Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia is a sovereign country located on the Indochinese mainland of South East Asia.
The term Indochinese is derived from India and China, which is an allusion to the influence of Indian and Chinese culture in the area.
The official language of the country is Khmer.
Cham and French are the other spoken languages.
The country’s neighbour are Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast and Vietnam to the east.
Cambodia gained its independence from France in the year 1953.
The surface area of Cambodia is 181,035km2 making it larger than the European countries of Greece and Denmark combined.
95% of the country’s population practice Theravada Buddhism which is the official religion of the country. Majority of the population of neighbouring countries of Burma, Thailand and Laos also profess the same religion.
There are many Mountains in Cambodia, the tallest of which is the Phnom Aural, standing at 5, 948 ft. the second being the Phnom Samkos at 5633ft. other notable mountains include Phnom Tumpor Dângrêk Phnom Kmoch Phnom Santuk and the Phnum Khmaaoch.
There are 60 islands in Cambodia’s coastal waters. Some of the island includes the Islands of Koh Rong, Koh Rong, Sanloem Koh, Ta Kiev, Koh Thme, Koh Thonsá, Koh Russei, Koh Tang, Koh Pring Phú Quốc, Koh Kong and Koh Puos Koh.
Cambodia is a low income earning country, its main export partners are Main export partner are United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Canada, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Its main import partners include Thailand, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia.
Rivers in Cambodia include Mekong Kong River, Tonlé San, Tonle Sap River, Sangkae River, Mongkol Borei River, Kah Bpow River, Siem Reap River, Saigon River and Steung Saen River.
The administrative and political capital of the country is Phnom Penh, the beautiful capital city is situated on the banks of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers, and is home to about 1.5 million of Cambodia’s population. The city was once known as the “Pearl of Asia,” and was built by the French who colonised the country in 1434. The city is popular for its array of beautifully constructed historical buildings that are also some of the best architectural masterpieces found throughout Asia.
Based on the United Nations estimate, the current population of Cambodia as of Thursday, August 2, 2018 is 16,264,863 making the country’s population to be equivalent to 0.21% of the total world population.
Cambodia ranks number 72 in the list of countries by population.
The 2008 National Population Census puts adult literacy rate at 77.6%.
The Khmer are the largest of the ethnic group in Cambodia, they make up about 90% of the total population and they inhabit the central plains lowland and the Mekong sub region.
The other ethnic groups are classified as “non-indigenous ethnic minorities” or “indigenous ethnic minorities”. The indigenous ethnic minorities are the ChamsJarai people, Pnong people, Khmer Loeu, Stieng people, Chinese Cambodian, Vietnamese Cambodians, Mnong people, Tampuan people, Pear people, Cambodian Hokkien, Brau people, and the Pearic people.
Cambodia suffered from a devastating civil war when the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerrilla organization that opposed the Cambodian government in the 1960s waged a civil war and took over power in 1975. Communism is a political and economic system where all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs, communism frowns at private ownership of property. The adherents of communism are called communists.
After the communist party of took over power they sought to establish a classless society based on agriculture, Pol Pot whose real name is Saloth Saralso was appointed as the party and country’s leader in 1963. During his infamous rule Human Rights abuses were the order of the day, about 90% of the population were forcefully sent to work on rice cultivation farms. Public buildings were converted to prison. Around two million people died from starvation, forced labour and other forms of violence during the dark period of Cambodia’s history.
Cambodia is home to a very diverse range of wild animals, 212 mammal species, 536 bird species, 176 reptile species (including 89 subspecies), 850 freshwater fish species, and 435 marine fish species are found throughout the country.
Cambodia hosts the Angkor Wat which is the world’s largest religious building and considered one of the wonders of the world.
Gemstones, phosphates, timber, iron ore manganese are found in the country.
