Cambodia

**Cambodia** or **Kampuchea** (officially called **Kingdom of Cambodia**) is a country in Southeast Asia. It is near Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. About 13 million people live in Cambodia. The people of Cambodia are called _Cambodians_ or _Khmer_. Khmer is the official language. The country has recently emerged from a long civil war and the rule of the Khmer Rouge. It is part of ASEAN, Association of South East Asian Nations.

## History

The ancestors of Cambodia had an empire called Angkor centered in the northwest of present-day Cambodia. The Angkor civilization is the world's largest pre-industrial civilization. One of the buildings from Angkor is a Hindu/Buddhist temple called Angkor Wat, which is the world's largest religious structure. This empire was later destroyed due to ecological and environmental problems as well as failing infrastructure. Theravada Buddhism came to the country in the 13th century via monks from Sri Lanka. Since then, Buddhism has been the official religion.

## Geography

Cambodia is set entirely in the tropic zone. The Mekong River runs through the middle of the country and is the most important source of water in the country. The country is the size of Missouri.

## Sports

In Cambodia, people play many sports. Some sports that are enjoyed that come from the West include golf, rugby and soccer. Traditional Cambodian sports are buffalo racing, dragon boat racing and bokator Khmer martial art also known as pradal serey. Cambodia attended its first Olympic Games in 1956 and participated in two more before warfare and civil strife interrupted its attendance. The country returned to regular participation with the 1996 Summer Games. Cambodia managed fourth in soccer in the 1972 Southeast Asian games. Cambodia hosted the GANEFO games in the 1960s. Sports is played in Cambodia to entertain people and too they can find out more about their own talents.

## Culture

The culture of Cambodia has been influenced by Hinduism. Today most people in Cambodia practice Buddhism. A lot of their customs revolve around Buddhism.

The food of Cambodia includes tropical fruits, rice, noodles and various soups. Cambodians like to eat a rice noodle soup called 'kah-tieu' in the morning. Cambodians are famous for a type of 'kah-tieu' called 'kah-tieu Phnom Penh' which has shrimp, beef balls, fried garlic, pork broth and chicken. Cambodians also eat a red curry noodle soup with rice vermicelle noodles. Curry is also eaten with rice or French bread in Cambodia. Cambodian food is similar to Vietnamese and Southern Thai food.

Cambodia also has a mystical tattoo called a yantra tattoo that is popular with soldiers. A yantra tattoo has ancient Khmer and Pali (An ancient Indian language) writing. A yantra tattoo is usually done by a religious person or monk. The tattoo artist guarantees that the person cannot receive any physical harm as long as they follow certain conditions. A person is supposed to not talk to anyone for three days and three nights. Another alternative is to follow the five Buddhist percepts. Movie star actress Angelina Jolie is known to have a yantra tattoo.

Cambodians celebrate the Cambodian New Year in April. It is based on Theravada Buddhism. The date depends on astrological signs but are usually are on April 13-15 or April 14-16.

### Flag

The Cambodian flag includes a three-towered temple called Angkor Wat. It is the most famous monument in the country. Many tourists visit the temple. The Cambodian flag has three horizontal bands. There are two blue bands on the top and the bottom. There is a red band that is twice the height of each blue band. The red band represents the nation. The temple represents the structure of the universe.

## Provinces

Cambodia is divided into 25 provinces including the capital. The provinces are divided into 159 districts and 26 municipalities. The districts and municipalities are then divided into communes and quarters.

