State of (formerly Khmer Republic 1970 - 76, Democratic Kampuchea 1976-79, People's Republic of Kampuchea 1979-89) National name Roat Kampuchea Area 181,035 square km/69,897 square mi. Capital Phnom Penh Major towns/cities Battambang, Kompong Cham Major ports Kompong Som. Physical features mostly flat, forested plains with mountains in SW and N; Mekong River runs N-S; Lake Tonle Sap.

Government:
Head of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk from 1991 Head of government joint prime ministers Ung Huot and Hun Sen from 1997 Political system limited constitutional monarchy. Administrative divisions 22 provinces Political parties United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Coorerative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), nationalist, monarchist; Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), republican, anticommunist (formerly the Chamber People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF)); Cambodian People's Party (CPP), reform socialist (formerly the communist Kampuchea People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP)); Cambodian National Unity Party (CNUP) (political wing of the Khmer Rouge), ultra nationalist communist. Armed forces 87,700 (1996) Conscription military service is compulsory for five years between ages 18 and 35 Death penalty

Death penalty abolished 1989 Defense spend (% GDP) 5.7 (1996) Education spend (% GNP) 1 (1994) Health spend (% GDP) 0.5 (1994)

Economy and resources Currency Cambodian Riel GDP ($ US) 2.77 billion (1995) Real GDP per capita (PPP) ($US) 660 (1995 est.) GDP growth rate 7.6% (1995 6.4% (1990-95). Average annual inflation 7% (1996); 70.3% (1985-95) Foreign debt ($ US) 2.03 billion (1995). Major trading partners Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan Resources phosphates, iron ore, gemstones, bauxite, silicon, manganese Industries rubber processing, seafood processing, rice milling, textiles and garments, pharmaceutical textiles and garments, pharmaceutical products, cigarettes Exports timber, rubber, fishery products. Principal market: Thailand 41.7% (1995) Imports cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, consumer electronics. Principal source: Singapore 35.2% (1995) Arable land 21.6% (1995) Agricultural products rice, maize, sugar cane, cassava, bananas; timber and rubber (the two principal export commodities); fishing.

Population and society Population 10,273,000 (1996 est.) Population growth rate 3% (1990-95); 2.3% (2000-05) Population density (per sq km) 57 (1996 est.) Urban population (% of total) 21% Age distribution (% of total population) <15 44.9%, 15-65 52.4%, >65 2.6% (1995) Ethnic groups 91% Khmer, 4 % Vietnamese, 3% Chinese Language Khmer (official % Vietnamese, 3% Chinese Language Khmer (official), French Religion Theravada Buddhist 95%, Muslim, Roman Catholic Education (compulsory years) 6 Literacy rate 48% (men); 65% (women) (1995 est.) Labor force 50% of population: 74% agriculture, 8% industry, 19% services (1990) Life expectancy 53 (men); 55 (women) (1995-2000) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 137 (1996) Physicians 1 per 9,374 people (1993 est.) Hospital beds 1 per 453 people (1993 est.) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 8.5 (1995) Radios (per 1,000 people) 112 (1995). with a capital at Angkor in the NW. 14th century Theravada Bu14th CambodiaStatistics Government: Head of the government is

Banking hours 0800-1500 Mon-Fri Time difference GMT +7 Chief tourist attractions ancient Khmer ruins and monuments, including great temples of Angkor Thom and Prasat Lingpoun; tropical vegetation and mangrove forests Major holidays 9 January, 17 April, 1, 20 May, 22 September; variable: New Year (Apr).

