Cambodia

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The Kingdom of Cambodia (in Khmer, ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ កម្ពុជា ) is a country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered in the south by the Gulf of Thailand, in the west by Thailand, Laos in the north, and Vietnam in the east.

Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea

National motto: Nation, Religion, King
Official language	Khmer
Capital	Phnom Penh
King	Norodom Sihanouk
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 87th 181,040 km² 2.5%
Population  - Total (Year)  - Density	Ranked 65th 13,124,764 72.5/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Recognised	from France November 9, 1953
Currency	Riel
Time zone	UTC +7
National anthem	Nokoreach
Internet TLD	.kh
Calling Code	855

Contents 1 History 2 Politics 3 Provinces 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 References

[edit] History

Main article: History of Cambodia

The first known advanced civilizations in Cambodia appear in first millennium AD, and from the 9th to 13th century, the Khmer civilization flourished here.

After centuries of territorial and population losses to neighboring Siam and Vietnam, Cambodia was made French protectorate in 1863, and became part of French Indochina. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, the Cambodians declared independence in 1953.

During the War in Indochina, the Nixon administration conducted massive bombing campaigns against Cambodia. Some estimate civilian casualties as high as 600,000. In 1970, General Lon Nol seized power and declared the Khmer Republic. The government was opposed by the Communist Party of Kampuchea, which had gathered strength because of popular resentment against the U.S. bombing campaigns. The CPK captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and renamed the country Kampuchea.

A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the CPK from power and into pockets along the western border with Thailand. A further 13 years of sporadic fighting took place. An major election was held in 1993. A coalition government was formed after national elections in 1998.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Cambodia

[edit] Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Cambodia

Cambodia is divided into 20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural):

• Banteay Mean Cheay
• Batdambang
• Kampong Cham
• Kampong Chhnang
• Kampong Spoe
• Kampong Thum
• Kampot
• Kandal
• Kaoh Kong
• Keb *
• Krachen
• Mondol Kiri
• Otdar Mean Cheay
• Phnom Penh*
• Pouthisat
• Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville)
• Preah Vihear
• Prey Veng
• Rotanah Kiri
• Siem Reab
• Stoeng Treng
• Svay Rieng
• Takev

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Cambodia

Cambodia is about 181,040 square kilometers, sharing a 800-kilometer border with Thailand on north and west, a 541-kilometer border with Laos on northeast, and a 1,228- kilometer border with Vietnam on east and southeast. It has 443 kilometers of coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.

The most salient topographical feature is the lacustrine plain formed by the inundations of Tonle Sap (Great Lake), measuring about 2,590 square kilometers during the dry season to about 24,605 square kilometers during the rainy season. This densely populated plain, which is devoted to wet rice cultivation, constitutes the heartland of Cambodia. Most (about 75 percent) of the country lies at elevations of less than 100 meters above sea level, except for the Cardamon Mountains (highest elevation 1,771 meters), their north-south extension to the east, Elephant Range (elevation range 500-1,000 meters) and the steep escarpment of Dangrek Mountains (average elevation 500 meters) along northern border with Thailand.

Temperatures range from 10°C to 38°C. Cambodia experiences tropical monsoons: southwest monsoon blowing inland in northeasterly direction brings moisture-laden winds from Gulf of Thailand/Indian Ocean from May to October with period of heaviest precipitation September-October; northeast monsoon blowing in southwesterly direction toward coast ushers in the dry season, November to March, with period of least rainfall January-February.

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Cambodia

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Cambodia

Cambodia is ethnically homogeneous, as more than 90 percent of its population is Khmer. National minorities comprise about 3 percent of total population. The Cham, of Islamic faith, are the most significant minority group. Other scattered tribal minorities live in the upland and forested areas. There are also some minor Vietnamese and Chinese populations.

The national language Khmer, a member of Mon-Khmer subfamily of Austroasiatic language group.

Theravada Buddhism, discouraged by the CPK, but now revived, is the main religion.

[edit] Culture

Main article: Culture of Cambodia

• Architecture of Cambodia
• Music of Cambodia

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

• List of Cambodia-related topics
• Communications in Cambodia
• Transportation in Cambodia
• Military of Cambodia
• Foreign relations of Cambodia
• Holidays in Cambodia

[edit] References

• Much of the material in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.