|style="width: 135px;"|Name|Capital (seat)|Population (2019)|Area (km<sup>2</sup>)|Population density|ISO|||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Banteay Meanchey|style="text-align: left;"|Serei Saophoan Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|859,545|style="text-align: right;"|6,679|style="text-align: right;"|129|style="text-align: center;"|KH-1|
|Battambang|style="text-align: left;"|Battambang Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|987,400|style="text-align: right;"|11,702|style="text-align: right;"|84|style="text-align: center;"|KH-2|
|Kampong Cham|style="text-align: left;"|Kampong Cham Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|895,763|style="text-align: right;"|4,549|style="text-align: right;"|197|style="text-align: center;"|KH-3|
|Kampong Chhnang|style="text-align: left;"|Kampong Chhnang Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|525,932|style="text-align: right;"|5,521|style="text-align: right;"|95|style="text-align: center;"|KH-4|
|Kampong Speu|style="text-align: left;"|Chbar Mon Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|872,219|style="text-align: right;"|7,017|style="text-align: right;"|124|style="text-align: center;"|KH-5|
|Kampong Thom|style="text-align: left;"|Steung Saen Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|677,260|style="text-align: right;"|13,814|style="text-align: right;"|49|style="text-align: center;"|KH-6|
|Kampot|style="text-align: left;"|Kampot Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|592,845|style="text-align: right;"|4,873|style="text-align: right;"|122|style="text-align: center;"|KH-7|
|Kandal|style="text-align: left;"|Ta Khmau Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|1,195,547|style="text-align: right;"|3,179|style="text-align: right;"|376|style="text-align: center;"|KH-8|
|Koh Kong|style="text-align: left;"|Khemarak Phoumin Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|123,618|style="text-align: right;"|10,090|style="text-align: right;"|12|style="text-align: center;"|KH-9|
|Kratié|style="text-align: left;"|Kratié Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|327,825|style="text-align: right;"|11,094|style="text-align: right;"|34|style="text-align: center;"|KH-10|
|Mondulkiri|style="text-align: left;"|Senmonorom Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|88,649|style="text-align: right;"|14,288|style="text-align: right;"|6|style="text-align: center;"|KH-11|
|Phnom Penh|style="text-align: left;"|Doun Penh Section|style="text-align: right;"|2,129,371|style="text-align: right;"|679|style="text-align: right;"|3,136|style="text-align: center;"|KH-12|
|Preah Vihear|style="text-align: left;"|Tbaeng Meanchey Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|251,352|style="text-align: right;"|13,788|style="text-align: right;"|18|style="text-align: center;"|KH-13|
|Prey Veng|style="text-align: left;"|Prey Veng Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|1,057,428|style="text-align: right;"|4,883|style="text-align: right;"|217|style="text-align: center;"|KH-14|
|Pursat|style="text-align: left;"|Pursat Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|411,759|style="text-align: right;"|12,692|style="text-align: right;"|32|style="text-align: center;"|KH-15|
|Ratanak Kiri|style="text-align: left;"|Banlung Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|204,027|style="text-align: right;"|10,782|style="text-align: right;"|19|style="text-align: center;"|KH-16|
|Siem Reap|style="text-align: left;"|Siem Reap Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|1,006,512|style="text-align: right;"|10,299|style="text-align: right;"|98|style="text-align: center;"|KH-17|
|Preah Sihanouk|style="text-align: left;"|Sihanoukville Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|302,887|style="text-align: right;"|1,938|style="text-align: right;"|156|style="text-align: center;"|KH-18|
|Stung Treng|style="text-align: left;"|Stung Treng Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|159,565|style="text-align: right;"|11,092|style="text-align: right;"|14|style="text-align: center;"|KH-19|
|Svay Rieng|style="text-align: left;"|Svay Rieng Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|524,554|style="text-align: right;"|2,966|style="text-align: right;"|177|style="text-align: center;"|KH-20|
|Takéo|style="text-align: left;"|Doun Kaev Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|899,485|style="text-align: right;"|3,563|style="text-align: right;"|252|style="text-align: center;"|KH-21|
|Oddar Meanchey|style="text-align: left;"|Samraong Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|261,252|style="text-align: right;"|6,158|style="text-align: right;"|42|style="text-align: center;"|KH-22|
|Kep|style="text-align: left;"|Kep Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|41,798|style="text-align: right;"|336|style="text-align: right;"|124|style="text-align: center;"|KH-23|
|Pailin|style="text-align: left;"|Pailin Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|71,600|style="text-align: right;"|803|style="text-align: right;"|89|style="text-align: center;"|KH-24|
|Tboung Khmum|style="text-align: left;"|Suong Municipality|style="text-align: right;"|775,296|style="text-align: right;"|5,250|style="text-align: right;"|148|style="text-align: center;"|KH-25|

## Transportation

People in Cambodia use many different types of transportation. Transportation in Cambodia include: boat, car, motorcycle, elephant, train and airplane.

## Economy

The Cambodian economy has been growing rapidly in recent years. Cambodia is set to build its first skyscraper, Gold Tower 42. Cambodia is also building a satellite city next to Phnom Penh which is called Camko City. Camko City is being constructed by Korean companies to modernize Phnom Penh so as to make it appealing to foreign investors and businesses. Cambodia is also one of the most corrupted nations in the world and has been pressured by international communities to fix it.

