Cambodia - KH - KHM - CAM - East and Southeast Asia

Last updated: January 02, 2025
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  • Steep stairway leading to a temple at Prasat Bayang in Cambodia.

    Steep stairway leading to a temple at Prasat Bayang in Cambodia.

  • The Throne Hall at the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Built in 1917, the building is used for religious and royal ceremonies, and as a meeting place for guests of the king.

    The Throne Hall at the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Built in 1917, the building is used for religious and royal ceremonies, and as a meeting place for guests of the king.

  • Kneeling figure beside the Silver Pagoda on the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Silver Pagoda lies on the south side of the palace complex. The main building houses many national treasures, including gold and jeweled Buddha statues.

    Kneeling figure beside the Silver Pagoda on the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Silver Pagoda lies on the south side of the palace complex. The main building houses many national treasures, including gold and jeweled Buddha statues.

  • On the grounds of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The palace area contains at least three stupas with royal remains.

    On the grounds of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The palace area contains at least three stupas with royal remains.

  • Busy street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where motorcycles are a very common form of transportation.

    Busy street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where motorcycles are a very common form of transportation.

  • The Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, was completed in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Its lotus shape mimics the style seen at the Khmer temple at Banteay Srei and other Khmer historical sites.

    The Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, was completed in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Its lotus shape mimics the style seen at the Khmer temple at Banteay Srei and other Khmer historical sites.

  • Cambodia’s Independence Monument is brightly lit at night.

    Cambodia’s Independence Monument is brightly lit at night.

  • The Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmey) is an Art Deco landmark in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, constructed in 1936-37. It underwent renovation in 2009-11 and is always packed with vendors.

    The Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmey) is an Art Deco landmark in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, constructed in 1936-37. It underwent renovation in 2009-11 and is always packed with vendors.

  • The Pagoda at Wat Phnom, built in 1373 on a man-made hill, is the tallest religious structure (27 m; 89 ft) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    The Pagoda at Wat Phnom, built in 1373 on a man-made hill, is the tallest religious structure (27 m; 89 ft) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

  • A lion-fronted temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.

    A lion-fronted temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.

  • Stairway leading to the temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.

    Stairway leading to the temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.

  • Mekong River tour boat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Mekong River tour boat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

  • Golden lion on the Mekong River waterfront in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Golden lion on the Mekong River waterfront in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

  • International flags along a Phnom Penh promenade in Cambodia, where the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (lake) meet.

    International flags along a Phnom Penh promenade in Cambodia, where the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (lake) meet.

  • French colonial architecture still remains in parts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    French colonial architecture still remains in parts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

  • Entrance to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Built between 1917 and 1924 to preserve Cambodia's cultural traditions, it houses the world's largest collections of Khmer art and has an important collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.

    Entrance to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Built between 1917 and 1924 to preserve Cambodia's cultural traditions, it houses the world's largest collections of Khmer art and has an important collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.

  • Entrance to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a museum and documentation center for the genocide of 1.5 one million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge that occurred between 1975 and 1979.

    Entrance to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a museum and documentation center for the genocide of 1.5 one million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge that occurred between 1975 and 1979.

  • Promenade and park in Phonom Penh, Cambodia.

    Promenade and park in Phonom Penh, Cambodia.

  • Boats on Tonle Sap, Cambodia's huge freshwater lake. During the dry season from November to May, the lake is only about one meter deep, allowing boats to be poled. During the monsoon season, flood waters from the Mekong River raise the lake depth to about nine meters.

    Boats on Tonle Sap, Cambodia's huge freshwater lake. During the dry season from November to May, the lake is only about one meter deep, allowing boats to be poled. During the monsoon season, flood waters from the Mekong River raise the lake depth to about nine meters.

  • Much of the periphery of Tonle Sap in Cambodia is dotted with floating houses.

    Much of the periphery of Tonle Sap in Cambodia is dotted with floating houses.

  • Typical floating house on Tonle Sap in Cambodia.

    Typical floating house on Tonle Sap in Cambodia.

  • Sihanoukville, seen here at sunrise, is a major deep-water port in Cambodia and a growing beach resort. Formerly called Kampong Saom, construction on the port began in 1955 at the direction of King Norodom SIHANOUK, after Vietnam began to restrict Cambodian access to its ports. The port, which opened in 1960, lies on the Gulf of Thailand about 185 km (115 mi) south of Phnom Penh.

