/ Kingdom of Cambodia
Overview
Cambodia is a country located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east and southeast. To the southwest, it possesses a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. The country covers a land area of approximately 181,035 square kilometers and has an estimated population of c.18 million as of February 2026. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy administratively divided into 24 provinces and one special administrative unit, the capital city of Phnom Penh, which serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub.
In 2025, Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached approximately US$51.39 billion, with a per capita GDP of US$2,924. The economy is characterized by a strong industrial sector, which accounts for roughly 38% of GDP and is driven primarily by garment, footwear, and travel goods manufacturing, as well as an emerging electronics and automotive parts segment. The service sector contributes approximately 45% of GDP, bolstered by a recovering tourism industry and growth in logistics and finance, while the agricultural sector accounts for about 17% of GDP, employing nearly 75% of the national workforce.
Total international trade volume in 2025 was recorded at US$65.25 billion, with major export partners including the United States, China, Vietnam, and the European Union. Future growth is directed by the government's "Pentagonal Strategy" and deeper integration into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Cambodia has a storied history as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of mainland Southeast Asia between the 9th and 15th centuries, leaving behind the architectural legacy of Angkor Wat. The nation became a French protectorate in 1863 and achieved full independence on November 9, 1953. Following decades of internal conflict and the devastating Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), which resulted in the loss of nearly a quarter of the population, the country began a long process of reconstruction. Under the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the 1993 UN-supervised elections, Cambodia restored its monarchy and transitioned toward a market economy. In 2023, the country marked a significant political milestone with the generational transfer of power from long-serving leader Hun Sen to his son, Hun Manet, who continues to lead the nation's modernization efforts while maintaining a close strategic partnership with China.
