East and Southeast Asia Programme Country Briefs

With a population of 13.4 million, Cambodia is one of the most populous countries in Southeast Asia, and also one of the poorest. 80 per cent of the population is rural, and an estimated one-third of Cambodians still live below the poverty line. i After decades of civil war, the country emerged from conflict in the early 1990s, and the reconstruction phase has seen some economic growth, as well as improvements in overall health, education and income standards. ii However, significant challenges remain, and Cambodia is still classified as one of the world’s Least Developed Countries. Women, who make up more than half the population, constitute the majority of the poor. High rates of illiteracy and gender-based violence, and a lack of economic opportunities continue to represent serious obstacles to women’s advancement.