    Sihanoukville, seen here at sunrise, is a major deep-water port in Cambodia and a growing beach resort. Formerly called Kampong Saom, construction on the port began in 1955 at the direction of King Norodom SIHANOUK, after Vietnam began to restrict Cambodian access to its ports. The port, which opened in 1960, lies on the Gulf of Thailand about 185 km (115 mi) south of Phnom Penh.

  • Boat house on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.

    Boat house on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.

  • Fishing on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.

    Fishing on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.

  • A store selling a wide variety of baskets in a typical Angkor-area village in Cambodia.

    A store selling a wide variety of baskets in a typical Angkor-area village in Cambodia.

  • Much of the countryside around Angkor, Cambodia, has a high water table and requires drainage.

    Much of the countryside around Angkor, Cambodia, has a high water table and requires drainage.

  • View of the main Angkor Wat temple complex reflected in a pool. The central towered portion appears on the Cambodian flag.

    View of the main Angkor Wat temple complex reflected in a pool. The central towered portion appears on the Cambodian flag.

  • Part of the sprawling Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, as viewed across a moat.

    Part of the sprawling Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, as viewed across a moat.

  • Some of the well-preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Some of the well-preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • A broad causeway leading up to a temple at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    A broad causeway leading up to a temple at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • Evening at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Evening at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • Some of the impressive and beautifully preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Some of the impressive and beautifully preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • Closeup of building details at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Closeup of building details at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • A courtyard at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    A courtyard at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • Wall carving showing a battle scene at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Wall carving showing a battle scene at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • A covered promenade at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    A covered promenade at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • The entrance to the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II.

    The entrance to the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II.

  • Sections of the Angkor Wat temple area in Cambodia are overgrown with trees. Here a massive root system is slowly engulfing a temple building.

    Sections of the Angkor Wat temple area in Cambodia are overgrown with trees. Here a massive root system is slowly engulfing a temple building.

  • Trees overgrowing buildings at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

    Trees overgrowing buildings at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • Part of the Angkor temple area in Cambodia undergoing restoration.

    Part of the Angkor temple area in Cambodia undergoing restoration.

  • The South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia has been extensively restored. On the road from Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, it is the first point of entry to Angkor Thom.

    The South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia has been extensively restored. On the road from Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, it is the first point of entry to Angkor Thom.

  • Serene statues on a bridge at the South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Serene statues on a bridge at the South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • Phimeanakas is a three-tiered Hindu temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that dates to the end of the 10th century.

    Phimeanakas is a three-tiered Hindu temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that dates to the end of the 10th century.

  • Carvings from the Terrace of the Elephants at the Royal Square of Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Carvings from the Terrace of the Elephants at the Royal Square of Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • Tree roots drape over a wall at Ta Prohm, the modern name for the late 12th and early 13th century temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

    Tree roots drape over a wall at Ta Prohm, the modern name for the late 12th and early 13th century temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded it as a Buddhist monastery and university.

    Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded it as a Buddhist monastery and university.

  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

    Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

    Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.

  • Temple buildings at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Temple buildings at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • Well-preserved temple building at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Well-preserved temple building at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • The Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor, Cambodia, best known for the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on its many towers.

    The Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor, Cambodia, best known for the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on its many towers.

  • Entranceway at the Bayon, a richly decorated temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII.

    Entranceway at the Bayon, a richly decorated temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII.

  • The Bayon temple in Cambodia is chiefly known for the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on its many towers.

    The Bayon temple in Cambodia is chiefly known for the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on its many towers.

  • A view of the Bayon temple in Cambodia.

    A view of the Bayon temple in Cambodia.

  • Close up of one of the 216 faces at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Close up of one of the 216 faces at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • Face framed by windows at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

    Face framed by windows at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.

  • The Baphuon is a temple located in Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain.

    The Baphuon is a temple located in Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain.

  • Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century.

    Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century.

  • Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century. This view is from the top of the temple.

    Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century. This view is from the top of the temple.

  • The central tower of the Pre Rup temple at Angkor, Cambodia.

    The central tower of the Pre Rup temple at Angkor, Cambodia.

  • View from the top of the Pre Rup temple in Cambodia, looking down into a courtyard with a central "cistern."

    View from the top of the Pre Rup temple in Cambodia, looking down into a courtyard with a central "cistern."

