The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 13 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. Cambodia is the successor state of the once powerful Hindu and Buddhist Khmer Empire, which ruled most of the Indochinese Peninsula between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries.

A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer," though the latter strictly refers to ethnic Khmers. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists of Khmer extraction, but the country also has a substantial number of predominantly Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes.

The country borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast, and Vietnam to its east and southeast. In the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong river (colloquial Khmer: Tonle Thom or "the great river") and the Tonlé Sap ("the fresh water lake"), an important source of fish.

Cambodia's main industries are garments, tourism, and construction. In 2007, foreign visitors to Angkor Wat numbered more than 4 million. In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2011, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.

Official name: The Kingdom of Cambodia

 

The flag: Since around 1850, the Cambodian flag has featured a depiction of Angkor Wat in the center with red coulor and blue border

 

Capital: Phnom Penh

 

Government: Constitutional monarchy,Parliamentary representative democracy

 

King: HM Norodom Sihamoni

 

Prime minister: Mr. Samdech Hun Sen

 

Population: 14,241,641 million (2008)

 

Local time: GMT + 7

 

Area: 181,035 km2/ 69,898 sq. miles

 

Drives on the: Right

 

Religions: Buddhism: 85%; Christianity: 8%, Caodaism: 3%; Other: 4%

 

Ethnics: 90% Khmer, Other 10%: Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham and Khmer Loeu

 

Official Languages: Khmer

 

Other Languages: French, Vietnamese, English, Thai, and several regional dialects.

 

Calling code: 855

 

Independence: November 9, 1953 from France

 

Internet Code: .kh

 

Voltage: 230V AC, 50 HZ

 

Currency: Riel (KHR)

Notes: 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000

Coins: 50, 100, 200, 500

 

Geography: The country borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast, and Vietnam to its east and southeast. In the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong river (colloquial Khmer: Tonle Thom or "the great river") and the Tonlé Sap ("the fresh water lake"), an important source of fish.