## Foreign relations

Cambodia has foreign relations with most nations. It is part of ASEAN. Cambodia has border issues with Vietnam and Thailand over lost territories. Cambodia is one of a few nations with good relations with both Koreas. South Korean president Lee Myung Bak was an economic advisor to Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen and former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk was a good friend with former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.

## Ethnic groups

The Khmer (Cambodians) account for the vast majority of the population. Ethnic minorities include Chinese, Vietnamese, Muslim Cham-Malays, Laotians, and various native peoples of the rural highlands.

## Land

Although much of Cambodia is heavily forested, the central lowland region is covered with rice paddies, fields of dry crops such as corn (maize) and tobacco, tracts of tall grass and reeds, and thinly wooded areas. Savanna grassland occur in the plains, with the grasses reaching a height of 5 feet (1.5 metres). In the eastern highlands the high plateaus are covered with grasses and deciduous forests. Broad-leaved evergreen forests grow in the mountainous areas to the north, with trees 100 feet (30 metres) high emerging from thick undergrowths of vines, rattans, palms, bamboos, and assorted woody and herbaceous ground plants. In the southwestern highlands, open forests of pines are found at the higher elevations, while the rain-drenched seaward slopes are blanketed with virgin rainforests growing to heights of 150 feet (45 metres) or more. Vegetation along the coastal strip ranges from evergreen forests to nearly impenetrable mangroves.

## Related pages

- Cambodia at the Olympics
- Cambodia national football team
- List of rivers of Cambodia

## Other websites

- Map of Cambodia with new provinces

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**:
**'
- **conventional long name**: Kingdom of Cambodia
- **common name**: Cambodia
- **image flag**: Flag of Cambodia.svg
- **image coat**: Royal Arms of Cambodia.svg
- **symbol type**: Royal Arms
- **image map**: Location Cambodia ASEAN.svg
- **national motto**:

_Nation_, _Religion_, _King_
- **national anthem**:
_Nokor Reach_
 _Majestic Kingdom_
- **official languages**: Khmer language, Khmer
- **languages**: List
* Cham language, Cham
* French language, French
* English language, English
- **languages2 type**: Official script
- **languages2**: Khmer script
- **demonym**: Khmer people, Khmer or Cambodian
- **ethnic groups**: 90.0% **Khmer people, Khmer'''
 5.0% Vietnamese Cambodian, Vietnamese
 1.0% Chinese Cambodian, Chinese
 4.0% other
- **capital**: Phnom Penh
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy under a One-party dominant state, Dominant party Totalitarianism, Totalitarian Dictatorship, Hereditary dictatorship
- **leader title1**: King of Cambodia, King
- **leader name1**: Norodom Sihamoni
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Hun Manet (Cambodian People's Party, CPP)
- **leader title3**: List of Presidents of the Senate of Cambodia, Senate President
- **leader name3**: Say Chhum
- **leader title4**: National Assembly of Cambodia, President of National Assembly
- **leader name4**: Heng Samrin
- **legislature**: Parliament of Cambodia, Parliament
- **upper house**: Senate of Cambodia, Senate
- **lower house**: National Assembly of Cambodia, National Assembly
- **sovereignty type**: History of Cambodia, Formation
- **established event1**: Funan
- **established date1**: 68
- **established event2**: Chenla
- **established date2**: 550
- **established event3**: Khmer Empire
- **established date3**: 802
- **established event4**: French colonial empire, French Colonization
- **established date4**: 1863
- **established event5**: Independence from France
- **established date5**: November 9, 1953
- **established event6**: Modern Cambodia, Monarchy Restored
- **established date6**: September 24, 1993
- **area rank**: 88th
- **area km2**: 181,035
- **area sq mi**: 69,898
- **percent water**: 2.5
- **population census**: 15,288,489
- **population census rank**: 71st
- **population census year**: 2019
- **population density km2**: 81.8
- **population density sq mi**: 211.8
- **population density rank**: 92nd
- **gdp ppp**: $76.635 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2019
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $4,645
- **gdp nominal**: $26.628 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2019
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $1,614
- **gini**: 36.0
- **gini year**: 2013
- **hdi year**: 2018
- **hdi**: 0.581
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 146th
- **currency**: Cambodian riel, Riel
- **currency code**: KHR
- **utc offset**: +7
- **drives on**: right
- **cctld**: .kh
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in Cambodia, +855
- **footnote1**: The US Dollar is often used