  • Side view along one of the elevated platforms at Pre Rup temple in Cambodia.

    Side view along one of the elevated platforms at Pre Rup temple in Cambodia.

  • Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. Preah Khan remains largely unrestored.

    Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. Preah Khan remains largely unrestored.

  • Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. The purpose of this two-story building with round columns is unknown, but it is referred to as "the library."

    Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. The purpose of this two-story building with round columns is unknown, but it is referred to as "the library."

  • Carvings of seated figures on exterior temple walls at Prea Khan temple in Cambodia.

    Carvings of seated figures on exterior temple walls at Prea Khan temple in Cambodia.

  • An area of the Preah Khan temple in Cambodia that has not undergone restoration and is full of tumbled building blocks and encroaching vegetation.

    An area of the Preah Khan temple in Cambodia that has not undergone restoration and is full of tumbled building blocks and encroaching vegetation.

  • Temple building at Preah Khan in Cambodia.

    Temple building at Preah Khan in Cambodia.

  • Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way and part of the moat that surrounds the temple complex.

    Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way and part of the moat that surrounds the temple complex.

  • Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way (on the left) and part of the moat and the wall that surrounds the temple complex.

    Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way (on the left) and part of the moat and the wall that surrounds the temple complex.

  • A view of some of the structures at Banteay Srei that give an idea of their "miniature" scale compared to most of the monuments in the Angkor area of Cambodia.

    A view of some of the structures at Banteay Srei that give an idea of their "miniature" scale compared to most of the monuments in the Angkor area of Cambodia.

  • A view of the intricate reliefs on the mandapa (pillared hall) and central tower at Banteay Srei in Cambodia.

    A view of the intricate reliefs on the mandapa (pillared hall) and central tower at Banteay Srei in Cambodia.

  • Carving at Banteay Srei, a 10th-century red sandstone temple at Angkor, Cambodia, that is much smaller than the other temple complexes in the region.

    Carving at Banteay Srei, a 10th-century red sandstone temple at Angkor, Cambodia, that is much smaller than the other temple complexes in the region.

  • Temple door at Banteay Srei, Angkor, Cambodia.

    Temple door at Banteay Srei, Angkor, Cambodia.

  • Intricate decorative carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    Intricate decorative carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • Mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    Mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • Intricate decorative carvings are to be found on all the structures at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    Intricate decorative carvings are to be found on all the structures at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • Statue at Banteay Srei, a temple at Angkor in Cambodia.

    Statue at Banteay Srei, a temple at Angkor in Cambodia.

  • More examples of the elaborate carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    More examples of the elaborate carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • Closeup of an entrance way at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    Closeup of an entrance way at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • Another view of the mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

    Another view of the mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.

  • View of the countryside in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

    View of the countryside in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

  • Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

    Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

  • Harvesting rice in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

    Harvesting rice in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.

  • Countryside view of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia with its scattered low hills that break up the flat terrain.

    Countryside view of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia with its scattered low hills that break up the flat terrain.

  • Along the Sangkor River in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.

    Along the Sangkor River in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.

  • A restaurant in Battambang, a city founded in the 11th century and capital of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.

    A restaurant in Battambang, a city founded in the 11th century and capital of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.

  • Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple complex near Angkor Borei, in southern Cambodia, renowned for having the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.

    Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple complex near Angkor Borei, in southern Cambodia, renowned for having the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.

  • Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple near Angkor Borei, in eastern Cambodia. The temple has the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.

    Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple near Angkor Borei, in eastern Cambodia. The temple has the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.

  • Steep stairway leading to a temple at Prasat Bayang in Cambodia.

    Steep stairway leading to a temple at Prasat Bayang in Cambodia.

