OVERVIEW OF CAMBODIA

Official Name: The Kingdom of Cambodia

Capital: Phnom Penh

Location: Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia. It borders Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand. 

Area: 181,035 km² (69,898 sq mi)

Length of Coastline: 443 km (275 mi)

Population: Over 17 million

Ethnic Groups: Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7%

Language: Khmer

Natural resources: include oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, and hydropower potential.

Life expectancy: 68 years (men) 73 years (women)

Location and Area: 

Cambodia is situated in the heart of Southeast Asia. Covering a total area of 181,035 square kilometres, Cambodia shares its border with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Cambodia’s main geographical features, the low-lying Central Plain, includes the Tonlé Sap basin, the lower Mekong River flood-plains and the Bassac River plain. Mountain ranges occupy the north, east, in the south-west and southern part of the country.

The south and south-westerly part of the country face the Gulf of Thailand with a 443 km long coast overlapping 4 provinces; Kep, Kampot, Koh Kong and Kampong Soam (Sihanoulville) - collectively dubbed the 4K coastal zone. This charming stretch is characterized by mangrove forests, peninsulas, sandy beaches, headlands and bays with over 50 islands within the territorial waters. 

The Tonlé Sap Lake, one of the world’s most varied and productive ecosystems, and the mighty Mekong River, which traverses the country from north to south, are two outstanding features that contribute to the population that lives in the region.

National Flag: 

The flag of Cambodia symbolizes the country’s slogan: Nation, Religion, King. The two large blue stripes represent royalty and the center red stripes represents the nation. The image of the white temple stands for the nation’s religion.

National Flower:

The romduol, a small yellowish-white flower, is the national flower of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Since ancient times, Cambodian women have often been compared to the Romduol flower because of its attractive fragrance; a unique scent that is prominent in the late afternoon and can travel over long distances with the wind. 

Climate: 

Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s climate is hot and warm almost all year round. The climate is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle of rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to October and the dry season from November to April. December to January are the cool months while the hottest period is in April. The average temperature is 27-28ºC. The monsoon season may carry some rains but these quite often occur during the late evening and overnight and are not likely to spoil your enjoyment.

Demographics:

The total population of Cambodia is 17 million. Population density is 78/km2. Ninety percent of residents are Khmer; the rest are Cham (Khmer Muslim), Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Phnorng, Kuoy, Stieng, Tamil, etc. Chinese influence is strong, particularly in the business sector. However, English is more widely understood.

Money:

The Cambodian Riel is the national currency. However, USD is widely accepted and generally preferred especially when the cost of an item is substantially large since the exchange rate floats around 4000 riel to one US dollar. Nonetheless, one could enjoy better value for your money when using the Riel. When purchasing USD, you will most likely receive your change in Riel.

Electricity: 

Voltage: 230 V.

Frequency: 50 Hz

The standard voltage in Cambodia is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. See the illustration below for the types of power sockets and corresponding plugs used in Cambodia.