ARCHIVE // KH // 1999
Cambodia
1999 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios
[time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little telephone service domestic: NA international: 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)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
7,000 (1981 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
1 government-operated station and four commercial stations broadcasting to Phnom Penh and major provincial cities via relay (1998)
Televisions
[time series]
800,000 (1996 est.)
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
(Economic aid--recipient)
[time series]
$569.8 million (1995)
Economic overview
(Economy--overview)
[time series]
After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment fell off, and tourism has declined from 1996 levels. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought. 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 and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. Even so, growth may resume in 1999 at, say, 2%.
Electricity - consumption
(Electricity--consumption)
[time series]
195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports
(Electricity--exports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports
(Electricity--imports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production
(Electricity--production)
[time series]
195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source
(Electricity--production by source)
[time series]
fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
[time series]
riels (CR) per US$1--3,772.0 (January 1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995), 2,545.3 (1994)
Exports
[time series]
$736 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports - commodities
(Exports--commodities)
[time series]
timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame
Exports - partners
(Exports--partners)
[time series]
Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, US
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP--composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 51% industry: 15% services: 34% (1997 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP--per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity?$700 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP--real growth rate)
[time series]
0% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports - commodities
(Imports--commodities)
[time series]
cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles
Imports - partners
(Imports--partners)
[time series]
Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand
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)
[time series]
15% (1998 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
2.5 million to 3 million
Labor force - by occupation
(Labor force--by occupation)
[time series]
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
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]
illegal 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); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998
International environmental agreements
(Environment--international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: 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*, Krachen, 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
Capital
[time series]
Phnom Penh
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]
CB
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly
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 1953 (from France)
International organization participation
[time series]
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, 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; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority
Legal system
[time series]
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 in recent years
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party--CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15 note: pursuant to the coalition agreement signed in November 1998, a Senate is being created and the legislature will thus become bicameral
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
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]
$85.3 million (1998)
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures--percent of GDP)
[time series]
2.4% (1998)
Military manpower - availability
(Military manpower--availability)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 2,562,112 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
(Military manpower--fit for military service)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 1,428,523 (1999 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: 119,839 (1999 est.)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,667,768; female 2,587,590) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,821,772; female 3,197,604) 65 years and over: 3% (male 143,016; female 208,770) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
41.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
16.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
105.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Khmer (official), French
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 48.24 years male: 46.81 years female: 49.75 years (1999 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 (1999 est.)
Population
[time series]
11,626,520 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.49% (1999 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: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
5.81 children born/woman (1999 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; possible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
20 (1998 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 (1998 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 (1998 est.)
Heliports
[time series]
3 (1998 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 141 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 598,867 GRT/841,240 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 16, cargo 108, container 4, livestock carrier 2, multifunctional large-load carrier 1, oil tankers 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5, Singapore 1 (1998 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