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  • Approaching the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital.
  • The Throne Hall at the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Built in 1917, the building is used for religious and royal ceremonies, and as a meeting place for guests of the king.
  • Kneeling figure beside the Silver Pagoda on the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Silver Pagoda lies on the south side of the palace complex. The main building houses many national treasures, including gold and jeweled Buddha statues.
  • On the grounds of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The palace area contains at least three stupas with royal remains.
  • Busy street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where motorcycles are a very common form of transportation.
  • The Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, was completed in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. Its lotus shape mimics the style seen at the Khmer temple at Banteay Srei and other Khmer historical sites.
  • Cambodia’s Independence Monument is brightly lit at night.
  • The Central Market (Phsar Thom Thmey) is an Art Deco landmark in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, constructed in 1936-37. It underwent renovation in 2009-11 and is always packed with vendors.
  • The Pagoda at Wat Phnom, built in 1373 on a man-made hill, is the tallest religious structure (27 m; 89 ft) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • A lion-fronted temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.
  • Stairway leading to the temple at Wat Phnom, Cambodia.
  • Mekong River tour boat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Golden lion on the Mekong River waterfront in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • International flags along a Phnom Penh promenade in Cambodia, where the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (lake) meet.
  • French colonial architecture still remains in parts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Entrance to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. Built between 1917 and 1924 to preserve Cambodia's cultural traditions, it houses the world's largest collections of Khmer art and has an important collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.
  • Entrance to the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a museum and documentation center for the genocide of 1.5 one million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge that occurred between 1975 and 1979.
  • Promenade and park in Phonom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Boats on Tonle Sap, Cambodia's huge freshwater lake. During the dry season from November to May, the lake is only about one meter deep, allowing boats to be poled. During the monsoon season, flood waters from the Mekong River raise the lake depth to about nine meters.
  • Much of the periphery of Tonle Sap in Cambodia is dotted with floating houses.
  • Typical floating house on Tonle Sap in Cambodia.
  • Sihanoukville, seen here at sunrise, is a major deep-water port in Cambodia and a growing beach resort. Formerly called Kampong Saom, construction on the port began in 1955 at the direction of King Norodom SIHANOUK, after Vietnam began to restrict Cambodian access to its ports. The port, which opened in 1960, lies on the Gulf of Thailand about 185 km (115 mi) south of Phnom Penh.
  • Boat house on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.
  • Fishing on the Prek Toeuk Sap River in Ream National Park in Cambodia, about 18 km (11 mi) from Sihanoukville. King Norodom SIHANOUK founded the park, which covers approximately 15,000 ha (37,000 acres), in 1993. It contains about 150 species of birds and has a large monkey population.
  • A store selling a wide variety of baskets in a typical Angkor-area village in Cambodia.
  • Much of the countryside around Angkor, Cambodia, has a high water table and requires drainage.
  • View of the main Angkor Wat temple complex reflected in a pool. The central towered portion appears on the Cambodian flag.
  • Part of the sprawling Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, as viewed across a moat.
  • Some of the well-preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • A broad causeway leading up to a temple at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • Evening at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • Some of the impressive and beautifully preserved temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • Closeup of building details at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • A courtyard at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • Wall carving showing a battle scene at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • A covered promenade at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • The entrance to the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II.
  • Sections of the Angkor Wat temple area in Cambodia are overgrown with trees. Here a massive root system is slowly engulfing a temple building.
  • Trees overgrowing buildings at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
  • Part of the Angkor temple area in Cambodia undergoing restoration.
  • The South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia has been extensively restored. On the road from Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, it is the first point of entry to Angkor Thom.
  • Serene statues on a bridge at the South Gate at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • Phimeanakas is a three-tiered Hindu temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that dates to the end of the 10th century.
  • Carvings from the Terrace of the Elephants at the Royal Square of Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • Tree roots drape over a wall at Ta Prohm, the modern name for the late 12th and early 13th century temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.
  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded it as a Buddhist monastery and university.
  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.
  • Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, built largely in the late 12th and early 13th century. Located approximately 1 km east of Angkor Thom, Khmer King Jayavarman VII founded Ta Prohm as a Buddhist monastery and university.
  • Temple buildings at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • Well-preserved temple building at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • The Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor, Cambodia, best known for the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on its many towers.
  • Entranceway at the Bayon, a richly decorated temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia that was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII.
  • The Bayon temple in Cambodia is chiefly known for the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on its many towers.
  • A view of the Bayon temple in Cambodia.
  • Close up of one of the 216 faces at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • Face framed by windows at the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Cambodia.
  • The Baphuon is a temple located in Angkor Thom, Cambodia. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain.
  • Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century.
  • Pre Rup is a Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia, dedicated to the god Shiva. It was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman in the mid 10th century. This view is from the top of the temple.
  • The central tower of the Pre Rup temple at Angkor, Cambodia.
  • View from the top of the Pre Rup temple in Cambodia, looking down into a courtyard with a central "cistern."
  • Side view along one of the elevated platforms at Pre Rup temple in Cambodia.
  • Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. Preah Khan remains largely unrestored.
  • Preah Khan is a temple located northeast of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. The purpose of this two-story building with round columns is unknown, but it is referred to as "the library."
  • Carvings of seated figures on exterior temple walls at Prea Khan temple in Cambodia.
  • An area of the Preah Khan temple in Cambodia that has not undergone restoration and is full of tumbled building blocks and encroaching vegetation.
  • Temple building at Preah Khan in Cambodia.
  • Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way and part of the moat that surrounds the temple complex.
  • Banteay Srei is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva that lies 25 km (15 mi) north-east of the main group of temples at Angkor. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, and the buildings are miniature in scale compared to other Angkorian construction. This photo shows the entrance way (on the left) and part of the moat and the wall that surrounds the temple complex.
  • A view of some of the structures at Banteay Srei that give an idea of their "miniature" scale compared to most of the monuments in the Angkor area of Cambodia.
  • A view of the intricate reliefs on the mandapa (pillared hall) and central tower at Banteay Srei in Cambodia.
  • Carving at Banteay Srei, a 10th-century red sandstone temple at Angkor, Cambodia, that is much smaller than the other temple complexes in the region.
  • Temple door at Banteay Srei, Angkor, Cambodia.
  • Intricate decorative carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • Mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • Intricate decorative carvings are to be found on all the structures at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • Statue at Banteay Srei, a temple at Angkor in Cambodia.
  • More examples of the elaborate carvings at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • Closeup of an entrance way at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • Another view of the mandapas (pillared halls) at Banteay Srei temple in Cambodia.
  • View of the countryside in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.
  • Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia is the leading rice-producing province of the country.
  • Harvesting rice in Battambang province (northwestern Cambodia), which is the leading rice-producing province of the country.
  • Countryside view of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia with its scattered low hills that break up the flat terrain.
  • Along the Sangkor River in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.
  • A restaurant in Battambang, a city founded in the 11th century and capital of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.
  • Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple complex near Angkor Borei, in southern Cambodia, renowned for having the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.
  • Prasat Bayang is a ruined temple near Angkor Borei, in eastern Cambodia. The temple has the earliest known depictions of Khmer numerals, dating back to A.D. 604.
  • Steep stairway leading to a temple at Prasat Bayang in Cambodia.

Cambodia Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette L. WALKER (since August 2024)

embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh

mailing address: 4540 Phnom Penh Place, Washington DC  20521-4540

telephone: [855] (23) 728-000

FAX: [855] (23) 728-700

email address and website:
ACSPhnomPenh@state.gov

https://kh.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 2,497,056/female 2,436,618)

15-64 years: 65.8% (male 5,456,941/female 5,765,206)

65 years and over: 5.3% (2024 est.) (male 323,591/female 584,257)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Cambodia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Heliports

1 (2024)

Natural hazards

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

Area - comparative

one and a half times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Area comparison map

one and a half times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (conscription only selectively enforced since 1993; service is for 18 months); women may volunteer (2024)

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 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). 

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.

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.

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; coastal ecosystems choked by sediment washed loose from deforested areas inland

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Population below poverty line

16.5% (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

garments, trunks and cases, footwear, cassava, shoes (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 36%, Vietnam 10%, Germany 7%, Japan 5%, Canada 5% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

24 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural)

provinces: 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

municipalities: Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)

Agricultural products

cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie; the National Committee for Maritime Security (2024)

note 1: the National Committee for Maritime Security performs coast guard functions and has representation from military and civilian agencies

note 2: the Cambodian National Police are under the Ministry of Interior

Budget

revenues: $5.9 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $4.666 billion (2020 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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)

etymology: Phnom Penh translates as "Penh's Hill" in Khmer; the city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom (Hill Temple), the tallest religious structure in the city, whose establishment, according to legend, was inspired in the 14th century by a pious nun, Daun PENH

Imports - commodities

gold, refined petroleum, fabric, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

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

Coastline

443 km

Constitution

history: previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993

amendments: proposed by the monarch, by the prime minister, or by the president of the National Assembly if supported by one fourth of the Assembly membership; passage requires two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the multiparty democratic form of government and the monarchy cannot be amended; amended several times, latest 2022

Exchange rates

riels (KHR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
4,110.653 (2023 est.)
4,102.038 (2022 est.)
4,098.723 (2021 est.)
4,092.783 (2020 est.)
4,061.149 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)

head of government: Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023)

cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

elections/appointments: monarch chosen by the 9-member Royal Council of the Throne 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 monarch

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

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 prominently incorporate an actual identifiable building into its design (a few other national flags - those of Afghanistan, San Marino, Portugal, and Spain - show small generic buildings as part of their coats of arms on the flag)

Illicit drugs

a significant transshipment country for Burma-sourced methamphetamine and heroin and a location for large-scale ketamine production; transnational criminal organizations (TCO’s) use Cambodia as both a transit and destination for illicit drugs; precursor chemicals from mainly China used at domestic clandestine laboratories operated by TCOs for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, ketamine, and other synthetic drugs

(2021)

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

Industries

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Council (organized into 5- and 9-judge panels and includes a court chief and deputy chief); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - in 1997, the Cambodian Government requested UN assistance in establishing trials to prosecute former Khmer Rouge senior leaders for crimes against humanity committed during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime; the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (also called the Khmer Rouge Tribunal) was established in 2006 and began hearings for the first case in 2009; court proceedings remain ongoing in 2021

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Council judge candidates recommended by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, a 17-member body chaired by the monarch and includes other high-level judicial officers; judges of both courts appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of the court renewed every 3 years

subordinate courts: Appellate Court; provincial and municipal courts; Military Court

Land boundaries

total: 2,530 km

border countries (3): Laos 555 km; Thailand 817 km; Vietnam 1158 km

Land use

agricultural land: 32.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 56.5% (2018 est.)

other: 11.4% (2018 est.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament of Cambodia consists of:
Senate (62 seats; 58 indirectly elected by parliamentarians and commune councils, 2 indirectly elected by the National Assembly, and 2 appointed by the monarch; members serve 6-year terms)

National Assembly (125 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 25 February 2024 (next to be held in February 2030)
National Assembly - last held on 23 July 2023 (next to be held in July 2028)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 86%, KWP 12%; seats by party - CPP 57; KWP 3; independent 2; composition - men 50, women 12, percentage women 19.4%

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 82.4%, FUNCINPEC 9.2%, KNUP 1.7%, CYP 1.3%, other 5.4% (14 other parties received votes); seats by party - CPP 120, FUNCINPEC 5; composition - men 108, women 17, percentage women 13.6%

note: the EU, UN, and US condemned the July 2023 National Assembly election as neither free nor fair

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 83.9%

male: 88.4%

female: 79.8% (2021)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

International organization participation

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Nationality

noun: Cambodian(s)

adjective: Cambodian

Natural resources

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

Geography - note

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

Economic overview

one of the fastest growing economies; tourism and clothing exports; substantial manufacturing and construction sectors; COVID-19 declines and the suspension of EU market preferential access; massive reductions in poverty, but rural areas remain disproportionately poor

Political parties

Candlelight Party or CP
Cambodian People's Party or CPP 
Khmer Will Party or KWP

note 1: 18 parties registered to run in the 2023 parliamentary election

note 2:  the Cambodian Government disqualified the Candlelight Party, the main opposition party, from the July 2023 election

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Cambodia’s mobile-dominated telecoms sector spent much of 2020 battling two major challenges: the global pandemic, and the government’s retraction of trial licenses for the rollout of 5G; citing concerns about waste and inefficiency occurring if each operator built a separate 5G infrastructure in order to maximize their own network’s coverage (and, presumably, to capture greater market share), the regulator withdrew the licenses that the operators had been using for their 5G trials; this was despite all of the operators having already announced a successful completion of their trials; more than a year later, the market is still waiting on the government to release its 5G policy and roadmap, along with the allocation of spectrum and approvals to permit commercial operation; there is little expectation of any further progress happening before the start of 2022; the mobile network operators have maintained their focus and investment strategies on upgrading and expanding their existing LTE networks around the country, and to 5G-enable their base stations; when the 5G market eventually arrives, the underlying infrastructure will at least be ready to support a rapid adoption of the higher-value applications and services; the mobile market fell back slightly during 2020 and 2021 (in terms of total subscriber numbers) as the Covid-19 crisis wore on, but it remains in relatively good health as mobile users increased their data usage over the period; the mobile broadband market experienced a small but very rare contraction in 2020, although rates were already very high in this area; there is likely to be a quick rebound to previous levels once economic conditions stabilize, followed by a modest rates of growth over the next five years; the number of fixed telephony lines in service continues to fall sharply as customers migrate to mobile platforms for both voice and data; the lack of any widespread fixed-line infrastructure has had a flow-on effect in the fixed-line broadband market, a sector that also remains largely under-developed (2021)

domestic: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by competition among service providers, is about 120 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 855; landing points for MCT and AAE-1 via submarine cables providing communication to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2019)

