Economy Overview
Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms. Growth resumed and has remained about 5.0% during 2000-2003. Tourism was Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in 2001 before the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Cambodia expects 1 million foreign tourists in 2004. Economic growth has been largely driven by expansion in the clothing sector and tourism. Clothing exports were fostered by the U.S.-Cambodian Bilateral Textile Agreement signed in 1999. Even given Cambodia's recent growth, the long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and a dysfunctional legal system coupled with government corruption discourage foreign investment. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateral and multilateral donors to address the country's many pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. About 60% of the population is 20 years or younger; most of these citizens will seek to enter the workforce over the course of the next 10 years.
Agriculture Products
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial Production Growth Rate
22% (2002 est.)
Labor Force
7 million (2003 est.)
Electricity production
119 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption
110.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports
0 kWh (2001)
Unemployment Rate
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
36% (1997 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 2.9%
Highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
40.4 (1997)
Budget
Revenues: $476.5 million
Expenditures: $734.8 million, including capital expenditures of $291 million of which 75% was financed by external assistance (2003 est.)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
Debt External
$2.4 billion (2002 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
riels per US dollar - 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75 (2000), 3,807.83 (1999)