Banking hours 0800-1500 Mon-Fri Time difference GMT +7 Chief tourist attractions ancient Khmer ruins and monuments,
including great temples of Angkor Thom and Prasat Lingpoun; tropical vegetation and mangrove forests Major holidays 9 January, 17 April, 1, 20 May, 22 September; variable: New Year (April) 

Chronology:

1st century AD Part of the kingdom of Hindu-Buddhist Funan (Fou Nan), centered on Mekong delta region. 6th century Conquered by the Chenla kingdom. 9th century Establishment by Jayavarman II of extensive and sophisticated Khmer Empire, supported by an advanced irrigation system and architectural achievements, century Theravada Buddhism replaced Hinduism. 15th century Came under the control of Siam (Thailand), which made Phnom Penh the capital and, later, Champa (Vietnam).1863 Became a French protectorate, but traditional political structures left largely intact. 1887 Became part of French Indo-China Union, which included Laos and Vietnam. 1941 Prince Norodom Sihanouk was elected king. 1941-45 Occupy 1941-45 Occupied by Japan during World War II. 1946 Recaptured by France; parliamentary constitution adopted. 1949 Guerrilla war for independence secured semi-autonomy within the French Union. 1953 Independence achievedfrom France as the Kingdom of Cambodia. 1955 Norodom Sihanouk abdicated as king and became prime minister,

 1960 On the death of his father, Norodom Sihanouk became head of state. later 1960s Mounting guerrilla insurgency, led by the communist Khmer Rouge, and civil war in neighboring Vietnam. 1970 Sihanouk overthrown by US-backed Lt-Gen Lon Nol in a right-wing coup; name of Khmer Republic adopted; Sihanouk, exiled in China, formed own guerrilla movement. 1975 Lon Nol overthrown by Khmer Rouge, which was backed by North Vietnam and China; name Kampuchea adopted, with Sihanouk as head of state. 1976-78 Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, introduced an extreme Maoist communist program, forcing urban groups into rural areas and resulting in over 2.5 million deaths from famine, disease, and maltreatment; Sihanouk removed from power.
1978-79 Vietnamese invasion and installation of government headed by Heng Samrin, an anti-Pol Pot communist. 1980-82 Face 1980-82 Faced by guerrilla resistance from Pol Pot's Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge and Sihanouk's ASEAN and US-backed
nationalists, more than 300,000 Cambodians fled to refugee camps in Thailand and thousands of soldiers were killed. 1985 Reformist Hun Sen appointed prime minister and more moderate economic and cultural policies pursued. 1987-89 Vietnamese troop withdrawal. 1989 Renamed State of 1989 Renamed State of Cambodia and Buddhism was re-established as state religion. 1991 Peace agreement signed in Paris provided for a cease-fire and a United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) to administer country in conjunction with all-party Supreme National Council; communism abandoned. Sihanouk returned as head of state. 1992 Political prisoners released; refugees resettled; freedom of speech and party formation restored Khmer Rouge refused to disarm in accordance with peace process. 1993 Free general elections (boycotted by Khmer Rouge) resulted in surprise win by FUNCINPEC; new constitution adopted. Sihanouk reinstated as constitutional monarch; Prince Norodom Ranariddh, FUNCINPEC leader, appointed executive prime minister, with  reform-socialist CPP leader Hun Sen deputy premier. Khmer Rouge continued fighting. 1994 Antigovernment coup foiled. Surrender of 7,000 guerrillas of Surrender of 7,000 guerrillas of outlawed Khmer Rouge in response to government amnesty. 1995 Prince Norodom Sirivudh, FUNCINPEC leader and half-brother of King Sihanouk, exiled for allegedly plotting to assassinate Hun Sen and topple government. 1996 Opposition leader Sam Rainsy assassinated. Serious split in Khmer Rouge when deputy leader Leng Sary formed new Democratic National United Movement (DNUM) and granted amnesty by Sihanouk. Kov Samuth assassinated. Heightened tensions between Hun Sen's CPP and the royalist FUNCINPEC. 1997 16 killed in street demonstration; opposition blamed supporters of Hun Sen. Relations between joint prime ministers deteriorated. Divisions within Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot sentenced to life imprisonment after trial by Khmer Rouge. FUNCINPEC troops routed by CPP, led by Hun Sen. First prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh deposed and replaced by Ung Huot. Peace restored in Phnom Penh Fighting resumed between supporters of Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh.