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.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
Area
total : 181,035 sq km
land: 176,515 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
comparison ranking: total 90
Area – comparative
one and a half times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 2,530 km
border countries (3): Laos 555 km; Thailand 817 km; Vietnam 1158 km
Coastline
443 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
mean elevation: 126 m
Natural resources
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 34.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 23.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 8.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 43.9% (2022 est.)
other: 21.4% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
3,540 sq km (2012)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
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
Natural hazards
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Geography – note
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake)
People and Society
Population
total: 17,063,669 (2024 est.)
male: 8,277,588
female: 8,786,081
comparison rankings: total 73; female 73; male 73
Nationality
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups
Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7% (2019-20 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:
Religions
Buddhist (official) 97.1%, Muslim 2%, Christian 0.3%, other 0.5% (2019 est.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 52.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 44 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 12.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 27.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 26.9 years
female: 28.9 years
comparison ranking: total 154
Population growth rate
0.99% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 93
Birth rate
18.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 77
Death rate
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 173
Net migration rate
-2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 173
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
Urbanization
urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)
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.)
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
Maternal mortality ratio
218 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 42
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
comparison ranking: total 54
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 69.6 years
female: 73.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 169
Total fertility rate
2.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 88
Gross reproduction rate
1.06 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
56.3% (2014)
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.)
Health expenditure
7.5% of GDP (2021)
7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
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.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
3.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 188
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.)
comparison ranking: total 87
Tobacco use
total: 14.5% (2025 est.)
male: 24.9% (2025 est.)
female: 4.7% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 104
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.3% (2022)
comparison ranking: 27
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.4% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.9% (2022)
women married by age 18: 17.9% (2022)
men married by age 18: 3.3% (2022)
Education expenditure
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
11.5% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 151
Literacy
total population: 71.9% (2021 est.)
male: 81.5% (2021 est.)
female: 63.6% (2021 est.)
Environment
Environment – current issues
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
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
Climate
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Land use
agricultural land: 34.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 23.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 2.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 8.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 43.9% (2022 est.)
other: 21.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 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.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.089 million tons (2014 est.)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
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.)
Total renewable water resources
476.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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 name is derived from Kambu, a legendary ancestor of the Cambodian people
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means “mountain of plenty,” from the Cambodian words phnom (mountain or hill) and penh (full)
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)
Legal system
civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law
Constitution
history: previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993
amendment process: 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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; after legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the monarch
note: MANET succeeded his father, HUN SEN, who had been prime minister since 1985
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral
note: the EU, UN, and US condemned the July 2023 National Assembly election as neither free nor fair
Legislative branch – lower chamber
chamber name: National Assembly (Radhsphea Ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea)
number of seats: 125 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 7/23/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) (120); Other (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 13.6%
expected date of next election: July 2028
note: the EU, UN, and US condemned the July 2023 National Assembly election as neither free nor fair
Legislative branch – upper chamber
chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 62 (60 indirectly elected; 2 appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 2/25/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 19.4%
expected date of next election: February 2030
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)
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Socheat OUM (since 20 September 2024)
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/
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:
[email protected]
https://kh.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
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 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
National symbol(s)
Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox)
National colors
red, blue
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
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
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$116.576 billion (2023 est.)
$111.067 billion (2022 est.)
$105.674 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 94
Real GDP growth rate
4.96% (2023 est.)
5.1% (2022 est.)
3.03% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 57
Real GDP per capita
$6,700 (2023 est.)
$6,500 (2022 est.)
$6,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 162
GDP (official exchange rate)
$42.336 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)
2.9% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 59
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 17.1% (2023 est.)
industry: 40.5% (2023 est.)
services: 36.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 207; industry 22; agriculture 46
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 60.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 6.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 32.7% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.6% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 66.9% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -67.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate
5.31% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 44
Labor force
9.904 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 58
Unemployment rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
0.2% (2023 est.)
0.2% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 2
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 0.8% (2024 est.)
male: 0.7% (2024 est.)
female: 0.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 195
Population below poverty line
16.5% (2016 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 40.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
6.57% of GDP (2023 est.)
6.54% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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
Public debt
30.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 168
Taxes and other revenues
12% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 163
Current account balance
$552.346 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
comparison ranking: 66
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
comparison ranking: 84
Exports – partners
USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$29.421 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
comparison ranking: 80
Imports – partners
China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$18.608 billion (2024 est.)
$19.984 billion (2023 est.)
$17.801 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 61
Debt – external
$8.019 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 56
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.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 92.3% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 99%
electrification – rural areas: 88%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 3.673 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 16.998 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 5.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.882 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 122; imports 45; consumption 81; installed generating capacity 104
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 55.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 38.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 4.39 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 4.36 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 77,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
18.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 8.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 10.753 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 91
Energy consumption per capita
15.664 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 138
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 38,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 162
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 19.5 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 66
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.kh
Internet users
percent of population: 61% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 510,000 (2022 est.) Slowly increase as focus is on mobile internet
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 96
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
XU
Airports
12 (2025)
comparison ranking: 153
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 151
Railways
total: 642 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
note: under restoration
Merchant marine
total: 195 (2023)
by type: container ship 2, general cargo 123, oil tanker 18, other 52
comparison ranking: total 69
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
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)
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
Military expenditures
1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; estimated 200,000 Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
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 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)
Military deployments
340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2024)
Military – note
the Cambodian military’s primary responsibilities are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam
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)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 75,000 (2022)
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/
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)
