Languages: Khmer (official), French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35%
male: 48%
female: 22% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
local short form: Kampuchea
Data code: CB
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
Independence: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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
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 leaders: National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
International 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 representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
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
Economy—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%.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$7.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 51% industry: 15% services: 34% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $261 million
expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports: $736 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame
Exports—partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, US
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles
Imports—partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Thailand
Debt—external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $569.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
Exchange