Cambodia

Cambodia's economic growth has been among the world’s fastest during the past quarter century, driven by garment manufacturing, tourism, rice production, and construction. In 2015, the nation achieved lower middle-income status, and has now set its sights on attaining upper-middle income status by 2030. Cambodia has made significant progress in reducing poverty and achieving many other Millennium Development Goals. The country is also very active in GMS cooperation. National development priorities include ensuring stable, sustainable, and equitable economic growth; increasing employment opportunities; improving governance; and reducing poverty further. Although many challenges remain, the country’s development trajectory holds much promise for the future.


Quick Facts

Population 16.64 million (2022)
Average Annual Population Growth Rate 1.4% (2017-2022)
GDP at PPP (current international dollars) 89.70 billion (2022)
Annual Growth Rate of GDP (%) 5.2 (2022)
GDP per capita at PPP (current international dollars) 5,349 (2022)

Sources: ADB Basic Statistics 2023, World Development Indicators (accessed July 2023)



Agriculture

The high-performing agriculture sector of Cambodia has helped lift millions of people out of poverty during the past 2 decades. Higher yields, diversification, and increased farm wages have helped greatly. Although rice continues to be the most important crop, greater emphasis on vegetables, cassava, and maize are proving to be profitable. The country has benefited from agricultural investments and farming knowledge provided by its GMS partners. As agriculture remains central to Cambodia’s development strategy, the priorities include building farmers’ skills, increasing irrigation, and investing more in aquaculture and livestock. The country is also aiming to become a bigger global exporter of rice.

Energy

Cambodia has significantly increased its electricity generation in recent years by building new hydropower and coal-fired plants. However, the country still relies heavily on electricity imports from the Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The proportion of the population without electricity has rapidly decreased this past decade, but still remains high. Government targets include ensuring that all households have access to some form of electricity by 2020, and to grid-quality electricity by 2030. The country is also looking to increase the proportion of hydropower in the domestic energy production mix.

Environment

Cambodia is a biodiversity hot spot, rich in species and ecosystem diversity. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, supporting incredibly productive and diverse fisheries. The country’s environment includes a high proportion of natural forest, including the rain forest of the Cardamom Mountains—one of the region’s most species-rich habitats. In recent years, Cambodia has increased its efforts to prevent forest and biodiversity loss by banning economic land concessions and adding 1.4 million hectares of “biodiversity corridors” to its already extensive protected land areas. The country is also close to finalizing a comprehensive national strategy for guiding environmental sustainability efforts until 2023.

Human Resource Development and Health

Human resource development is essential for achieving Cambodia’s goal of attaining upper-middle income status by 2030. Primary education is now nearly universal, and efforts are under way to improve vocational training and higher education as a means of accelerating industrialization. Cambodia has also strengthened its health system in recent years, resulting in significant improvements in the health of women and children. The country is looking to further expand its health coverage, and is working with its GMS partners to eradicate malaria and to more effectively manage emerging diseases.

Information and Communication Technology

ICT has played an increasing important role in the impressive progress of Cambodia’s development over the past decade. Today, the vast majority of people in the country use mobile phones; and internet access continues to grow rapidly, with a quarter of the population now “online,” up from only 3% in 2011. A government priority is to continue enhancing the ICT sector, and efforts are under way to improve the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, including the extension of coverage to remote communities. Other goals include scaling up ICT use in education and stimulating more private sector investment.

Tourism

Millions of tourists visit Cambodia each year to experience the country’s rich cultural and natural heritage. Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh continue to be the main tourist destinations, while the coastal areas and the unique Tonle Sap Lake are growing in popularity. In 2016, international tourist arrivals reached 5 million for the first time, twice as many as in 2010. Cambodia is working closely with other GMS countries to promote sustainable tourism as a means of achieving inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction.

Transport

Cambodia has made important strides toward improving its transport infrastructure in recent decades. New and better roads, seaports, and airports are helping to drive trade and socioeconomic development. The country’s main national roads have been significantly improved, and road linkages with GMS neighbors greatly enhanced. But more remains to be done. With support from its GMS partners, Cambodia needs to reinvigorate its railways to create a more efficient transport system, and to build stronger linkages with neighbors such as Thailand and Viet Nam. Other priorities include upgrading rural roads and furthering subregional connectivity by strengthening the road networks along the GMS Southern Economic Corridor.

