Country Profile: Cambodia

Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, is bordered by Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, with a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. The nation is primarily defined by its low, flat plains, dominated by the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. Home to approximately 17.2 million people, the population is predominantly Khmer, with a rich heritage stemming from the Angkor Empire. Economically, Cambodia is one of the fastest-growing nations in the region, supported by a burgeoning tourism sector, garment manufacturing, and substantial investments, particularly from China. Governed as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, the political landscape is characterized by the dominance of the Cambodian People's Party and complex governance structures marred by limitations on civil liberties.

Geography

Cambodia's geographical landscape features mostly low plains, with the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake being prominent natural features. Its climate is tropical, experiencing a monsoon season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. The country has a total area of 181,035 sq km, with borders stretching 2,530 km adjacent to Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

443 km of coastline along the Gulf of Thailand
Highest point at 1,810 m (Phnum Aoral)
Approximately 39.4% of land is forested (2023)
Major lakes include Tonle Sap, varying between 2,700 to 16,000 sq km in area
34.9% of land used for agriculture (2023)

People and Society

The Cambodian population is approximately 17.2 million as of 2025, with a majority identifying as Khmer. The country boasts a rich linguistic culture, with Khmer being the official language. Buddhism is the predominant religion, practiced by 97.1% of the population. Cambodia's demographic profile indicates a youthful society, with a median age of 28.3 years in 2025 and a significant portion of the population concentrated in urban areas, particularly Phnom Penh.

25.6% of the population is urban (2023)
Youth aged 0-14 years comprise 28.9% of the total population (2025)
71.9% literacy rate (2021)
17.74 births/1,000 population (2025 estimated birth rate)
Life expectancy at birth is 71.4 years (2024)

Economy

Cambodia's economy is one of the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia, with a GDP (PPP) of approximately $123.676 billion for 2024. The nation relies heavily on tourism and garment exports, with agriculture contributing significantly to its economy. Despite growth, Cambodia faces challenges such as substantial public debt and needs for infrastructure development.

6% projected GDP growth rate for 2024
41.8% of GDP derived from industry (2024)
Unemployment rate stands at 0.3% as of 2024
$31.712 billion in exports expected for 2024
50.3% of GDP represented by public debt (2023)

Government

Cambodia is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy where the king serves as the head of state, while the prime minister leads the government. The recent political transition saw Hun Manet take over as prime minister in 2023 from his father, Hun Sen, who maintained significant influence. The country's governance faces criticism regarding human rights and democratic processes.

Capitals: Phnom Penh (coordinates 11°33′ N, 104°55′ E)
24 provinces and 1 municipality are part of the administrative divisions
The current constitution was promulgated on September 21, 1993
Legislative elections are held every 5 years, the last of which occurred on July 23, 2023
Percentage of women in the National Assembly is 13.6%

Military and Security

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) encompass the army, navy, air force, and gendarmerie. Military expenditures account for 1.5% of GDP. The armed forces primarily focus on border and internal security, with recent engagements highlighting ongoing tensions with Thailand along their disputed border.

Estimated 200,000 personnel in the armed forces (2025)
Cambodia's military operates mainly with older armaments from Chinese and Russian origins
The legal military service age is 18 for both men and women
Military deployments include 340 troops in the Central African Republic and 180 in Lebanon (2025)

Energy

Cambodia is enhancing its energy infrastructure, with 92.3% electrification coverage across the population in 2022. The country's electricity generation primarily relies on fossil fuels and hydroelectric sources.

Installed generating capacity of 3.673 million kW (2023)
Electricity consumption expected at 16.998 billion kWh (2023)
55.5% of the installed capacity comes from fossil fuels
Urban electrification is at 99%, while rural is 88%

Environment

Cambodia faces environmental challenges, including habitat loss and deforestation. The country has committed to several international environmental agreements while striving to address issues such as illegal logging and water scarcity.

Total water withdrawal for agricultural use stands at 2.053 billion cubic meters (2022)
39.4% of land is covered by forests (2023)
18.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions expected (2023)
12.4% of municipal solid waste was recycled as of 2022

Transportation

Cambodia's transportation infrastructure includes a mix of roads, railways, and a developing air transport system, with 12 airports operational and a railway network of 642 km mostly under restoration.

195 merchant marine vessels reported (2023)
2 main ports, with key operations at Kampong Saom
Expected to register 12 airports by 2025

Communications

Cambodia's communication sector is expanding, with a significant mobile cellular subscription rate and increasing internet usage among the population.

61% of the population is estimated to use the internet (2023)
20.5 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2024)
Total fixed line subscriptions are fewer than 30,000 (2024)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	17,230,333 (2025 est.)
Area	181,035 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$123.676 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption	15.664 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	17.74 births/1,000 people	(2025 est.)
Unemployment Rate	0.3% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	71.4 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	71.9% (2021 est.)
Electrification Rate	92.3% (2022 est.)
Military Expenditure	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)