Editing Economy of Cambodia

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox economy
| country = Cambodia
| image = Phnompenhview.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = [[Phnom Penh]], the capital and largest city of Cambodia
| currency = [[Cambodian riel|Riel]] (KHR, ៛)
| year = Calendar year
| organs = [[WTO]], [[ASEAN]], [[ASEAN Free Trade Area|AFTA]], [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership|RCEP]], [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation|SCO]], [[Group of 77|G77]]
| group = {{plainlist|
*[[Least developed countries|Least developed]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/KHM/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weoselco.aspx?g=2200&sg=All+countries+%2f+Emerging+market+and+developing+economies |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>
*Lower-middle income economy<ref>{{cite web |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups |title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=datahelpdesk.worldbank.org |access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref>}}
| population = {{Increase}} 17,181,065 (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/LP@WEO/KHM?zoom=KHM&highlight=KHM
|title=Population, total - Cambodia |access-date=April 26, 2024}}</ref>
| gdp = {{plainlist|
* {{increase}} $49.8 Billion ([[GDP (nominal)|nominal]]; {{abbr|2025|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/KHM |title=IMF DataMapper: Cambodia |website=[[International Monetary Fund]] |date= 2025 |access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref>
* {{increase}} $150.05 Billion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]; {{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper"/> 
}}
| gdp rank = {{plainlist|
* [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|95th (nominal; 2025)]]
* [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|89th (PPP; 2025)]]
}}
| growth = {{plainlist|   
* {{Increase}} 5.1%&nbsp;(2022)<ref name="IMF DataMapper" />
* {{Increase}} 5.0%&nbsp;(2023)<ref name="IMF DataMapper" />
* {{Increase}} 6.0%&nbsp;({{abbr|2024f|2024 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper" />
* {{Increase}} 4.0%&nbsp;({{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper" />
}}
| per capita = {{plainlist|
* {{increase}} $2,870 (nominal; {{abbr|2025|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper"/>
* {{increase}} $8,650 (PPP; {{abbr|2025|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF DataMapper"/> 
}}
| per capita rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|140th (nominal, 2025)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|130th (PPP, 2025)]]}}
| sectors = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 25.3%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 32.8%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 41.9% 
*(2023 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB">{{cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/438728/share-of-economic-sectors-in-the-gdp-in-cambodia/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20share%20of,sector%20contributed%20about%2033.74%20percent.|title=The World Factbook |publisher= 
Aaron O'Neill |website=statista |access-date=8 December 2023}}</ref>}}
| inflation = 2% (2023 est.)<ref name="IMFWEOKH">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=522,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2024&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2024 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=November 23, 2023}}</ref>
| poverty = {{plainlist|
*{{decreasePositive}} 14.2% (2022, [[World Bank]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adb.org/where-we-work/cambodia/poverty#:~:text=Poverty%20Data%3A%20Cambodia&text=In%20Cambodia%2C%20the%20proportion%20of,day%20in%202022%20was%2014.2%25.|title=Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) |publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=databank.worldbank.org |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>
*{{steady}} N/A on less than $3.20/day<ref>{{cite web |title=Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2023 PPP) (% of population) - Cambodia |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.LMIC?locations=KH&name_desc=false |website=data.worldbank.org |publisher=World Bank |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>}}
| gini = 23.6 {{color|green|low}} (2024)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fr.statista.com/outlook/co/macroeconomic-indicators/cambodia#:~:text=The%20general%20government%20gross%20revenue,26.65%25%20of%20GDP%20by%202024. |title=Income Gini coefficient |publisher=World Bank |website=hdr.undp.org |date=February 2024 |access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>
| hdi = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} 0.600 {{color|darkorange|medium}} (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.undp.org/countries-and-territories/KHM |title=Human Development Index (HDI) |publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]] |website=hdr.undp.org |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref> ([[List of countries by Human Development Index|146th]])
*{{increase}} 0.593 {{color|darkorange|medium}} [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|IHDI]] (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) |url=https://countryeconomy.com/hdi/cambodia |website=hdr.undp.org |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]] |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref>}}
| labor = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} 9,230,114 (2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=KH |title=Labor force, total - Cambodia |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref>
*{{increase}} 81.1% employment rate (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.NE.ZS?locations=KH |title=Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) - Cambodia |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref>}}
| occupations = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 21.87%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 37.67%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 33.74% 
*(2023 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>}}
| edbr = {{decrease}} [[Ease of doing business index#Ranking|144th (medium, 2020)]]<ref name="World Bank and International Financial Corporation">{{cite web |url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/cambodia |title=Ease of Doing Business in Cambodia |publisher=Doingbusiness.org |access-date=2017-01-23 }}</ref>
| unemployment = {{plainlist|
*{{increaseNegative}} 0.3% (2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
*high underemployment, according to official statistics}}
| industries = tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
| exports = {{increase}} $26.16 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| export-goods = clothing, precious metal scraps, trunks/cases, gold, leather footwear
| export-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|United States}} 35.7%
*{{flag|Germany}} 6.12% (2023)<ref name="OECExport">{{cite web |title=Export Partners of Cambodia |url=https://oec.world/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/export/khm/show/all/2023 |publisher=[[The Observatory of Economic Complexity]] |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref>}}
| imports = {{increase}} $28.5 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| import-goods = refined petroleum, clothing, gold, cars, flavored water
| import-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|China}} 39.4%
*{{flag|Thailand}} 20.2%
*{{flag|Vietnam}} 11.8%
*{{flag|Singapore}} 6.23% (2023)<ref name="OECImport">{{cite web |title=Import Partners of Cambodia |url=https://oec.world/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/import/khm/show/all/2023 |publisher=[[The Observatory of Economic Complexity]] |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref>}}
| current account = {{decrease}} −$1.563 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| debt = {{increaseNegative}} 19.3% of GDP (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| gross external debt = {{increaseNegative}} $11.92 billion (11 Dec 2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| FDI = {{plainlist|
*$55.3 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
*Abroad: N/A}}
| revenue = $7.99 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| expenses = $9.13 billion (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| balance = −3.5% (of GDP) (2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| credit = {{plainlist|
*[[Standard & Poor's]]:<ref>{{cite web |title= Sovereigns rating list |publisher=Standard & Poor's |url=http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratings/sovereigns/ratings-list/en/eu/?subSectorCode=39 |access-date =26 May 2011}}</ref>
*B+ (domestic)
*B+ (foreign)
*BB- (T&C assessment)}}
| aid = $934 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2011 by international donors
| reserves = {{increase}} $21.285 billion (25 April 2024 est.)<ref name="CIAWFCB"/>
| cianame = 
}}
{{History of Cambodia}}
[[Cambodia]]'s economy that currently follows an open market system ([[market economy]]) and has seen rapid economic progress in the last decade.<ref>[http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/development-and-its-discontent/ ''Development and Its Discontent''] April 12, 2013 New York Times</ref> Cambodia had a gross domestic product (GDP) of $28.54 billion in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=KH |title=GDP (current US$) - Cambodia |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> [[Per capita income]], although rapidly increasing, is low compared with most neighboring countries. Cambodia's two largest industries are textiles and [[Tourism in Cambodia|tourism]], while [[Agriculture in Cambodia|agricultural activities]] remain the main source of income for many Cambodians living in rural areas.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Weggel|first=Oskar|title=Cambodia in 2005: Year of Reassurance|journal=Asian Survey|date=January 2006|volume=46|issue=1|pages=158|doi=10.1525/as.2006.46.1.155}}<!--|access-date=9 February 2013--></ref> The service sector is heavily concentrated on trading activities and catering-related services. Recently, Cambodia has reported that oil and natural gas reserves have been found offshore.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gronholt-Pedersen|first=Jacob|title=Cambodia Aims for Offshore Production Next Year|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443507204578020023711640726|access-date=11 February 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=26 September 2012}}</ref> In recent years, illicit economic activities like cyber [[scam center]] operations have become an increasingly prominent of Cambodia's economy, representing as much as 40% of Cambodia's official GDP in 2024.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Lindsey |last2=Southern |first2=Nathan Paul |date=2024-10-15 |title=Cambodia’s Billion Dollar Scam |url=https://www.thedial.world/articles/news/issue-20/cambodia-cyber-scams-human-trafficking |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Dial |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1995, with a GDP of $2.92 billion<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.law.columbia.edu/urlmirror/CHRLR/32CHRLR429/cambodia_0196_bgn.html |title=Background Notes: Cambodia, January 1996 |publisher=Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State - Economy |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014104554/http://library.law.columbia.edu/urlmirror/CHRLR/32CHRLR429/cambodia_0196_bgn.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Cambodian government]] transformed the country's economic system from a [[planned economy]] to its present market-driven system.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Chheang|first=Vannarith|title=The Political Economy of Tourism in Cambodia|journal=Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research|date=September 2008|volume=13|issue=3|pages=281–297|doi=10.1080/10941660802280414|s2cid=153876563}}</ref> Following those changes, growth was estimated at a value of 7% while inflation dropped from 26% in 1994 to only 6% in 1995. Imports increased due to the influx of foreign aid, and exports, particularly from the country's garment industry, also increased. Cambodia's economic growth translated to about 0.71% for the [[ASEAN]] economy in 2016.<ref>Yonn, Royel. "The effects of Cambodia economy on ASEAN economic moving forward." Journal of Management, Economics, and Industrial Organization 1.2 (2017): 1-16.</ref>

After four years of improving economic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed in 1997–1998 due to the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]], [[Cambodian conflict (1979–1998)|civil unrest]], and [[1997 Cambodian coup d'état|political infighting]]. [[Foreign direct investment|Foreign investment]]s declined during this period. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought. But in 1999, the first full year of relative peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 4%.

Currently, Cambodia's foreign policy focuses on establishing friendly borders with its neighbors (such as [[Thailand]] and [[Vietnam]]), as well as integrating itself into regional ([[ASEAN]]) and global ([[WTO]]) trading systems. Some of the obstacles faced by this emerging economy are the need for a better education system and the lack of a skilled workforce; particularly in the [[Poverty in Cambodia|poverty]]-ridden countryside, which struggles with inadequate basic [[infrastructure]]. Nonetheless, Cambodia continues to attract investors because of its low wages, plentiful labor, proximity to Asian raw materials, and favorable tax treatment.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Joosung J.|title=An Outlook for Cambodia's Garment Industry in the Post-Safeguard Policy Era|journal=Asian Survey|date=May–June 2011|volume=51|issue=3|pages=559–580|jstor=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559|doi=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559}}</ref>

==Recent economic history==
{{main|Economic history of Cambodia}}
Following its independence from France in 1953, the Cambodian state has undergone five periods of political, social, and economic transformation:
# [[Cambodia (1953–1970)|First Kingdom of Cambodia]] (1953–1970)
# [[Khmer Republic]] (1970–1975)
# [[Democratic Kampuchea]] (1975–1982, ousted in 1979); became [[Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea]] in exile (1982–1993)
# [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]] (1979–1989), later renamed "State of Cambodia" (1989–1993) 
# [[Cambodia|Second Kingdom of Cambodia]] (1993–present)

In 1989, the State of Cambodia implemented reform policies that transformed the Cambodian economic system from a [[command economy]] to an open market one.<ref name="Chheang 2008 282">{{cite journal|last=Chheang|first=Vannarith|title=The Political Economy of Tourism in Cambodia|journal=Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research|date=September 2008|volume=13|issue=3|pages=282|doi=10.1080/10941660802280414|s2cid=153876563}}</ref> In line with the economic reformation, private property rights were introduced and state-owned enterprises were privatized. Cambodia also focused on integrating itself into regional and international economic blocs, such as the [[Association of South East Asian Nations]] and the [[World Trade Organization]] respectively. These policies triggered a growth in the economy, with its national GDP growing at an average of 6.1% before a period of domestic unrest and regional economic instability in 1997 ([[1997 Asian financial crisis]]).<ref name="Chheang 2008 282"/> However, conditions improved and since 1999, the Cambodian economy has continued to grow at an average pace of approximately 6–8% per annum.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Un|first=Kheang|title=A Thin Veneer of Change|journal=Asian Survey|date=January 2012|volume=52|issue=1|pages=202–209|jstor=10.1525/as.2012.52.1.202|doi=10.1525/as.2012.52.1.202}}</ref>

In 2007, Cambodia's [[gross domestic product]] grew by an estimated 18.6%. Garment exports rose by almost 8%, while tourist arrivals increased by nearly 35%. With exports decreasing, the 2007 GDP growth was driven largely by consumption and investment. [[Foreign direct investment]] (FDI) inflows reached US$600 million (7 percent of GDP), slightly more than what the country received in official aid. Domestic investment, driven largely by the private sector, accounted for 23.4 percent of GDP. Export growth, especially to the US, began to slow in late 2007 accompanied by stiffer competition from Vietnam and emerging risks (a slowdown in the US economy and lifting of safeguards on China's exports). US companies were the fifth largest investors in Cambodia, with more than $1.2 billion in investments over the period 1997–2007.

Cambodia was severely damaged economically by the [[2008 financial crisis]], and its main economic sector, the garment industry, suffered a 23% drop in exports to the United States and Europe.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Joosung J .|title=An Outlook for Cambodia's Garment Industry in the Post-Safeguard Policy Era|journal=Asian Survey|date=May–June 2011|volume=51|issue=3|pages=570|jstor=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559|doi=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559}}</ref> As a result, 60,000 workers were laid off. However, in the last quarter of 2009 and early 2010, conditions were beginning to improve and the Cambodian economy began to recover. Cambodian exports to the US for the first 11 months of 2012 reached $2.49 billion, a 1 per cent increase year-on-year. Its imports of US goods grew 26 per cent for that period, reaching $213 million. Another factor underscoring the potential of the Cambodian economy is the recent halving of its poverty rate. The poverty rate is 20.5 per cent, meaning that approximately 2.8 million people live below the poverty line.
[[File:GPD per capita development of Cambodia.jpg|thumb|left|Real GPD per capita development of Cambodia]]

== Data ==
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1986–2020 (with IMF staff estimates in 2021–2026).<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2021|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/April|access-date=2022-02-26|website=IMF|language=en}}</ref> Inflation below 5% is in green. The annual unemployment rate is extracted from the [[World Bank]], although the [[International Monetary Fund]] find them unreliable.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) - Cambodia {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=KH|access-date=2022-02-26|website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!Year
!GDP
<small>(in Bil. US$PPP)</small>
!GDP per capita
<small>(in US$ PPP)</small>
!GDP
<small>(in Bil. US$nominal)</small>
!GDP per capita
<small>(in US$ nominal)</small>
!GDP growth
<small>(real)</small>
!Inflation rate
<small>(in Percent)</small>
!Unemployment<ref name=":2" />
<small>(in Percent)</small>
!Government debt
<small>(in % of GDP)</small>
|-
|1986
|n/a
|n/a
|0.2
|25.71
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1987
|4.3
|516.02
|{{Decrease}}0.1
|{{Decrease}}17.1
|n/a
|{{Increase}}-31.2%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1988
|{{Increase}}4.8
|{{Increase}}569.1
|{{Increase}}0.3
|{{Increase}}32.6
|{{Increase}}9.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}23.0%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1989
|{{Increase}}5.2
|{{Increase}}593.1
|{{Steady}}0.3
|{{Increase}}39.7
|{{Increase}}3.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}63.8%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1990
|{{Increase}}5.4
|{{Increase}}602.5
|{{Increase}}0.9
|{{Increase}}99.8
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}141.8%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1991
|{{Increase}}6.0
|{{Increase}}647.5
|{{Increase}}2.0
|{{Increase}}215.7
|{{Increase}}7.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}191.0%
|0.7%
|n/a
|-
|1992
|{{Increase}}6.6
|{{Increase}}684.4
|{{Increase}}2.4
|{{Increase}}252.5
|{{Increase}}7.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}75.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.8%
|n/a
|-
|1993
|{{Increase}}7.0
|{{Increase}}703.6
|{{Steady}}2.4
|{{Decrease}}242.5
|{{Increase}}4.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}114.3%
|{{Steady}}0.8%
|n/a
|-
|1994
|{{Increase}}7.8
|{{Increase}}745.9
|{{Increase}}2.8
|{{Increase}}265.1
|{{Increase}}8.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}1.3%
|n/a
|-
|1995
|{{Increase}}8.4
|{{Increase}}781.7
|{{Increase}}3.4
|{{Increase}}319.5
|{{Increase}}6.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.8%
|n/a
|-
|1996
|{{Increase}}9.1
|{{Increase}}818.5
|{{Increase}}3.5
|{{Decrease}}316.2
|{{Increase}}5.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.1%
|{{Steady}}0.8%
|30.2%
|-
|1997
|{{Increase}}9.6
|{{Increase}}842.8
|{{Decrease}}3.4
|{{Decrease}}302.2
|{{Increase}}4.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.6%
|-
|1998
|{{Increase}}10.2
|{{Increase}}870.1
|{{Decrease}}3.1
|{{Decrease}}267.9
|{{Increase}}4.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}12.9%
|{{Steady}}0.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}37.2%
|-
|1999
|{{Increase}}11.6
|{{Increase}}971.9
|{{Increase}}3.5
|{{Increase}}293.7
|{{Increase}}12.7%
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Steady}}0.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}34.7%
|-
|2000
|{{Increase}}13.0
|{{Increase}}1,065.4
|{{Increase}}3.7
|{{Increase}}300.0
|{{Increase}}9.6%
|{{Increase}}-0.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}1.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}35.2%
|-
|2001
|{{Increase}}14.4
|{{Increase}}1,158.3
|{{Increase}}4.0
|{{Increase}}320.0
|{{Increase}}8.6%
|{{Increase}}-0.1%
|{{Steady}}1.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}34.9%
|-
|2002
|{{Increase}}15.6
|{{Increase}}1,230.7
|{{Increase}}4.3
|{{Increase}}337.5
|{{Increase}}6.6%
|{{Increase}}0.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}1.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}39.7%
|-
|2003
|{{Increase}}17.3
|{{Increase}}1,336.5
|{{Increase}}4.7
|{{Increase}}360.7
|{{Increase}}8.5%
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{Steady}}1.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}43.1%
|-
|2004
|{{Increase}}19.6
|{{Increase}}1,489.6
|{{Increase}}5.3
|{{Increase}}405.6
|{{Increase}}10.3%
|{{Increase}}3.9%
|{{Steady}}1.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}42.7%
|-
|2005
|{{Increase}}22.9
|{{Increase}}1,712.6
|{{Increase}}6.3
|{{Increase}}470.7
|{{Increase}}13.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.3%
|{{Steady}}1.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}35.6%
|-
|2006
|{{Increase}}26.1
|{{Increase}}1,925.8
|{{Increase}}7.3
|{{Increase}}536.2
|{{Increase}}10.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}1.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}30.7%
|-
|2007
|{{Increase}}29.5
|{{Increase}}2,149.0
|{{Increase}}8.6
|{{Increase}}627.8
|{{Increase}}10.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}1.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}29.4%
|-
|2008
|{{Increase}}32.1
|{{Increase}}2,305.0
|{{Increase}}10.3
|{{Increase}}741.9
|{{Increase}}6.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}25.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}27.0%
|-
|2009
|{{Increase}}32.4
|{{Decrease}}2,299.1
|{{Increase}}10.4
|{{Decrease}}737.2
|{{Increase}}0.1%
|{{Increase}}-0.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}28.5%
|-
|2010
|{{Increase}}34.7
|{{Increase}}2,437.8
|{{Increase}}11.2
|{{Increase}}788.2
|{{Increase}}6.0%
|{{Increase}}4.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}28.7%
|-
|2011
|{{Increase}}38.0
|{{Increase}}2,635.9
|{{Increase}}12.8
|{{Increase}}889.8
|{{Increase}}7.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}29.7%
|-
|2012
|{{Increase}}42.4
|{{Increase}}2,912.1
|{{Increase}}14.1
|{{Increase}}965.4
|{{Increase}}7.3%
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.5%
|-
|2013
|{{Increase}}45.8
|{{Increase}}3,109.9
|{{Increase}}15.2
|{{Increase}}1,034.8
|{{Increase}}7.4%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.7%
|-
|2014
|{{Increase}}48.7
|{{Increase}}3,271.9
|{{Increase}}16.7
|{{Increase}}1,123.2
|{{Increase}}7.1%
|{{Increase}}3.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.9%
|-
|2015
|{{Increase}}52.6
|{{Increase}}3,500.6
|{{Increase}}18.1
|{{Increase}}1,203.5
|{{Increase}}7.0%
|{{Increase}}1.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}31.2%
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}}57.9
|{{Increase}}3,816.8
|{{Increase}}20.0
|{{Increase}}1,320.3
|{{Increase}}6.9%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}29.1%
|-
|2017
|{{Increase}}62.8
|{{Increase}}4,097.5
|{{Increase}}22.2
|{{Increase}}1,446.9
|{{Increase}}7.0%
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}0.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}30.0%
|-
|2018
|{{Increase}}69.2
|{{Increase}}4,466.8
|{{Increase}}24.4
|{{Increase}}1,578.0
|{{Increase}}7.5%
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{Steady}}0.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}28.6%
|-
|2019
|{{Increase}}75.4
|{{Increase}}4,832.7
|{{Increase}}26.7
|{{Increase}}1,713.3
|{{Increase}}7.0%
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Steady}}0.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}29.0%
|-
|2020
|{{Decrease}}73.6
|{{Decrease}}4,695.1
|{{Decrease}}26.0
|{{Decrease}}1,655.4
|{{Decrease}}-3.5%
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}0.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}31.6%
|-
|2021
|{{Increase}}78.1
|{{Increase}}4,930.0
|{{Increase}}27.2
|{{Increase}}1,720.2
|{{Increase}}4.2%
|{{Increase}}3.1%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}33.4%
|-
|2022
|{{Increase}}84.6
|{{Increase}}5,289.9
|{{Increase}}29.1
|{{Increase}}1,820.9
|{{Increase}}6.0%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}35.4%
|-
|2023
|{{Increase}}92.0
|{{Increase}}5,693.4
|{{Increase}}31.3
|{{Increase}}1,938.2
|{{Increase}}6.3%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}38.0%
|-
|2024
|{{Increase}}100.1
|{{Increase}}6,136.5
|{{Increase}}33.8
|{{Increase}}2,072.1
|{{Increase}}6.6%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}41.0%
|-
|2025
|{{Increase}}108.9
|{{Increase}}6,610.2
|{{Increase}}36.5
|{{Increase}}2,217.5
|{{Increase}}6.7%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}43.9%
|-
|2026
|{{Increase}}118.5
|{{Increase}}7,119.0
|{{Increase}}39.5
|{{Increase}}2,375.3
|{{Increase}}6.8%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|n/a
|{{IncreaseNegative}}46.7%
|}

== Economic sectors ==

=== Garment industry ===
The garment industry represents the largest portion of Cambodia's manufacturing sector, accounting for 80% of the country's exports. In 2012, the exports grew to $4.61 billion up 8% over 2011. In the first half of 2013, the garment industry reported exports worth $1.56 billion.<ref name="investvine">{{cite web|url=http://investvine.com/cambodias-textile-industry-grew-32/|title=Cambodia's textile industry grew 32%|first=Arno|last=Maierbrugger|work=Inside Investor|date=11 July 2013|access-date=11 July 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002063558/http://investvine.com/cambodias-textile-industry-grew-32/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sector employs 335,400 workers, of which 91% are female.

The sector operates largely on the final phase of garment production, that is turning yarns and fabrics into garments, as the country lacks a strong textile manufacturing base. In 2005, there were fears that the end of the [[Multi Fibre Arrangement]] would threaten Cambodia's garment industry; exposing it to stiff competition with China's strong manufacturing capabilities.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/business/global/wary-of-events-in-china-foreign-investors-head-to-cambodia.html ''Wary of China, Companies Head to Cambodia''] April 8, 2013 New York Times</ref> On the contrary, Cambodia's garment industry at present continues to grow rapidly. This is can be attributed to the country's open economic policy which has drawn in large amounts of foreign investment into this sector of the economy.

Garment Factories by Ownership Nationality in 2010:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gmac-cambodia.org/bulletin/2010.pdf |title= Annual Bulletin 2010 |author= Garment Manufacturers’ Association in Cambodia (GMAC) |page= 10 |date= March 17, 2010 |access-date= July 7, 2015 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224422/http://www.gmac-cambodia.org/bulletin/2010.pdf |archive-date= March 3, 2016 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Nationality of Ownership !! Ownership by percentage !! Number of factories owned
|-
| Taiwan || 28% || 66
|-
| China || 19% || 44
|-
| Hong Kong || 17% || 39
|-
| South Korea || 13% || 31
|-
| Malaysia || 6% || 14
|-
| Cambodia || 5% || 13
|-
| Singapore || 4% || 10
|-
| USA || 4% || 9
|-
| Others || 4% || 10
|}
[[File:Cambodiahealth1.jpg|thumb|A garment factory worker in Cambodia undertaking health precautions]]

In 2010, 236 garment export-oriented factories were operating and registered with GMAC, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, with 93% being foreign direct investment (FDI).

As seen in the table above, Cambodia's garment industry is characterized by a small percentage of local ownership. This is a reflection of the deficiency of skilled workers in the country as well as the limited leverage and autonomy Cambodian factories have in strategic decisions.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Joosung J.|title=An Outlook for Cambodia's Garment Industry in the Post-Safeguard Policy Era|journal=Asian Survey|date=May–June 2011|volume=51|issue=3|pages=562|doi=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559}}<!--|access-date=9 February 2013--></ref> Another characteristic of the industry is the country's competitive advantage as the only country where garment factories are monitored and reported according to national and international standards.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Joosung J.|title=An Outlook for Cambodia's Garment Industry in the Post-Safeguard Policy Era|journal=Asian Survey|date=May–June 2011|volume=51|issue=3|pages=564|doi=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559}}<!--|access-date=9 February 2013--></ref>

This has allowed Cambodia to secure its share of quotas for exports to the US through the US-Cambodia Trade Agreement on Textiles and Apparel (1999–2004), which linked market access to labor standards. However, the Cambodian garment industry remains vulnerable to global competition due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, labor unrest, the absence of a domestic textile industry, and almost complete dependence on imported textile material.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lee|first=Joosung J.|title=An Outlook for Cambodia's Garment Industry in the Post-Safeguard Policy Era|journal=Asian Survey|date=May–June 2011|volume=51|issue=3|pages=566|doi=10.1525/as.2011.51.3.559}}<!--|access-date=9 February 2013--></ref>

GMAC is establishing a specialized training institute to train garment workers. The institute is in Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone and will be completed by late 2016.{{update inline|date=March 2022}} It aims to train 1,600 garment workers in the first three years and 240 university students each year as part of a separate program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Training institute to boost garment sector in Cambodia|url=http://banglaapparel.com/en/news/2015-09-06_17:24:56:0.098492001441538696.en.html|access-date=9 September 2015|newspaper=BanglaApparel.com|date=24 May 2015|author=Kaniz Fatima Kanta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930201310/http://banglaapparel.com/en/news/2015-09-06_17:24:56:0.098492001441538696.en.html|archive-date=30 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
{{Further|Agriculture in Cambodia}}

[[File:Cambodian farmers planting rice.jpg|thumb|300px|Cambodians planting rice, 2004.]]
Agriculture is the traditional mainstay of the Cambodian economy. Agriculture accounted for 90 percent of [[GDP]] in 1985 and employed approximately 80 percent of the work force. [[Rice]] is the principal commodity.

Major secondary crops include [[maize]], [[cassava]], [[sweet potato]]es, [[Bambara groundnut|groundnuts]], [[soybean]]s, [[sesame seed]]s, dry beans, and [[rubber]]. The principal commercial crop is rubber. In the 1980s it was an important primary commodity, second only to rice, and one of the country's few sources of foreign exchange.

=== Tourism ===
{{Further|Tourism in Cambodia}}
In the 1960s, Cambodia was a prominent tourist destination in the [[Southeast Asia]]n region. Due to protracted periods of civil war, insurgencies, and especially the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge (see [[Khmer Rouge Genocide]]), Cambodia's tourism industry was reduced to being virtually non-existent. Since the late 1990s, tourism is fast becoming Cambodia's second largest industry, just behind the garment manufacturing.<ref name="Chheang 284">{{cite journal|last=Chheang|first=Vannarith|title=The Political Economy of Tourism in Cambodia|pages=284}}</ref> In 2006, Cambodia's tourism sector generated a revenue of US$1.594 billion, which made up approximately 16% of the country's GDP.<ref name="Chheang 284"/>

[[File:Angkor Wat.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Angkor Wat]] in Siem Reap, Cambodia.]]
Cultural heritage tourism is especially popular in the country, with many foreign tourists visiting the ancient Hindu temple of [[Angkor Wat]] located in the [[Siem Reap]] province. Other popular tourist attractions include the [[Royal Palace, Phnom Penh]], as well as ecotourism spots such as [[Tonlé Sap]] Lake and the [[Mekong]] River.

