From the largest religious monument to the recently discovered “Lost City”, these are the most interesting facts about Cambodia.
Fast facts
Official name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Population: 17,063,669
Area: 181,035 sq km
Capital city: Phnom Penh
Major languages: Khmer (official)
Major religions: 97.1% Buddhist
Time zone: UTC+07:00 (Indochina Time)
Interesting facts about Cambodia
1. Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia. It borders three countries: Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos.
2. Cambodia is part of the Indochina peninsula, which is a former French colony. It includes Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
3. Evidence of the first inhabitants of Cambodia dates back to 2000 BC.
4. The Funan Kingdom was one of the first civilizations in Southeastern Asia and was located in Cambodia from 1-6 AC.
5. The Angkor Empire was the most prominent in the 9th to 15th centuries, but the neighboring Vietnamese and Thai tried to dominate the region.
6. The King invited France to serve as Cambodia’s protector in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887.
7. Cambodia declared independence from France in 1953.
8. Cambodia has been ruled by a constitutional monarchy since 1993. King Norodom Sihamoni serves as the current head of state.
9. The flag of Cambodia features a horizontal tricolor design with three horizontal bands. The top and bottom bands are blue, while the middle band is red, the traditional Cambodian colors. In the center of the red band, there is a depiction of Angkor Wat, an iconic temple complex and a national symbol of Cambodia.
10. The largest ethnic group in Cambodia is Khmer. More than 95% of the population is of Khmer descent.
11. Cambodia’s Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world’s largest archaeological sites, spreading about 400 square kilometers (155 square miles). It contains the ruins of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th centuries.
12. Angkor Wat, which is part of the site, is said to be the largest religious monument in the world. Originally built as a Hindu temple, it spans more than 400 acres and served as the capital of the Khmer Empire. It became a Buddhist site by the end of the 12th century and remained in use until the 1800s.
13. Researchers uncovered Cambodia’s “Lost City” in 2019. Known as Mahendraparvata, it has a modern city grid system and was one of the first capitals of the Khmer Empire in the 8th to 9th century AD.
14. Devastation reigned in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge came into power (1975-1979), which saw at least 1.5 million Cambodians killed, approximately 20% of the population.
15. Insects were a popular food in Cambodia around this time, as many people became displaced and took refuge in the countryside. They are still widely eaten and found in many street markets today.
16. The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia can be found in Cambodia, known as Tonle Sap Lake. The size varies depending on the season but can reach up to 6,178 square miles.
17. The lake and surrounding region have been named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and an ecological hotspot. The grasslands, marshlands, mangroves, and tropical forests have been home to unique wildlife.
18. The highly prized Tonle Sap Water Snake is endangered in the area, with approximately 6.9 million of them caught each year in the lake. These snakes serve as food for crocodile farms, birds, and people.
19. Child abuse is common in Cambodia. About half of children have experienced extreme violence, according to a 2020 UNICEF report.
20. Cambodia ranks 158th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Corruption is endemic throughout society.
21. Cambodians are emotional people. Gallup conducted a survey in 2015 among 148 countries to find out about the highs and lows the population feels on a day-to-day basis. Cambodia ranked among the top 10 most emotional countries in the world. They experienced severe turmoil during the genocidal reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rogue, which occurred only 40 years ago. However, they are said to be extremely friendly and smiling people, especially to other nationalities. Cambodia has since slipped from the rankings in the 2024 report.
22. For a long time, Cambodians didn’t celebrate their birthdays, especially in rural areas where the birth date was largely forgotten. However, it’s becoming increasingly more popular to do so.
23. Cambodia runs a dual-currency system, with the US dollar in tandem with the Cambodian riel. However, they are now hoping to phase out the US dollar in the hopes of gaining greater control over their own digital and national currencies. Nevertheless, the US dollar is still widely accepted there.
24. Malnutrition rates are high in Cambodia. According to the World Food Program, 16% of households cannot afford a nutritious diet.
25. You can’t find McDonalds in Cambodia.
26. The Mekong River, the world’s largest inland fishery, runs through Cambodia. Its fishery is valued at between $5.6 and $9.4 billion per year.
27. The Mekong River is among the top 10 most polluted rivers in the world. Each year, it carries 40 thousand tonnes of plastic into the world’s oceans.
28. Due to the previous wars in Cambodia, mines and other unexploded ordnance remain a constant threat, with an estimated four to six million scattered throughout the country. As a result, from 1979 to 2023, there were approximately 65,000 casualties, of which almost 20,000 were fatal.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Cambodia using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.