Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Cambodia

Kingdom of Cambodia

KH / KHMasia

CapitalPhnom Penh

Population17,847,982

GDP$51.3bn

Area181,035 km²

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:10 am

Country facts

Official nameKingdom of Cambodia

CapitalPhnom Penh

Area181,035 km²

Currencyriel (KHR)

Official language(s)Khmer

Calling code+855

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Income levelLower middle income

Form of governmentconstitutional monarchy

Time zoneUTC+07:00, Asia/Phnom_Penh

Overview

Population17,847,9822025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate18,051,2202026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$51,267,065,8432025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$2,8722025 · Verified

GDP growth5.3%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices2.4%2025 · Verified

Unemployment0.3%2025 · Verified

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.

Reference: 2023, 2022, 1999, 1997

Geography

Latitude11.5556°current · Verified

Longitude104.8740°current · Verified

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 181,035 sq km
land: 176,515 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries

total: 2,530 km
border countries: 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: 34.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 39.4% (2023 est.)
other: 25.8% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

3,540 sq km (2012)

Reference: 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)

Population & Society

Population17,847,9822025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate18,051,2202026 · Estimated

Fertility rate2.52024 · Verified

Urban population41.1%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian

Ethnic groups

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

Reference: 2019

Languages

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.

Reference: 2019

Religions

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

Reference: 2019

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)

Reference: 2024

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.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 27.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 26.9 years
female: 28.9 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

0.99% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

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

Reference: 2024

Death rate

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

Reference: 2024

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

Major urban areas - population

2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)

Reference: 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.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.3 years (2021-22 est.)
note: note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Reference: 2021

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

1.06 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 78% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 27.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 22% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Reference: 2019

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2018

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.9% (2016)

Reference: 2016

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.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 14.5% (2025 est.)
male: 24.9% (2025 est.)
female: 4.7% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.3% (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.4% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2022

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2023 est.)
male: 11 years (2023 est.)
female: 11 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)83,9252024 · Verified

International migrant stock0.5%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock778,7932024 · Estimated

Net migration-31,4692025 · Verified

Refugees from this country11,3322025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country1,6462025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 28 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 2,526 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 75,000 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentconstitutional monarchycurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of state	Norodom Sihamoni	—	2004-10-14	Current	Reported
Head of government	Hun Manet	—	—	Current	Reported

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

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

Reference: 1993, 1947

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

Reference: 2023, 2004, 1985

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral

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

Reference: 2028, 2023

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

Reference: 2030, 2024

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: 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

Reference: 2023

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Koy KUONG (since 11 June 2025)
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/

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/

Reference: 2024

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)

Reference: 1953

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Reference: 1953

Flag

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

red, blue

National coat of arms

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

National anthem(s)

title: "Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
lyrics/music: CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
history: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime

Reference: 1993, 1941

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (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; Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (c)

Government & Official Links

No official institutional links have yet been verified for this country.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Parliament of Cambodia	—	—	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$51,267,065,8432025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$2,8722025 · Verified

GDP growth5.3%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices2.4%2025 · Verified

Unemployment0.3%2025 · Verified

Income levelLower middle incomecurrent · Verified

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $123.676 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $116.658 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $111.095 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,500 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 16.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 41.8% (2024 est.)
services: 35.6% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 59.8% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 5.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 31.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -72.1% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

9.5% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

9.904 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 0.8% (2024 est.)
male: 0.7% (2024 est.)
female: 0.9% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Average household expenditures

on food: 40.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 6.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $7.076 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $8.285 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2023

Public debt

Public debt 2023: 50.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Taxes and other revenues

12.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $222.108 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $552.346 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$7.582 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $31.712 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $27.753 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $25.497 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $34.329 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $29.421 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $34.759 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $22.506 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $19.984 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $17.801 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $8.019 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Reference: 2023

Exchange rates

Currency: riels (KHR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 4,072.397 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 4,110.653 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 4,102.038 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 4,098.723 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 4,092.783 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services68.6%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services67.4%2025 · Verified

Trade136.1%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity99.2%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption932 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption52.4%2021 · Verified

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.)

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

production: 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 4.39 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 4.36 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 77,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 15.664 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity99.2%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions4.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions116.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 38,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Reference: 2022

Health

Life expectancy at birth70.8 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure4.6%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate16.4 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Reference: 2019

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2018

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.9% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 14.5% (2025 est.)
male: 24.9% (2025 est.)
female: 4.7% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate71.9%2021 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross58.8%2024 · Verified

Government education expenditure2.2%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2023 est.)
male: 11 years (2023 est.)
female: 11 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.1532025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media-1.7572025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists-1.0432025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government-0.9992025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media-2.5472025 · Estimated

Media bias-0.9362025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship-1.5082025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Yes LegalReported

Same-sex marriageNo No Constitutional ban since 1993Reported

Same-sex adoptionNo NoReported

Open military serviceAmbiguous AmbiguousReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawNo NoReported

Gender identity / expression lawNo NoReported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

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

Judicial branch

Military & 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: 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

Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

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: 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

Reference: 2024, 2021

Military service age and obligation

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

Reference: 2026, 2025, 2006

Military deployments

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

Reference: 2024

Military - note

the primary responsibilities of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam; in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RCAF and the military forces of Thailand clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border; both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones
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)

Reference: 2025, 1999, 1994, 1993

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2024

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
ASEAN (ASEAN)	member	1999-04-30
United Nations (UN)	member	1955-12-14
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	2004-10-13

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 28 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 2,526 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 75,000 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

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/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

12 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways

total: 642 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
note: note: under restoration

Reference: 2014

Merchant marine

total: 195 (2023)
by type: container ship 2, general cargo 123, oil tanker 18, other 52

Reference: 2023

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

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area43.1%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption52.4%2021 · Verified

Environmental 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

International environmental 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

Reference: 2006

Climate

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

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total 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.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.089 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.4% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 98 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 33 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 2.053 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

476.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet68.5%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions116.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions4.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers817 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 38,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Reference: 2022

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)

Reference: 2019