| Cambodia
Traveling Tales |
Plates in a basket will raddle.
- Cambodian Proverb
|
Stories |
|
Country Overview |
Cambodia
is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,
between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Total land area is 176,520 sq km with
443 km of coastline. Climate is tropical with a rainy and dry season and
little variation in year round temperature.
Government
is a multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy
established in September 1993 when UN-sponsored elections helped
restore some semblance of normalcy after 13 years of civil war with the
Khmer Rouge, which rapidly diminished in the mid-1990s.
A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998,
brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining
Khmer Rouge forces.
Population
is 13.1 million with a 1.7% rate of natural increase.
Language
is diverse with 19 spoken dialects and Central Khmer as the official
language spoken by 90% of the population. Substantial groups also speak
Mandarin Chinese, Lao and Vietnamese. Literacy rate is 45%.
Economy
is facing formidable challenges to development. Thirty-four percent of
the population live below the poverty line, with a average per capity
income of US $1,300. Tourism is Cambodia's fastest growing industry,
with arrivals up 34% in 2000. The long-term development of the economy
after decades of war remains a daunting challenge.
Maps:
Political Map -
Physical Map
|
|
