Central market in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia

    Social situation Substantial development achievements

    After the civil war came to an end in the 1990s, a new start was needed in almost every area of Cambodian society. Government institutions had been smashed, the infrastructure was in ruins and almost the entire intellectual elite of the country had been murdered or driven abroad. Decades of conflict had left the population impoverished, poorly educated and extremely underserved as regards health care.

    Against this backdrop, the progress that has been made since then is all the more remarkable. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia was achieving high rates of economic growth, and efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality, tackle HIV and AIDS, and clear landmines had been crowned with success.

    During the pandemic, the country succeeded in significantly increasing its COVID-19 testing capacity in a relatively short period of time and launching a successful vaccination campaign. Through a mixture of donor-financed vaccine supplies and its own purchases, Cambodia managed to vaccinate 99 per cent of the adult population and over 95 per cent of 6-to-17-year-olds against COVID-19 within one year.


    Income is unevenly distributed

    In 2003, half the population was still living below the national poverty line, but by 2020, according to the World Bank, that figure had fallen to just 18 per cent. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a renewed increase in poverty. According to the World Bank, the withdrawal of EU trade preferences and the war against Ukraine might also impact negatively on the poverty rate. Since June 2020, the government has been providing substantial financial support for the poor in order to cushion the impact of the pandemic and reduce social hardship for those affected.

    The main beneficiaries of the economic development that has been achieved are the urban elite and the still very small middle class. More than 90 per cent of the poor population lives in rural areas.

    Cambodia has a young population: nearly 30 per cent of the people are under the age of 15. The current Human Development Index (HDI) ranks Cambodia 148th out of 193 countries.

    As at: 18/01/2024