People and Society of Cambodia

Nationality

Cambodian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Population

17,763,980

Population in Major Urban Areas

PHNOM PENH (capital) 1.55 million

Medical facilities and services in Cambodia do not meet international standards. Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have a limited number of internationally-run clinics and hospitals that can provide basic medical care and stabilization. Medical care outside these two cities is almost non-existent. Local pharmacies provide a limited supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications, but because the quality of locally obtained medications can vary greatly, make sure to bring a supply of your medications that is adequate for the duration of your stay in Cambodia. You should be wary of purchasing local medication. Counterfeit medication is readily available, often indiscernible from authentic medication, and potentially lethal.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Cambodia has improved dramatically over the past several decades, reflecting the country's recovery from decades of conflict, genocide, and widespread poverty. As of the most recent available data, the average life expectancy at birth in Cambodia stands at approximately 70 years, with women living slightly longer than men — around 72 years compared to roughly 68 years for men. This represents a remarkable turnaround. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, following the devastating Khmer Rouge regime and the mass atrocities of 1975–1979, life expectancy in Cambodia had collapsed to among the lowest in the world, estimated at below 40 years in some assessments. The destruction of health infrastructure, the loss of trained medical professionals, and the displacement of millions of people created a public health crisis that took generations to address. Progress since then has been driven by significant improvements in maternal and child health, expanded access to immunization programs, better nutrition, and the reduction of infectious disease burdens including malaria and tuberculosis. The infant mortality rate has declined sharply over recent decades, falling from well above 100 deaths per 1,000 live births in the early 1990s to under 25 today, which has had a meaningful positive effect on overall life expectancy figures. Despite these gains, Cambodia continues to face health challenges that temper further improvements. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are becoming more prevalent as the population ages and urbanizes. Access to quality healthcare remains uneven, with rural communities — home to a large share of the population — often lacking adequate medical facilities and trained personnel. Out-of-pocket healthcare costs remain a significant barrier for many families, and health workforce shortages persist across much of the country. Cambodia's life expectancy figures now sit near or slightly below the regional average for Southeast Asia, reflecting both its impressive progress and the continued work needed to strengthen its healthcare system. International health organizations and development partners continue to invest in Cambodia's public health infrastructure, with a focus on universal health coverage and disease prevention as key priorities for extending healthy life expectancy in the years ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Cambodia has made remarkable progress in reducing infant mortality over the past three decades, reflecting significant improvements in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and access to medical services. The infant mortality rate — defined as the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births — stood at approximately 22 to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent years, a dramatic decline from rates exceeding 80 per 1,000 live births recorded in the early 1990s. This improvement is largely attributed to expanded access to skilled birth attendants, increased immunization coverage, and targeted nutrition programs supported by international organizations and the Cambodian government. The percentage of births attended by trained health personnel has risen sharply, helping to reduce complications during and immediately after delivery that historically accounted for a large share of infant deaths. Despite this progress, Cambodia's infant mortality rate remains higher than the averages seen in many Southeast Asian neighbors, including Thailand and Vietnam. Rural and remote communities continue to face disproportionately higher infant death rates compared to urban centers like Phnom Penh, largely due to limited access to healthcare facilities, lower household incomes, and inadequate sanitation infrastructure. Leading causes of infant death in Cambodia include neonatal conditions such as preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, and neonatal infections, alongside post-neonatal causes such as pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition. Efforts to address these issues have included community-based health education campaigns, expanded vaccination programs, and initiatives to improve clean water access and sanitation in rural provinces. The Cambodian government, working alongside UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and various non-governmental organizations, continues to pursue targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, which call for reducing neonatal mortality to no more than 12 deaths per 1,000 live births globally by 2030. While challenges remain — particularly in reaching the most vulnerable and geographically isolated populations — the overall trajectory reflects meaningful and sustained progress in protecting infant health across the country.

Major Infectious Diseases

Very high

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

• Theravada Buddhist95.0%
• other5.0%

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

The Khmer language comes from an older language called paali, which developed as a successor to Indian Sanskrit. Khmer has 26 vowels and 33 consonants.

• Khmer
• French

Crime Information

Cambodia has a high crime rate, including street crime. Military weapons and explosives are readily available to criminals despite authorities’ efforts to collect and destroy such weapons. Armed robberies occur frequently, and foreign residents and visitors, including U.S. citizens, are among the victims. The Embassy has also received reports that hotel rooms of U.S. citizen visitors in Phnom Penh were burglarized while the occupants were asleep. The most common type of theft is “snatch and grab” robbery, and anything that can be quickly grabbed is at risk: cameras, jewelry, purses, backpacks, mobile phones, etc. Exercise caution and keep belongings out of sight if you travel via “tuk-tuk,” as passengers in these open-air vehicles have been targeted by thieves. If walking along the street, make yourself less of a target by carrying bags or items in your hand or on the shoulder this is furthest from the street. If someone attempts to rob you, you should surrender your valuables immediately, since any perceived resistance may be met with physical violence, including lethal force. Pickpockets, some of whom are beggars, are present in the markets and at tourist sites. Sometimes they may act overly friendly, placing their hand on your shoulder or back to distract you in order to pick your pocket. To avoid the risk of theft or confiscation of original documents, the U.S. Embassy advises its personnel and all U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Cambodia to carry photocopies of their U.S. passport, driver's license, and other important documents and to leave the originals in a hotel safe or another secure place. Local police rarely investigate reports of crime against tourists, and travelers should not expect to recover stolen items. It has also been reported that some police stations charge foreigners from $20-$100 to file a police report. In 2011 and 2012, the U.S. Embassy received reports of presumed ATM/debit card fraud. ATM fraud can take place in many different ways, but the most common method is “skimming” card data as a transaction is made, while simultaneously recording the Personal Identification Number (PIN) that corresponds with the card. Several people have reported that unauthorized transactions have occurred after they have used their ATM cards in Cambodia. In light of these events, you should exercise caution by planning ahead and making copies of your ATM card, front and back, so that if you lose it, you still have the card number and contact information. Use ATMs located in secure areas, such as banks or hotel lobbies. Consider using only a few ATMs, and be aware of their appearance. If something looks unfamiliar about a machine, don’t use it until you have verified that any modification is legitimate. You should also be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM. Robberies are more likely to occur as you depart an ATM, so please stay alert to your surroundings and depart an ATM quickly. The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel who travel to the provinces to exercise extreme caution outside the provincial towns at all times. Many rural parts of the country remain without effective policing. Avoid walking alone after dusk anywhere in Sihanoukville, especially along the waterfront. You should be particularly vigilant during annual festivals and at tourist sites in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, where there have been marked increases in motorcycle “snatch and grab” thefts of bags and purses. If you are visiting Cambodia, you should practice sound personal security awareness by varying your routes and routines, maintaining a low profile, not carrying or displaying large amounts of cash, not wearing flashy or expensive jewelry, and not walking alone after dark. In addition, you should travel by automobile and not use local moto-taxis or cyclos (passenger-carrying bicycles). These vehicles are more vulnerable to armed robberies and offer no protection against injury when involved in traffic accidents. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the ‘bootlegs’ illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them or try to bring them back into the United States you may also be breaking local or federal laws.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Cambodia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws, legal systems, and criminal penalties can be vastly different than our own. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also acts that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Cambodia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Cambodia, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.