Background: 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 sought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 181,040 km²
Land: 176,520 km²
Water: 4,520 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries
Total: 2,572 km
Border countries: (3) Laos 541 km; , Thailand 803 km; , Vietnam 1,228 km

Coastline: 443 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous 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

Elevation
Extremes 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 use
Arable land: 13%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 11%
Forests and woodland: 66%
Other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 920 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November; flooding; occasional droughts

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

Population: 11,339,562 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.51% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Cambodian(s)
Adjective: Cambodian

Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Languages: Khmer (official), French

Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%

Age structure
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.)

Population growth rate: 2.51% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 41.63 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 16.49 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

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

Sex ratio
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.)

Infant mortality rate: 106.76 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.99 years
Male: 46.64 years
Female: 49.41 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 35%
Male: 48%
Female: 22% (1990 est.)

Country name
Conventional 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*, 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

Independence: 9 November 1949 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November 1949

Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993

Legal system: currently being defined

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993): ead 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

Legislative branch: 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

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

International organization participation: 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)

Diplomatic representation
In 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) 216-437

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

Economy overview: 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.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.5% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $715 (1997 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 47.3%
Industry: 15.4%
Services: 37.3% (1996 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%

Budget
Revenues: $261 million
Expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1995 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

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

Debt external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: 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)

Electricity
Capacity: 35,000 kW (1995)
Production: 190 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 18 kWh (1995)

Telephones: 7,000 (1981 est.)

Telephone system: 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)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $160 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 20 (1997 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 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 13
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)

Railways
Total: 603 km
Narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

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

Merchant marine
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.)

Disputes 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

Illicit drugs: 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