Cambodia
GEOGRAPHY
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Area total 181,035 sq. km (land 176,515 sq km; water 4,520 sq km)
Land boundaries 2,530 km
Coastline 443 km
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh translates as "Penh's Hill" in Khmer; the city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom (Hill Temple), the tallest religious structure in the city, whose establishment, according to legend, was inspired in the 14th century by a pious nun, Daun PENH
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: highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m; lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Geo Note: A land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)
PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
Population: 17,304,363 (July 2021 est.)
Nationality: Cambodian(s)
Languages: Khmer (official) 95.8%, minority languages 2.9%, Chinese .6%, Vietnamese .5%, other .2% (2019 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Khmer 97.6%, Cham 1.2%, Chinese 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%, other 0.9% (2013 est.)
Religions: Buddhist (official) 97.9%, Muslim 1.1%, Christian 0.5%, other 0.6% (2013 est.)
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
0-24 years: 47%
25-54 years: 42%
55+ years: 11%
Median age: 26 years
Urbanization - 25% of total population (2021)
Population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh; further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers
NATIONAL IDENTITY
COUNTRY NAMES
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)
local short form: Kampuchea
etymology: the English name Cambodia is an anglicization of the French Cambodge, which is the French transliteration of the native name Kampuchea
Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Government Type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
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; red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors
National anthem
"Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune
National symbol(s): Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox); national colors: red, blue
ECONOMY
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 4,078 Cambodian Riels (KHR), 2021 est
COMM
International: country code - 855
Internet country code - .kh
Mobile cellular subscriptions: 21,418,681 (127 per 100 inhabitants, 2019 est.)
Internet users total: 6,579,808 (40% of population, 2018 est.)
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook
