Statistical information Cambodia 1999

Cambodia in the World
top of pageBackground: Following a five-year struggle communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government formed after national elections in 1998 brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.
top of pageLocation: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map reference:
Southeast AsiaAreaTotal: 181,040 km²
Land: 176,520 km²
Water: 4,520 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundariesTotal: 2,572 km
Border countries: (3) Laos 541 km;
, Thailand 803 km;
, Vietnam 1,228 kmCoastline: 443 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November; dry season (December to April; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Extremes highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land useArable land: 13%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 11%
Forests and woodland: 66%
Other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 920 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November; flooding; occasional droughts
GeographyNote: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap
top of pagePopulation: 11,626,520 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.49% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Cambodian(s)
Adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Languages: Khmer (official), French
Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 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.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.49% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.05 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.2 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 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 agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 105.06 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 48.24 years
Male: 46.81 years
Female: 49.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 35%
Male: 48%
Female: 22% (1990 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
Conventional short form: Cambodia
Local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
Local short form: Kampuchea
Government type: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Capital: Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief 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
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
In the us chancery: 4,500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,011
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 726-7,742
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 726-8,381
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
From the us embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
From the us mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96,546
From the us telephone: [855] (23) 216-436, 216-438
From the us FAX: [855] (23) 216-811
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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%.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $700 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 51%
Industry: 15%
Services: 34% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
By occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $261 million
Expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1995 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $736 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame
Partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, US
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles
Partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: 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)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 195 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 61.54%
Production by source hydro: 38.46%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 195 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 7,000 (1981 est.)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $85.3 million (1998)
Percent of gdp: 2.4% (1998)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 20 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 7
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 13
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
PipelinesRailwaysTotal: 603 km
Narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m
Merchant marineTotal: 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 and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: 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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: 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