below poverty line
36% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate
1.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (2003 est.)
agriculture: agriculture 75% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.5% (2000 est.)
Communications
Telephones: 36,400 (2003)
Mobile Phones: 1.062 million (2005)
Radios: 1.34 million (1997)
Televisions: 94,000 (1997)
Internet users: 41,000 (2005)
Transportation
Railways: 602 km (2005)
Highways: 38,257 km (2004)
Waterways: 2,400 km (2005)
Airports: 20 (2006)
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