Country information

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CAMBODIA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 181,035 sq km (69,898 sq miles)
Population: 13,995,000 (2007 US/CIA records)
Capital City: Phnom Penh
People: Khmer (90 to 95%), with the remainder being Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham or about one dozen other smaller ethnic groups.
Languages: Khmer
Religion(s): The population is largely Buddhist, with a small Muslim minority (around 5%).  There is a small but growing Christian community.
Currency: Riel (the economy remains highly dollarized and the US dollar is the working currency in Cambodia)
Major political parties: Cambodian People's Party (CPP), National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) (acronym from French initials), Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), Human Rights Party (HRP)
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: King Norodom Sihamoni
Prime Minister: Hun Sen
Foreign Minister: Hor Namhong
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation).

HEALTH

Cambodian health is among the poorest in SE Asia. Life expectancy is 57.4 years and the number of women dying in childbirth is still unacceptably high (1 dies for every 200 births). Malaria and dengue fever are widespread. Progress is being made however. Rapid expansion of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support programmes has contributed to turning the tide of the HIV epidemic in Cambodia. The high prevalence of 2.6% found among adults in 1996 has reduced to 0.9% in 2006. As of June 2007, 71% of people in need of anti-retroviral treatment were receiving the required treatment.

Cambodia has made great progress in the reduction of malnutrition. 45% of children under 5 years were underweight in 2000 but by 2005 the figure had declined to 36%. However, 62% of young children and 47% of women are anaemic. Child survival has improved with 30% declines in the mortality of infants and children under 5.

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