Terrain

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia

conventional short form: Cambodia

local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)

local short form: Kampuchea

former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

etymology: the English name Cambodia is an anglicization of the French Cambodge, which is the French transliteration of the native name Kampuchea

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Irrigated land

3,540 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador KEO Chhea (since 19 April 2022)

chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742

FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

email address and website:
camemb.usa@mfaic.gov.kh

https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/

Internet country code

.kh

GDP (official exchange rate)

$31.773 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 — Cambodia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cambodia remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/

Credit ratings

Moody's rating: B2 (2007)

Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2014)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

476.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

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

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.3% of population

rural: 80.6% of population

total: 85.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population

rural: 19.4% of population

total: 14.9% of population (2020 est.)

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
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Cambodia. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)

National symbol(s)

Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox); national colors: red, blue

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.3 years (2021-22 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Contraceptive prevalence rate

56.3% (2014)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 41.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 8.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 15.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 73.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2023 est.)

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.4

youth dependency ratio: 45

elderly dependency ratio: 8.5

potential support ratio: 11.8 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cambodia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Population distribution

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

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 92.3% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 99%

electrification - rural areas: 88%

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 25

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,411,059 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 680,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

XU

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 69.3% of population

total: 76.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 30.7% of population

total: 23.2% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

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

Languages

Khmer (official) 95.8%, minority languages 2.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnamese 0.5%, other 0.2% (2019 est.)

major-language sample(s):
សៀវភៅហេតុការណនៅលើពិភពលោក។ ទីតាំងពត៏មានមូលដានគ្រឹះយាងសំខាន់។. (Khmer)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Khmer audio sample

Imports - partners

China 30%, Thailand 19%, Singapore 18%, Vietnam 13%, Switzerland 3% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 75,000 (2022)

Elevation

highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m

mean elevation: 126 m

Current health expenditure

7.5% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the RCAF’s primary responsibilities are border, coastal, and internal security; since 2016, the RCAF has regularly conducted a small annual training exercise known as “Golden Dragon” with the military of China, its closest security partner

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

Cambodia continues to be one of the most densely landmine-contaminated countries in the world; by the early 1990s, various aid organizations estimated there were 8-10 million landmines scattered throughout the country, with a particularly heavy concentration on a 1,000-km (620-mile) strip along the northwest Thai-Cambodia border known as the "K5 belt"; the mines were laid during Cambodia’s decades-long war by the Cambodian army, the Vietnamese, the Khmer Rouge, the non-communist fighters, and US forces; part of Cambodia's defense policy is demining the territory with the intent of having the entire country cleared of unexploded ordnances by 2035; over 1 million landmines and over 3 million explosives were discovered and removed from 1992 to 2018; in 2018, the Cambodian government and Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), a government agency, launched the National Mine Action Strategy for 2018-2025 (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; estimated 150-200,000 Armed Forces personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the RCAF is armed largely with older Chinese and Russian-origin equipment; in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern equipment from several suppliers, particularly China (2024)

note: in December 2021, the US Government halted arms-related trade with Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption, and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces; the policy of denial applied to licenses or other approvals for exports and imports of defense articles and defense services destined for or originating in Cambodia, with exceptions (on a case-by-case basis) related to conventional weapons destruction and humanitarian demining activities

Military deployments

340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 2.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.089 million tons (2014 est.)

Demographic profile

Cambodia is a predominantly rural country with among the most ethnically and religiously homogenous populations in Southeast Asia: more than 95% of its inhabitants are Khmer and more than 95% are Buddhist.  The population’s size and age structure shrank and then rebounded during the 20th century as a result of conflict and mass death.  During the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979 as many as 1.5 to 2 million people are estimated to have been killed or died as a result of starvation, disease, or overwork – a loss of about 25% of the population.  At the same time, emigration was high, and the fertility rate sharply declined.  In the 1980s, after the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, fertility nearly doubled and reached pre-Khmer Rouge levels of close to 7 children per woman, reflecting in part higher infant survival rates.  The baby boom was followed by a sustained fertility decline starting in the early 1990s, eventually decreasing from 3.8 in 2000 to 2.9 in 2010, although the rate varied by income, education, and rural versus urban location.  Despite continuing fertility reduction, Cambodia still has a youthful population that is likely to maintain population growth through population momentum. Improvements have also been made in mortality, life expectancy, and contraceptive prevalence, although reducing malnutrition among children remains stalled.  Differences in health indicators are pronounced between urban and rural areas, which experience greater poverty.

