Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
People ::Cambodia
Population:
14,453,680
country comparison to the world: 66
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 2,388,922/female 2,336,439)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 4,498,568/female 4,743,677)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 197,649/female 329,038) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.6 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 23.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.705% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Birth rate:
25.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Death rate:
8.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Net migration rate:
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 136
Urbanization:
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 37
male: 64.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.28 years
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 59.95 years
female: 64.72 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.9 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
75,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and
malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (1998
census)
Languages:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 176
Government ::Cambodia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic
pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of
Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
Government type:
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong,
singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Choay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Choay, Pailin, Pouthisat, Preah
Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siem
Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh)
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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
[co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]; Permanent Deputy Prime
Minister MEN SAM AN (since 25 September 2008); Deputy Prime
Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK AN, TEA BANH, HOR
NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004); BIN CHHIN (since 5
September 2007); KEAT CHHON, YIM CHHAI LY (since 24 September 2008);
KE KIMYAN (since 12 March 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the king chosen by a Royal Throne Council from among all
eligible males of royal descent; following legislative elections, a
member of the majority party or majority coalition named prime
minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by
the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by
the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by
parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year
terms) and the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held in
January 2012); National Assembly - last held on 27 July 2008 (next
to be held in July 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%,
FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP
2; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 58%, SRP 22%,
HRP 7%; NRP 6%; FUNCINPEC 5%; others 2%; seats by party - CPP 90,
SRP 26, HRP 3, FUNCINPEC 2, NRP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution
and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts)
exercises judicial authority
Political parties and leaders:
Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Human Rights Party or
HRP [KHEM SOKHA, also spelled KEM SOKHA]; National United Front for
an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Nationalist Party or NP [CHHIM SEAK
LENG] (formerly the NRP); Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI, also
spelled SAM RAINSY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Cambodian Freedom Fighters or CFF; Partnership for Transparency Fund
or PTF (anti-corruption organization); Students Movement for
Democracy; The Committee for Free and Fair Elections or Comfrel
other: human rights organizations; vendors
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA (observer), EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HENG HEM
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carol A. RODLEY
embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600
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
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its
design
National anthem:
name: "Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
lyrics/music: CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
note: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian
folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime
Economy ::Cambodia
Economy - overview:
From 2004 to 2007, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven
largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction,
agriculture, and tourism. GDP contracted 1.5% in 2009 as a result of
the global economic slowdown, but climbed more than 4% in 1010,
driven by renewed exports. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were
forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as
China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The garment industry
currently employs more than 280,000 people - about 5% of the work
force - and contributes more than 70% of Cambodia's exports. In
2005, exploitable oil deposits were found beneath Cambodia's
territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the
government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is
attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the
northern parts of the country. The government has said opportunities
exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a
US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
(TIFA) was signed, and several rounds of discussions have been held
since 2007. Rubber exports increased about 25% in 2009 due to rising
global demand. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly,
with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08,
however, economic troubles abroad dampened growth in 2009. The
global financial crisis is weakening demand for Cambodian exports,
and construction is declining due to a shortage of credit. The
long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge.
The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral
donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's
many pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over
the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which
the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's
demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is less than
25 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.46 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$28.3 billion (2009 est.)
$28.73 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.36 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
-1.5% (2009 est.)
5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$2,000 (2009 est.)
$2,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 30%
services: 41% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
8 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 67.9%
industry: 12.7%
services: 19.5% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 34.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
40 (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
-0.7% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
17% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 40
16.01% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$850.7 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 142
$747.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$3.899 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.195 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$1.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, silk
Industries:
tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and
wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - production:
1.273 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - consumption:
1.272 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
167 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - imports:
30,970 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Current account balance:
-$918 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
-$865.7 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.212 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$4.302 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:
US 45.32%, Singapore 9.46%, Germany 7.52%, UK 7.07%, Canada 6.31%,
Vietnam 4.15% (2009)
Imports:
$6.944 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$5.876 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:
Thailand 24.83%, Vietnam 19.73%, China 14.08%, Singapore 11.34%,
Hong Kong 7.41%, Taiwan 5.1%, South Korea 4.06% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$3.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.338 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$4.284 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,217.96 (2010), 4,139.33 (2009),
4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006)
Communications ::Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
54,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.593 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate fixed-line and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-cellular phone
systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the
fixed-line network; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in
rural areas
domestic: fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100
persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition
among service providers, is increasing and stands at 40 per 100
persons
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline
and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and
major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean region) (2009)
Broadcast media:
mixture of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately-owned
broadcast media; 9 TV broadcast stations with most operating on
multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station broadcasting
from multiple locations, 6 stations either jointly operated or
privately-owned with some broadcasting from several locations, and 2
TV relay stations - one relaying a French television station and the
other relaying a Vietnamese television station; multi-channel cable
and satellite systems are available; roughly 50 radio broadcast
stations - 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a
large mixture of public and private broadcasters; several
international broadcasters are available (2009)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet hosts:
5,452 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 138
Internet users:
78,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Transportation ::Cambodia
Airports:
17 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 141
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 690 km
country comparison to the world: 105
narrow gauge: 690 km 1.000-m gauge
note: under restoration (2010)
Roadways:
total: 38,093 km
country comparison to the world: 91
paved: 2,977 km
unpaved: 35,116 km (2007)
Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Merchant marine:
total: 620
country comparison to the world: 20
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 526, carrier 5, chemical tanker 5,
container 5, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 7,
petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 426 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 203, Cyprus 8, Egypt
12, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 11,
Indonesia 2, Japan 2, Latvia 1, Lebanon 6, Netherlands 1, Romania 1,
Russia 60, Singapore 4, South Korea 11, Syria 22, Taiwan 1, Turkey
26, UAE 2, UK 3, Ukraine 37, US 4, Vietnam 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)
Military ::Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to
register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,980,995
females age 16-49: 3,970,244 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,751,618
females age 16-49: 2,835,807 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 168,519
female: 166,418 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Transnational Issues ::Cambodia
Disputes - international:
Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing
boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian
territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved
dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses
Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear
temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part
of a planned UN World Heritage site
Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine
production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based
economy and porous borders
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Cameroon (Africa)
Introduction ::Cameroon
Background:
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in
1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed
stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture,
roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of President Paul BIYA.
Geography ::Cameroon
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial
Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 475,440 sq km
country comparison to the world: 53
land: 472,710 sq km
water: 2,730 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298
km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:
402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot
in north
Terrain:
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in
center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 2.52%
other: 84.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
260 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
285.5 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from
Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (elev. 4,095 m, 13,435 ft), which last
erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West
Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of
gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986
Environment - current issues:
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country
there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or
prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in
Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
People ::Cameroon
Population:
19,294,149
country comparison to the world: 58
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 3,891,762/female 3,822,870)
15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,298,143/female 5,250,493)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 283,289/female 332,744) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.157% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Birth rate: