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Countries |
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Guide to DXing |
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Real Radio |
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Background:
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Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the
Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached
its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai
and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in
a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French
protection in 1863 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887.
Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full
independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-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 December 1978 Vietnamese invasion
drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year
Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war.
The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a
ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge.
UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of
normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997
ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national
elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition
government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements
of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the remaining
Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal
for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively
peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending
political parties before a coalition government was formed. In
October 2004, King SIHANOUK abdicated the throne due to illness and
his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local
elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, and there was little
in the way of pre-election violence that preceded prior elections.
National elections are scheduled for July 2008.
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand,
Vietnam, and Laos
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 00 N, 105 00 E
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia
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Area:
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total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Oklahoma
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam
1,228 km
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Coastline:
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443 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season
(December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
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Natural resources:
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oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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2,700 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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476.1 cu km (1999)
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 4.08 cu km/yr (1%/0%/98%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional
droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
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Population:
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14,241,640
note: estimates for this country take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2008 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421)
(2008 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 21.7 years
male: 21 years
female: 22.5 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.752% (2008 est.)
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Birth rate:
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25.68 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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NA
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 56.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 61.69 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.6% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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170,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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15,000 (2003 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese
encephalitis, and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been
identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with
extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have
close contact with birds (2008)
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Nationality:
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noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
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Ethnic groups:
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Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
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Religions:
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Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
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Languages:
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Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic
pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's
Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
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Government type:
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multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*
(krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham,
Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal,
Kaoh Kong, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat,
Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng,
Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh),
Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)
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Independence:
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9 November 1953 (from France)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
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Constitution:
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promulgated 21 September 1993
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Legal system:
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primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from
the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with
influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal
theory; increasing influence of common law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29
October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14
January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Deputy
Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN,
LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16
July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006), BIN
CHHIN (since 5 September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the
monarch; in practice named by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne
Council; following 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 king
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate
(61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the
National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and
commune councils; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003
(next to be held on 27 July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January
2006 (next to be held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by
party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote
by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP
45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2 (January 2006)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the
constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and
lower courts) exercises judicial authority
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Political parties and leaders:
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Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United
Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative
Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh
Party or NRP [Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM
RANGSI]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun
Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600
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Flag description:
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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
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual
building in its design
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Economy - overview:
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From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew at an average rate of 6.4%,
driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector and tourism.
The US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave
Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a
bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor
laws and international labor standards in the industry. With the
January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing,
Cambodia-based textile producers were forced to compete directly
with lower-priced producing countries such as China and India.
Better-than-expected garment sector performance led to more than 9%
growth in 2007. Its vibrant garment industry employs more than
350,000 people and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports.
The Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy supporting
high labor standards in an attempt to maintain buyer interest. In
2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath
Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for
the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is
attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the
northeastern parts of the country, and the government has said
opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In
2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA) was signed and the first round of discussions took
place in early 2007. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly,
with foreign arrivals reaching 2 million in 2007. In 2007 the
government signed a joint venture agreement with two companies to
form a new national airline. The long-term development of the
economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government is
working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World
Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. The
major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be
fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can
create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More
than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population
lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the
poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack
of basic infrastructure.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$25.79 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$8.3 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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9.1% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$1,800 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 31%
industry: 26%
services: 43% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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7 million (2003 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 75%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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Unemployment rate:
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2.5% (2000 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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35% (2004)
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 34.8% (2004)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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41.7 (2004 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.4% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $915.5 million
expenditures: $1.101 billion (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
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Industries:
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tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood
products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
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Industrial production growth rate:
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12% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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134 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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206.6 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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82 million kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - consumption:
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3,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - imports:
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3,585 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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NA
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Current account balance:
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-$410 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$4.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
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Exports - partners:
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US 53.3%, Hong Kong 15.2%, Germany 6.6%, UK 4.3% (2006)
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Imports:
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$5.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
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Imports - partners:
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Hong Kong 18.1%, China 17.5%, Thailand 13.9%, Taiwan 12.7%,
Vietnam 9%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.9%, Japan 4.3% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$698.2 million pledged in grants and concession loans for 2007
by international donors (2007)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$1.662 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$3.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA
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Currency (code):
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riel (KHR)
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Currency code:
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KHR
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Exchange rates:
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riels per US dollar - 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5
(2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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32,800 (2006)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1.14 million (2006)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely
used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line
network; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1
per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing
competition among service providers, is increasing and
stands at about 8 per 100 persons
domestic: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-phone
coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive
landline and cellular service available to all countries
from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth
station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2007)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM 17, shortwave NA (2003)
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Radios:
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1.34 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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9 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese
broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2006)
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Televisions:
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94,000 (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.kh
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Internet hosts:
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941 (2007)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000)
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Internet users:
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44,000 (2005)
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Airports:
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17 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 38,257 km
paved: 2,406 km
unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 586 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,889,909
GRT/2,682,881 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 487, chemical tanker 10,
container 9, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 5,
petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off
1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 463 (Canada 6, China 166, Cyprus 9, Egypt
14, Estonia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 5, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 1,
Japan 3, South Korea 29, Latvia 2, Lebanon 7, Nigeria 2,
Romania 1, Russia 112, Singapore 2, Syria 32, Taiwan 1,
Turkey 20, Ukraine 27, UAE 2, US 6, Yemen 3) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)
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Military branches:
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Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2008)
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Military service age and obligation:
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conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between
18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service
obligation (2006)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 3,759,034
females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 2,581,045
females age 16-49: 2,676,075 (2008 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age
annually:
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males age 16-49: 185,959
females age 16-49: 182,558 (2008 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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3% (2005 est.)
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Transnational Issues |
Cambodia |
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Disputes - international:
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Southeast Asian states must maintain border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of
boundary with missing boundary markers and claims of Thai
encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with
Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over sovereignty of
offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand of obstructing access to
Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in
1962
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Trafficking in persons:
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current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination,
and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; a
significant number of women and children are trafficked to
Thailand and Malaysia for commercial sexual exploitation and
forced labor; men are trafficked primarily to Thailand for
forced labor in the construction and agricultural sectors,
particularly the fishing industry, while women and girls are
trafficked for factory and domestic work; children are
trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forced
begging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for
women from Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation;
trafficking for sexual exploitation also occurs within
Cambodia's borders, from rural areas to the cities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking; however, it is committed to making significant
efforts to sustain progress over the coming year
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Illicit drugs:
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narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine
production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based
economy and porous borders
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This page was last updated on 1 May,
2008
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MW Guide:
Introduction
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