Cambodia is predominantly a country of migration, driven by the search for work, education, or marriage.  Internal migration is more prevalent than international migration, with rural to urban migration being the most common, followed by rural to rural migration.  Urban migration focuses on the pursuit of unskilled or semi-skilled jobs in Phnom Penh, with men working mainly in the construction industry and women working in garment factories.  Most Cambodians who migrate abroad do so illegally using brokers because it is cheaper and faster than through formal channels, but doing so puts them at risk of being trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.  Young Cambodian men and women migrate short distances across the Thai border using temporary passes to work in agriculture, while others migrate long distances primarily into Thailand and Malaysia for work in agriculture, fishing, construction, manufacturing, and domestic service.  Cambodia was a refugee sending country in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, its ousting by the Vietnamese invasion, and the resultant civil war.  Tens of thousands of Cambodians fled to Thailand; more than 100,000 were resettled in the US in the 1980s.  Cambodia signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Australia in 2014 to voluntarily resettle refugees seeking shelter in Australia.  However, the deal has proven to be a failure because of poor conditions and a lack of support services for the few refugees willing to accept the offer.

Average household expenditures

on food: 41.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 17.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 9.92 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 14.88 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Angkor; Temple of Preah Vihear; Sambor Prei Kuk; Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapora or Chok Gargyar

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Tonle Sap - 2,700-16,000 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

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

Coal

production: 113,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption: 2.215 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 2.265 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 49.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity: 45.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 73,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.06 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances

8.81% of GDP (2023 est.)
8.87% of GDP (2022 est.)
9.42% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

Ports

total ports: 2 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Kampong Saom, Phsar Ream

Labor force

9.175 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 0.8% (2023 est.)

male: 0.7% (2023 est.)

female: 0.9% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 27.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 26.9 years

female: 28.9 years

Maternal mortality ratio

218 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17.801 billion (2022 est.)
$20.27 billion (2021 est.)
$21.328 billion (2020 est.)

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

Waterways

3,700 km (2012) (mainly on Mekong River)

Public debt

30.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.24% (2023 est.)
0.25% (2022 est.)
0.4% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 17,063,669

male: 8,277,588

female: 8,786,081 (2024 est.)

Internet users

total: 10.2 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 60% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

14.396 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.063 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 10.333 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Area

total : 181,035 sq km

land: 176,515 sq km

water: 4,520 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

16.36% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$85.9 billion (2023 est.)
$81.499 billion (2022 est.)
$77.442 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Roadways

total: 61,810 km

paved: 15,000 km

unpaved: 46,810 km (2021)

Airports

13 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 19.505 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.13% (2023 est.)
5.34% (2022 est.)
2.92% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$552.607 million (2023 est.)
-$7.582 billion (2022 est.)
-$10.893 billion (2021 est.)

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

Real GDP per capita

$5,100 (2023 est.)
$4,900 (2022 est.)
$4,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 233,732 (2020 est.) Slowly increase as focus is on mobile internet

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 21.1% (2020 est.)

male: 36.1% (2020 est.)

female: 6% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.9% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

12.831 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

18.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 3.204 million kW (2022 est.)

consumption: 11.001 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports: 3.566 billion kWh (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.38 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 195 (2023)

by type: container ship 2, general cargo 123, oil tanker 18, other 52

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.3% (2022)

Imports

$29.42 billion (2023 est.)
$34.759 billion (2022 est.)
$32.816 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$27.753 billion (2023 est.)
$25.497 billion (2022 est.)
$20.178 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 38,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 4.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 69.6 years

female: 73.3 years

Real GDP growth rate

5.4% (2023 est.)
5.24% (2022 est.)
3.03% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 642 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

note: under restoration

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 21.5% (2023 est.)

industry: 38.5% (2023 est.)

services: 33.4% (2023 est.)

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

Revenue from forest resources

0.84% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.99% (2024 est.)
Sources: