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Cambodia
Physical. Cambodia is located in Southeastern Asia between Thailand, Laos
and Vietnam. It borders the Gulf of Thailand. Altogether, Cambodia covers an
area slightly smaller than Oklahoma. The climate there is tropical with little
temperature variation and yearly monsoons (May to November) and a dry season
(December to April). The terrain is predominately low, flat plains with
mountains in the southwest and north. Natural resources include oil and gas,
timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates and hydropower
potential.
People. Almost 13.9 million people live in Cambodia. Khmer is the
official language while English and French are spoken as well. Ethnically, the
Khmer are the most predominant group (90% of the population) with 5% Vietnamese
and some Chinese. The predominant religion practiced in Cambodia is Theravada
Buddhism (95%).
Government Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, is located in the
south-central part of the country at the confluence of the Tonle and Mekong
rivers. It has 20 provinces. Attacks on the Khmer Empire (which reached its peak
between the 10th and 13th centuries) led the king to seek protection from the
French in 1863. It did not re-gain its independence until 1953. Beginning in
1975 the Khmer Rouge began a reign of terror that resulted in the deaths of over
1.5 million Cambodians. In 1978 invasion by the Vietnamese led to 13 years of
civil war. A stable coalition government was finally founded in 1998. Remaining
leaders of Khmer Rouge await trial for crimes against humanity. Elections in
2003 were relatively peaceful, but after the elections it took a year to form
the coalition government.
Economy. Economic reforms began after 30 years of strife, in 1999, the
first full year of peace. In that year Cambodia received a guaranteed quota of
US textile imports that enabled them to improve working conditions and enforce
labor laws. Until 2004, tourism and textiles fueled economic growth at the
average rate of 6.4%. Beginning in January 2005, Cambodia-based textile
producers began to compete directly with countries such as China and India. To
maintain favor with buyers and combat the possible loss of more than 200,000
textile jobs, the current government policy is for continued support for high
labor standards. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly and in 2005,
exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's
territorial waters.
Areas of Concern. Illegal logging, habitat loss and declining
biodiversity, soil erosion, lack of potable water in rural areas, and declining
fish stocks are the environmental issues that face Cambodia. The major economic
challenge for Cambodia will be addressing employment for Cambodia's demographic
imbalance—more than 50% of the population is 20 years or younger, lacks
education and productive skills, and lives in a poverty-ridden countryside,
(with an almost total lack of basic infrastructure). Subsistence farming is the
source of livelihood for 75% of the population.
For more information, you may write to the chancery at 4530 16th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20011; check the U.S. State Department or World Factbook country
sites; or type in the country's name on the Internet using a broad-based World
Wide Web search engine.
Cambodia statistics
Geography
Area: 181,040 sq km
Capital: Phnom Penh (1,000,000)
Environmental concerns: illegal logging and strip mining lead to habitat loss
and declining biodiversity; soil erosion; lack of potable water in rural areas;
declining fish stocks
Geographical features: mostly low, flat plains with mountains in the southwest
and north
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November) with a dry season
(December to April) and little seasonal temperature variation
People
13,881,000 estimates include excess mortality due to AIDS (effects: lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population) (July 2006 est.) Khmer
(90%), Vietnamese (5%), Chinese (1%), other (4%)
Annual growth rate: 1.78% (2006 est.)
Major languages are Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Religions: Theravada Buddhist (95%), other (5%)
Health and social issues
Life expectancies: male 57; female 61
Infant mortality: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Population below the poverty line: 40% (2004 est.)
1 physician to 7,900 people
HIV/AIDS Rate in Adults: 2.6% (2003 est.)
73.6% of adults are literate
Compulsory education (Ages): 6-12
Communication and transportation
36,400 (2003) main telephone lines in use
41,000 (2005) Internet users
12,323 km of highway
602 km railroads
20 (2005) airports
3.95 million motor vehicles (2004)
Government
Cambodia is a multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established
in September 1993.
The chief of state is King Norodom Sihamoni (since 29 October 2004). The head of
the government is Prime Minister Hun Sen (since 14 January 1985).
Universal suffrage 18 years of age
Military
Military expenditures as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product 3% (FY01
est.).
Current disputes: increased border surveillance due to avian flu; access to
Preah Vihear temple ruins, boundary and territory disputes with Thailand;
dispute with Vietnam over offshore islands
Economy
Currency: riel
Per capita GDP: $2,200 (2005 est.)
GDP: $30.65 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate: 6% (2005 est.)
Inflation rate: 4.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: agriculture (75%), industry (NA%) services (NA%)
Resources and industry
Natural resources: oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
Agriculture: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industry: tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Exports: $2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports: $3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Suggested web sites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cambodia
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/khtoc.html
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