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Asia / South-Eastern Asia · Card 008
Flag shown for Cambodia

Cambodia

Cambodia is a country in South-Eastern Asia. Its capital is Phnom Penh.

Find Cambodia

Phnom PenhCambodiaThailand
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital
Phnom Penh
Languages
Khmer
Currency
Cambodian riel (KHR)
Population
17.8 million2025 · World Bank
Area
181,035 km²69,898 square miles
Independence
1953from France

Cambodia in context

Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Phnom Penh; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

01

Physical geography

Mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north.

02

Languages

Languages used in public life include Khmer.

03

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.

Flag shown for Cambodia

Flag

Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double-width), and blue; a three-towered, stylized white temple outlined in black is in the center of the red band, representing Angkor Wat

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

History & independence

The Angkor Empire shaped Cambodia’s early history. Cambodia later became a French protectorate and secured independence in 1953. The Khmer Rouge ruled from 1975 to 1979, committing mass atrocities. The 1991 Paris Peace Agreements led to UN-supported elections and the restoration of the constitutional monarchy in 1993.

  1. Independence from France

  2. Khmer Rouge take power

  3. Constitutional monarchy restored

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Economy

Main activities

Garments, footwear, travel goods, tourism, construction and agriculture are major activities. Manufacturing exports and visitor demand connect the economy closely to international markets.

Industry and production

tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people
17.82025 · millions of people
0.0010.020.06.619705.219807.4199012.5200014.5201016.7202017.82025

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table
Population: source values and plotted units
Year People Millions of people
1970 6,639,182 6.639
1980 5,199,872 5.200
1990 7,374,752 7.375
2000 12,462,336 12.462
2010 14,500,726 14.501
2020 16,725,474 16.725
2025 17,847,982 17.848

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
40.62025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
0.0025.050.019902000201020202025

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table
Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year Constant 2015 US$ Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990 6,077,176,597 6.077
1991 6,538,513,179 6.539
1992 6,997,355,850 6.997
1993 7,284,133,440 7.284
1994 4,748,625,743 4.749
1995 5,218,904,416 5.219
1996 5,526,689,597 5.527
1997 5,748,123,107 5.748
1998 6,017,229,084 6.017
1999 6,781,740,973 6.782
2000 7,459,479,705 7.459
2001 8,010,713,671 8.011
2002 8,512,590,715 8.513
2003 9,387,998,415 9.388
2004 10,275,886,654 10.276
2005 11,642,922,160 11.643
2006 12,917,049,054 12.917
2007 14,260,222,988 14.260
2008 15,326,369,460 15.326
2009 15,950,885,069 15.951
2010 16,760,698,493 16.761
2011 17,981,993,294 17.982
2012 19,357,661,919 19.358
2013 20,878,690,157 20.879
2014 22,549,052,337 22.549
2015 24,174,170,369 24.174
2016 26,085,259,688 26.085
2017 28,191,654,622 28.192
2018 30,665,817,314 30.666
2019 33,099,747,943 33.100
2020 31,922,812,945 31.923
2021 32,909,177,696 32.909
2022 34,597,385,967 34.597
2023 36,329,791,405 36.330
2024 38,515,324,291 38.515
2025 40,575,632,562 40.576

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.606Medium human developmentRank 151 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.387
20000.438
20100.543
20200.595
20230.606
70.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
5.2 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Knowledge check

Three questions about Cambodia.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Cambodia: Constitutional monarchy restored?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.

Phnom PenhCambodiaThailand