- Population:
- 17,639,000
- Religion:
- Buddhism
Cambodia's history dates back to the Khmer Empire (9th–15th centuries), which built the famous Angkor Wat. After its decline, Cambodia became a vassal state of Thailand and Vietnam before falling under French colonial rule in 1863. It gained independence in 1953 but suffered under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), which led to mass genocide. After years of conflict, Cambodia stabilized in the 1990s and has since focused on economic growth and tourism.
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. It covers an area of approximately 181,035 square kilometers and has a population of over 16 million people. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. The official language is Khmer. Cambodia operates as a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The economy has seen rapid growth in recent years, driven by textiles, tourism, agriculture, and construction. Cambodia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization.