Transport and Trade Facilitation

Cambodia’s growing trade with its GMS partners—especially the PRC, Thailand, and Viet Nam—has helped the country achieve impressive economic growth in recent years. Two-thirds of Cambodia’s imports are from GMS countries (including petroleum and fabrics), and a large portion of Cambodia’s exports go to GMS countries (including agricultural products, garments, and timber). Working with its GMS neighbors, Cambodia is upgrading bilateral agreements to enhance cross-border transport and trade, including agreements to increase the exchange of traffic rights. In addition, the country now has automated customs-clearance systems, and is further developing paperless trade.

Urban Development

Although nearly 80% of Cambodians live in rural areas—the highest proportion in the GMS—the country’s urban centers are growing fast. Phnom Penh’s population has tripled since the turn of the century, and many towns in the Tonle Sap lowlands are also burgeoning. Tourism and trade are boosting growth in the port city of Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and other towns. Cambodia is now looking to improve the streets, waste management facilities, and flood control systems in its urban centers.


GMS Program Officials and Contacts in Cambodia

  • H.E. Mr. Chhieng Yanara
    Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions and Second Vice-Chairman of the Counci for the Development of Cambodia as Minister in charge of GMS
  • H.E. Mr. Chou Heng
    Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Development Cooperation Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDCB/CDC) as National Coordinator of GMS
  • H.E. Mrs. Phana Veunida
    Deputy Secretary General of CDCB/CDC as Director of the National Secretariat of GMS

Greater Mekong Subregion: 25 Years of Partnership

ADB and Cambodia: Fact Sheet



The border between Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo, Thailand and Poipet, Cambodia. Photo by Thanate Tan via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

New Highway Linking Thailand to Cambodia On Track for Completion

Thailand's Department of Highways noted that construction of the new Highway 3646 linking Thailand and Cambodia is already 70% complete. Full completion is expected by next February. Highway 3646 will connect Ban Nong Ian in Sa Kaeo, Aranyaprathet, Thailand, to Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia, via the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge.


Cambodian Mango Traders Receive Customs Approval to Export Directly to PRC

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has allowed Cambodia to export fresh mangoes directly to its market after the PRC’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) certified 37 mango plantations and five packaging factories as compliant with phytosanitary and packaging standards on 26 April. GACC experts from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region held a virtual inspection of mango plantations and steam treatments plants on 10 March.  


Representative image only. Photo by ADB.

Cambodia Seeks Further ADB Support to Boost Cross-border Facilities

Mr. Sun Chanthol, Cambodia Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport, has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for further support for the development of Cambodia's cross-border facilities. Cambodia aims to ease logistics and boost transportation to expand within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the ASEAN region.  


Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam Leaders Vow to Boost Cooperation against COVID-19 and Strengthen Trade

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao PDR Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, and Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a virtual discussion on 10 March 2021. They lauded their growing relationship and agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and in other sectors, including connectivity, energy, and trade and investment.  

Lao PDR expressed appreciation for Cambodia’s medical supply donation to help them combat COVID-19.  



A garment industry worker at a regional training center in the Siem Reap city, Siem Reap province.

Industry 4.0 Could Have Transformational Impact on Skills and Jobs in Cambodia — ADB Study

Cambodia should consider developing industry transformation maps in key sectors to enable the transition to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) with adequate investment in skills development for new and repositioned jobs, according to a new study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).



The Joint Declaration adopted at the 11th CLV Summit provides a foundation for the socio-economic development plan until 2030. Photo by VNA.

11th CLV Summit Commits to Strengthen Development Triangle Area

Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam (CLV) Leaders expressed their firm commitment to strengthen the CLV Development Triangle Area (DTA) in order to accelerate economic growth, alleviate poverty, and promote socio-cultural progress in the subregion. At the 11th CLV Summit held online on 9 December, they adopted a Joint Declaration that provides a foundation for the subregion’s socio-economic development plan until 2030 and the Tourism Development Plan. They also adopted the Development Plan for Sustainable Rubber Industry.  


Cambodia Approves Two 500 kV Transmission Line Projects

The Government of Cambodia’s Council of Ministers approved two 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line investment projects in (i) Phnom Penh to the Cambodia-Lao PDR border, and (ii) Battambang to the Cambodia-Thailand border, to prepare to import electricity from its neighbors. The Government of Cambodia is working on increasing the country’s electricity capacity to improve production and competitiveness.