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Cambodia:  Country Background

GENERAL BACKGROUND

 Natural environment

Cambodia, a country situated in Southeast Asia, shares borders with Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.  Cambodia has 440 kilometers of coastal border facing the Gulf of Siam.  With a total area of 181,035 square kilometers, the country is about one-third the size of Thailand or 293 times bigger than Singapore. 

Cambodia is situated between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator.  The country has a warm and humid climate with an annual average temperature of 28.5^°C.  There are two different seasons: six months of dry season, from November to April, and six months of rainy season, from May to October.  The country enjoys many favorable natural conditions:

§         The central low-lying area, which stretches from the northwest to the southeast, is an important agricultural region;

§         The chain of mountains standing to the west, to the north and in the eastern plateau shield the country from the effects of various storms and squalls;

§         The great lake of Tonle Sap is a natural basin.  It is the most important area for river fish;

§         The warmth and humidity of the climate bring about the   lushness of the vegetation and the forest, which is the habitat of many species of wild animals; and

§         Many rich mineral deposits are the future potential resources of the country.

 More than 80% of the total population of 11 million live on and derive their incomes from farming based on traditional practices.

Government and administrative structure

Administratively, the country comprises 20 provinces and four municipalities. The four municipalities are Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kep, and Pailin. The capital city of Phnom Penh consists of seven precincts and is populated by nearly 1 million people.   

The province of Uddar Meanchey is a new administrative unit. Staffing if its provincial education service is underway.

Provinces (Khet) are subdivided into districts (Srok), and districts into communes (Khum). The municipalities are subdivided into precincts (Khan) and precincts into quarters (Sangkat). Each commune (or Sangkat) is subdivided into villages (or Monduls) and then into groups of families and households.  The central administration is the main body handling administrative affairs at municipal/provincial and district or “khan” levels.   

The Constituent Assembly was re-established following the UN-sponsored general elections held in 1993 and this elected Constitutional Assembly later became the National Assembly. The Constitutional Assembly developed new laws for the country with the King as Head of State. Citizens exercise their rights through the National Assembly, the Royal Government and the Courts. 

The National Assembly consisted of 122 members, including members of Parliament representing Kep and Pailin. Elected for five years, the National Assembly may not be dissolved before the end of its term unless the Royal Government is deposed twice within a period of 12 months.  

Following the Second General Election, organized by the National Commission for Election in July 1998, the new National Assembly amended the Constitution and paved the way for the creation of a New legislative body-the Senate, comprising 61 members.

The Cabinet is led by one Prime Minister, assisted by Deputy Prime Ministers, along with State Ministers, Ministers and Secretaries of State as its members. All members of the Royal Government take collective responsibility for the general policy of the Royal Government before the Assembly.

 The Judiciary is an independent power. The Judiciary guarantees and upholds impartiality and protects the rights and freedoms of the citizens.  The authority of the Judiciary is granted to the Supreme Court and to the lower courts of all sectors and levels.  The King is the guarantor of the independence of the Judiciary.  The Supreme Council of the magistracy assists the King in this matter.  Judges may not be dismissed but the Supreme Council of the Magistracy is responsible for disciplinary action against any delinquent judges. 

Population and economy

According to the national census of March 19998. Cambodia had a total population of 11.4 million[1], of which 51.78% are women. The majority of the population lives in rural areas and on agricultural production. Only 15.7% of the total population reside in urban areas or towns. The country has an estimated annual population growth rate of 2.4%. At this rate, the population is likely to double within less than 30 years. 

 The proportion of children aged below 18 added  up to 51.7% of the total population whereas the economically productive age group (18-60) formed only 43% of the population in the country as a whole[2]. The age distribution of the population shows that 54.3% were under 20 years of age, thus creating a heavy burden on society.

A major part of the Cambodian economic output depends on the primary sector. It is an economy based on agriculture using traditional practices and rudimentary tools.  

The primary sector, agriculture is the economic base of the nation. It absorbs about 82% of labor.

The secondary sector absorbs less than 3% of the labor force as the country still does not have an industrial infrastructure.   Most of equipment and materials for local demand are imported from abroad.

 It is estimated that the GDP is rising between 7% and 7.5% per annum.  However, last year’s GDP was considerably decreased. According to economists, the GDP per capita is US $ 270 per annum.  Tax revenues collected by the government for use as the national budget are still very low and equal to only 5.9% of the country’s GDP.  In neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, national revenues amount to 16.2% and 19.7% of their GDP respectively.   

[1]  Population statistics quoted from General Population Census of Cambodia 1998: Provisional  Population Totals, National Institute of     Statistics, Ministry of Planning, July 1998.

[2]   Socio-Economic Survey conducted by National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, 1997.

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