Cambodia Population

Population Distribution

As of 2023, the latest population of Cambodia is 16,926,984, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).

People in Cambodia

More than 16 million people live in Cambodia and the average age is around 22 years. The population is therefore very young on average. Most of the people belong to the Khmer, that is the original population of Cambodia. About 85 to 90 people belong to the Khmer ethnic group.

Five out of 100 people are Vietnamese. Three in 100 are Cham and one in 100 Cambodians is Chinese. There are also some mountain peoples who are considered to be minorities in the country. One often hears the term “highland Khmer” for these people. They sometimes move around with their animals as shepherds, but also grow rice and vegetables.

The Khmer

It is not exactly known where the Khmer originally came from. In any case, they have lived where they are today since the 2nd century AD. There are always conflicts between the Khmer and the Vietnamese. At the time of French colonial rule in Indochina, the French often preferred the Vietnamese when it came to assigning offices. Many of these Vietnamese live in floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake.

Most of the people settle in the central plains of the country as life in the mountains is very difficult. Three quarters of the population live in the Cambodian Basin, which is only five to 20 meters above sea level.

Only 20 out of 100 Cambodians live in the big cities. The small number of city dwellers is due to the history of the country. The Khmer Rouge killed many people during their rule from 1975 to 1978, especially in the capital Phnom Penh, so that the population fell from 2.5 million to only 20,000. This is still noticeable today.

Languages in Cambodia

Most Cambodians speak Khmer as their mother tongue. However, many in the cities can also speak a foreign language, mostly French. Cambodia was once part of Indochina (look here at history and politics). Some of them now speak English. Vietnamese and Chinese are also spoken. The minorities in Cambodia speak their own language.

Religions in Cambodia

Most of the people in Cambodia are Buddhists, but there are also some Muslims and few Christians. Buddhism was also the state religion of Cambodia until 1995.

Cambodia Overview

Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, is famous for its ancient temples, including the iconic Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. The country’s rich cultural heritage, influenced by Hindu and Buddhist traditions, is evident in its vibrant festivals, intricate architecture, and traditional dance performances like the Apsara dance. Cambodia’s bustling capital city, Phnom Penh, offers a mix of modernity and history, with landmarks such as the Royal Palace and the Killing Fields memorial reflecting the country’s complex past and its enduring resilience.

• Capital City: Phnom Penh
• Population: Approximately 16.5 million
• Area: 181,035 square kilometers
• Full Country Name: Kingdom of Cambodia
• Currency: Cambodian Riel (KHR)
• Language: Khmer
• ISO Country Codes: KH, KHM

Bordering Countries of Cambodia

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country bordered by Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. Cambodia is a culturally rich nation with a long history of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. It has been populated since at least the 5th century BCE.

Thailand is Cambodia’s neighbor to the west and northwest. It is bordered by Myanmar in the north and Laos in the northeast. The two countries are connected by a land border that stretches over 830 km (515 mi). The Thai-Cambodian border has been a source of tension between both countries in recent years due to disputes over territory. There are also several Thai enclaves located in Cambodia which are administered as part of Thailand’s Mae Sai district.

Laos lies to Cambodia’s northeast and borders China in the north, Vietnam in the east, Myanmar in the northwest, Thailand in the west and southwest, and Cambodia in its southernmost region. Its capital city is Vientiane which was once part of French Indochina before gaining independence from France on July 19th 1949. The Lao-Cambodian border stretches over 250 km (155 mi) with much of it following rivers or mountain ranges such as Phou Bia Mountain Range which divides Laos from northeastern Cambodia.

Vietnam borders Cambodia on its eastern side as well as its southeastern coast along with having an extensive coastline along South China Sea which stretches for over 3200 km (2000 mi). Vietnam also shares maritime borders with Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam & Taiwan as well as land borders with China & Laos apart from its eastern border with Cambodia which stretches for over 1100 km (683 mi).

The Gulf of Thailand lies southwest of Cambodia; it is an arm of South China Sea that separates mainland Southeast Asia from western Indochina Peninsula & extends for about 990 km (615 mi) between Malaysia & Vietnam before emptying into South China Sea near Ho Chi Minh City. This gulf serves as an important trading route between nations like Singapore & Malaysia on one side & Vietnam & Thailand on other side while also providing important fishery resources to nations like Indonesia & Philippines located further south within South East Asia region.