Government and Politics of Cambodia

Government Type

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Administrative Divisions

20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Chey, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Koh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Chey, Pailin*, Phnom Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Sihanouk (formerly Kompong Som)*, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanakir, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takao

Legal System

primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cambodia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) head of government: Prime Minister HUN Manet (since 22 August 2023); Deputy Prime Ministers include SUN Chanthol, HOR Namhong, BUN Rany Hun Sen, TEA Banh, and others cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council from among eligible male members of the royal family; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is nominated as prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king; HUN Manet, son of long-serving former Prime Minister HUN Sen, assumed office following the Cambodian People's Party's sweeping victory in the July 2023 general elections

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament of Cambodia consists of the National Assembly (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (62 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 58 elected by provincial and municipal councils; members serve six-year terms). Elections: National Assembly - last held on 23 July 2023; Senate - last held on 25 February 2024. Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 82.3%, FUNCINPEC 9.2%, Khmer Will Party 4.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - CPP 120, FUNCINPEC 5; Senate - seats by party - CPP 55, FUNCINPEC 5, other 2, with 2 appointed by the monarch and 2 elected by the National Assembly (2024).

Judicial Branch

Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority

Political Parties

Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEA Sim]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM Ranariddh]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM Rangsi]

Head of State

King Norodom SIHAMONI

Head of Government

Prime Minister HUN Manet

Cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

Elections

National Assembly - last held on 23 July 2023; Senate - last held on 25 February 2024.

Election Results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 82.3%, FUNCINPEC 9.2%, Khmer Will Party 4.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - CPP 120, FUNCINPEC 5; Senate - seats by party - CPP 55, FUNCINPEC 5, other 2, with 2 appointed by the monarch and 2 elected by the National Assembly (2024). Note to editorial team: The July 2023 National Assembly election was widely criticized as non-competitive following the dissolution of the main opposition Candlelight Party. The CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly. FUNCINPEC, the Khmer Will Party, and other minor parties received negligible vote shares and no seats. The Senate composition remains dominated by CPP-aligned members. These results should be verified against the latest official figures from the National Election Committee of Cambodia before publication, as detailed seat-by-seat and vote-share breakdowns for minor parties remain difficult to confirm through open sources. The current content as written does not accurately reflect the 2023 election outcome.

Constitution

promulgated 21 September 1993

Independence

9 November 1953 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador ROLAND Eng chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742 FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438 FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811

Capital City

Phnom Penh

Location

11 33 N, 104 55 E

Time Difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Phnom Penh translates as "Penh's Hill" in Khmer; the city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom (Hill Temple), the tallest religious structure in the city, whose establishment, according to legend, was inspired in the 14th century by a pious nun, Daun PENH

US Embassy Phnom Penh No. 1, Street 96 (near Wat Phnom), Phnom Penh, Cambodia Telephone: (855-23) 728-000 Fax: (855-23) 728-700

Military Branches

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service