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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Budget [time series]

revenues: $261 million expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: international donors pledged a total of $1.8 billion in 1995 and 1996

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997 due to the twin shocks of the regional economic crisis and the July violence and political infighting. Economic growth fell from 6.5% in 1996 to 1.5% in 1997, foreign investment slowed, and tourism declined 16% from 1996 levels. Despite these difficulties, inflation accelerated only slightly to 9.5%; the government managed to keep the national budget in balance even with increased expenditures on the military and police; and the economy ran a small balance of payments surplus. The future payments could be adversely affected by the currency crises in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which tends to make Cambodia's exports more expensive at the same time imports from these countries become cheaper. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. Human resource levels in the population are low, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside. The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside will continue to hinder development. Recurring political instability hinders foreign investment. Corruption and inexperience among Cambodia's government officials will serve as a further drag on the economy.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

35,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

18 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

190 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

riels (CR) per US$1-3,537.0 (January 1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995), 2,545.3 (1994), 2,689.0 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $615 million (1996 est.) commodities: timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, US

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$7.7 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 47.3% industry: 15.4% services: 37.3% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$715 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

1.5% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1 billion (1996 est.) commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

9.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.5 million to 3 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 10, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public domestic: NA international: landline international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries; satellite earth station-1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

7,000 (1981 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

800,000 (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 181,040 sq km land: 176,520 sq km water: 4,520 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

443 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap

Irrigated land [time series]

920 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Terrain [time series]

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin

Constitution [time series]

promulgated 21 September 1993

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea local short form: Kampuchea

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436, 216-438

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister UNG HUOT (since NA August 1997) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN (since NA 1993); note-former First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH deposed in July 1997 by forces loyal to HUN SEN cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime ministers appointed by the king

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 726-8381

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[855] (23) 216-437

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Independence [time series]

9 November 1949 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997

Legal system [time series]

currently being defined

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held 26 July 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51, BLDP 10, MOLINAKA 1 note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which became the National Assembly after the new constitution was promulgated in September 1993

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Phnom Penh

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 9 November 1949

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), SON SANN; Buddhist Liberal Party (BLP), IENG MOULY; National Solidarity Party (also known as Democratic Kampuchea, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Movement Pour La Liberation Nationale Khmere (MOLINAKA), PROM NEAKAREACH; Khmer Nation Party (KNP), SAM RANGSI

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)-created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$160 million (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,477,842 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 1,381,787 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 113,098 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,611,684; female 2,533,313) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,729,598; female 3,119,579) 65 years and over: 3% (male 142,836; female 202,552) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.63 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.49 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

106.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Khmer (official), French

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 47.99 years male: 46.64 years female: 49.41 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35% male: 48% female: 22% (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

11,339,562 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.51% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand are indefinite; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin en route to West; possible money-laundering; high-level narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market CAMEROON

Transportation

Airports [time series]

20 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

3 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 390,566 GRT/556,743 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 66, container 2, livestock carrier 2, oil tankers 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 8, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5 (1997 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh

Railways [time series]

total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m