Cambodia

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). <br><br>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.<br><br>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.

Land

176,515 sq km

Total

181,035 sq km

Water

4,520 sq km

1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma

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

443 km

Asia

Highest point

Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Lowest point

Gulf of Thailand 0 m

Mean elevation

126 m

13 00 N, 105 00 E

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

3,540 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Laos 555 km; Thailand 817 km; Vietnam 1158 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

2,530 km

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.)

arable land

23.34%

Forest

39.4% (2023 est.)

Other

25.8% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

3.03%

No

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

Fresh water lake(s)

Tonle Sap - 2,700-16,000 sq km

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

Pacific Ocean drainage

Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/nztQtFSrUXZymJaW8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/49898

Southeast Asia

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

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

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

South-Eastern Asia

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

UTC+07:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

4.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

4.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

17.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

3.3% (2022)

Women married by age 15

1.9% (2022)

Women married by age 18

17.9% (2022)

21.9%

16.3% (2021 est.)

67.2% (2022 est.)

5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

133 per 1,000

adult male

208 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

8.4 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

11.9 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

51.2 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

42.9 (2025 est.)

improved total

29.99%

Improved: rural

rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 78% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 27.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 22% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

11.6% national budget (2025 est.)

2 % of GDP

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

1.05 (2025 est.)

5 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.5% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.13%

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

Female

24.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

31.3 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

12 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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)

<br>សៀវភៅហេតុការណនៅលើពិភពលោក។ ទីតាំងពត៏មានមូលដានគ្រឹះយាងសំខាន់។. (Khmer)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

73.3 years

Male

69.6 years

Total population

71.4 years (2024 est.)

Female

63.6% (2021 est.)

Male

81.5% (2021 est.)

Total population

71.9% (2021 est.)

2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)

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

Female

28.9 years

Male

26.9 years

Total

28.3 years (2025 est.)

23.3 years (2021-22 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Cambodian

Noun

Cambodian(s)

-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

3.9% (2016)

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Female

8,868,109

Male

8,362,224

Total

17,230,333 (2025 est.)

0.95% (2025 est.)

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

improved total

51.6%

Improved: rural

rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

11 years (2023 est.)

Male

11 years (2023 est.)

Total

11 years (2023 est.)

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

At birth

1.04 male(s)/female

Total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

4.7% (2025 est.)

Male

24.9% (2025 est.)

Total

14.5% (2025 est.)

2.14 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

25.6% of total population (2023)

measles

83%

24 provinces (<em>khett</em>, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (<em>krong</em>, singular and plural) <br><br><strong>provinces:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)

Etymology

the name means "mountain of plenty," from the Cambodian words <em>phnom </em>(mountain or hill) and <em>penh </em>(full)

Geographic coordinates

11 33 N, 104 55 E

Name

Phnom Penh

Time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/kh.svg

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

History

previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993

alternative spellings

KH, Kingdom of Cambodia

Conventional long form

Kingdom of Cambodia

Conventional short form

Cambodia

Etymology

the name is derived from Kambu, a legendary ancestor of the Cambodian people

FIFA code

CAM

Former

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

Local long form

Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)

local long form (khm)

ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា

Local short form

Kampuchea

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Bridgette L. WALKER (since August 2024)

Email address and website

<br>ACSPhnomPenh@state.gov<br><br>https://kh.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

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

FAX

[855] (23) 728-700

Mailing address

4540 Phnom Penh Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-4540

Telephone

[855] (23) 728-000

Chancery

4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Chief of mission

Ambassador Koy KUONG (since 11 June 2025)

Email address and website

<br>camemb.usa@mfaic.gov.kh<br><br>https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 726-8381

Telephone

[1] (202) 726-7742

Cabinet

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

Chief of state

King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)

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

Head of government

Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023)

Note

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

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

The flag of Cambodia features three horizontal bands of blue, red and blue, with a white depiction of the temple complex, Angkor Wat centered in the red band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/kh.svg

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

9 November 1953 (from France)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

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

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

Parliament

Chamber name

National Assembly (Radhsphea Ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

July 2028

Most recent election date

7/23/2023

Number of seats

125 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Cambodian People's Party (CPP) (120); United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) (5)

Percentage of women in chamber

13.6%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Chamber name

Senate

Expected date of next election

February 2030

Most recent election date

2/25/2024

Number of seats

62 (60 indirectly elected; 2 appointed)

Percentage of women in chamber

19.4%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

6 years

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 <em>gajasingha</em> (a lion with an elephant’s trunk), and the lion on the right is a <em>rajasingha</em> (royal lion); both hold five-tiered umbrellas representing the king and queen, and they stand on a blue ribbon that says “<em>Preah Chao Krung Kampuche”</em>' (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

red, blue

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)

Total World Heritage Sites

5 (all cultural)

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox)

Cambodian People's Party (CPP) <br>United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC)

note

<strong>note:</strong>  the Cambodian Government has disqualified the main opposition Candlelight Party

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

40.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$8.285 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$7.076 billion (2023 est.)

code

KHR, USD

name

Cambodian riel (KHR) [៛], United States dollar (USD) [$]

$228.1 million

Current account balance 2022

-$7.582 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$552.346 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$222.108 million (2024 est.)

Note

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

$20.98 billion

Debt - external 2023

$8.019 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

riels (KHR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

4,092.783 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4,098.723 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4,102.038 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4,110.653 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

4,072.397 (2024 est.)

$33.08 billion

Exports 2022

$25.497 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$27.753 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$31.712 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$4.39 billion

Exports of goods and services

71.4% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

5.8% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

59.8% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-72.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

31.6% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.6% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Agriculture

16.6% (2024 est.)

Industry

41.8% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

35.6% (2024 est.)

$46.353 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$2,628

$45.99 billion

$2,550

32 % of GDP

$33.41 billion

Imports 2022

$34.759 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$29.421 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$34.329 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

9.5% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

0.81%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.9% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.1% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

9.904 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

10.37 million persons

agriculture

33.4%

industry

28.87%

services

37.72%

50 % of GDP

Note

<strong>note:</strong> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2023

50.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

$140.53 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$111.095 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$116.658 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$123.676 billion (2024 est.)

5.98%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

6% (2024 est.)

$7,967

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$7,000 (2024 est.)

$2.83 billion

Note

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

Remittances 2022

6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

6.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$22.51 billion

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$17.801 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$19.984 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$22.506 billion (2024 est.)

14 % of GDP

12 % of GDP

12.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

0.26%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

0.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

0.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

0.3% (2024 est.)

Female

0.9% (2024 est.)

Male

0.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

0.8% (2024 est.)

Consumption

4.39 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

4.36 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

16.998 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

813 kWh

Imports

5.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

3.673 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.882 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

88%

Electrification - total population

92.3% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

99%

Biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

55.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

57.86%

Hydroelectricity

38.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

56.4%

Solar

5.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

502 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

15.664 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

77,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

52.4%

per 100 inhabitants

4 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2022 est.)

Total

510,000 (2022 est.) Slowly increase as focus is on mobile internet

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)

.kh

Percent of population

61% (2023 est.)

#####

+855

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2024 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

29,100 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

121 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

116 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

20.5 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

675,283 passengers

registered carrier departures

9,161 departures

12 (2025)

XU

Right

1 (2025)

By type

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

Total

195 (2023)

Key ports

Kampong Saom, Phsar Ream

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

2 (2024)

Very small

1

Narrow gauge

642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Note

<strong>note:</strong> under restoration

Total

642 km (2014)

K

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br><br>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)

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)

active duty personnel

191,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the National Committee for Maritime Security performs coast guard functions and has representation from military and civilian agencies<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Cambodian National Police are under the Ministry of Interior

percent of total labor force

2.01 %

information varies; estimated 200,000 Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)

340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL)&nbsp; (2025)

the RCAF is armed largely with older Chinese and Russian/Soviet origin armaments; in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern equipment from several suppliers, particularly China (2025)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$720,543,532

Military Expenditures 2020

2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

8.79 %

percent of GDP

1.52 % of GDP

18 is the legal minimum age for military service for men and women (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

PowerIndex score

1.8434

IDPs

2,526 (2024 est.)

Refugees

28 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

75,000 (2024 est.)

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/

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.)

Total emissions

18.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

32 % of total land area

5 % of total

476.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

2 % of internal resources

Agricultural

2.053 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

33 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

98 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

1.089 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12.4% (2022 est.)