The tourism industry in Cambodia has been perpetuated by the development of important transportation infrastructure; in particular Cambodia's two international airports in [[Phnom Penh]] and [[Siem Reap]] respectively. To the Cambodian economy, tourism has been a means for the accumulation of foreign currency earnings and employment for the Cambodian workforce, with about 250,000 jobs generated in 2006.<ref name="Chheang 284"/> Meanwhile, challenges to the industry include leakage of revenue to foreign markets due to a dependence on foreign goods as well as the prevalence of the [[Child sex tourism]] industry.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Chheang|first=Vannarith|title=The Political Economy of Tourism in Cambodia|pages=293}}</ref>

=== Gambling industry ===
{{excerpt|Gambling in Cambodia}}

[[File:Russian Blvd, P.P..JPG|thumb|300px|Russian Federation Boulevard in [[Phnom Penh]].]]

=== Construction ===
The increase in tourist arrivals has led to growing demand for hotels and other forms of accommodation surrounding tourist hotspots. Siem Reap in particular has seen a [[construction]] boom in recent years. The capital Phnom Penh has also witnessed a growth in the construction and real estate sectors. Recently, planned projects that have been on the pipeline for several years have been shelved temporarily due to a reduction in foreign investment. From 2009, the Cambodian government has allowed foreigners to own condominiums. This has helped in attracting real estate investors from [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]] and other countries.

The construction sector attracted investment of $2.1 billion in 2012 which is a 72 per cent rise compared with 2011. Construction licenses issued stood at 1,694 projects in 2012, which was 20% lower than 2011 but they were higher in value.

=== Resources ===
{{Further|Natural resources of Cambodia|Mineral industry in Cambodia}}
[[Petroleum seep|Oil seeps]] were discovered in Cambodia as early as the 1950s by Russian and Chinese geologists. Development of the industry was delayed, however, by the [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] and [[Cambodian Civil War]]s and the political uncertainty that followed. Further discoveries of oil and natural gas deposits offshore in the early 2000s led to renewed domestic and international interest in Cambodia's production possibilities. As of 2013, the US company [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]], Japanese [[Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation|JOGMEC]] and other international companies maintained production sites both on shore and off. Chevron alone had invested over US$160 million and drilled 18 wells.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regionalgeography.org/cambodia2012/2013/02/10/oil-and-natural-gas-race/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108065720/http://www.regionalgeography.org/cambodia2012/2013/02/10/oil-and-natural-gas-race/|url-status=dead|title="Oil and Natural Gas Race"|archivedate=January 8, 2014}}</ref>

Sok Khavan, acting director general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, estimated that once the contracts are finalized and legal issues resolved, the Cambodian government will receive approximately 70% of the revenues, contributing to an economy in which the GDP is projected to increase five-fold by 2030.<ref name=UPI>{{cite news|title=Cambodia gears for offshore drilling|url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/09/27/Cambodia-gears-for-offshore-drilling/UPI-86021348765641/|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=UPI|date=27 September 2012}}</ref> In addition, there are 10,000 square miles offshore in the [[Gulf of Thailand]] that holds potential reserves of 12-14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and an unspecified amount of oil.<ref name=UPI /> The rights to this territory are currently a subject of dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, further delaying any possible production developments. In early 2013 it was reported that the two countries were close to a deal that would allow joint production to begin.<ref>{{cite news|title=The struggle between Thailand and Cambodia over oil and gas resources|date=17 September 2010|agency=CLC Asia  |url=http://www.clc-asia.com/the-struggle-between-thailand-and-cambodia-over-oil-and-gas-resources-2/|access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cambodia Aims for Offshore Production Next Year|author=Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen |date=26 September 2012|agency=The Wall Street Journal  |url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443507204578020023711640726|access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref>

===Foreign aid===
[[File:Battambang Provinz 01.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Rice|Rice milling]] is very important to the Cambodian economy.]]
Cambodia's emerging [[democracy]] has received strong international support. Under the mandate of the [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia]] (UNTAC), $1.72 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] (1.72 G$) was spent in an effort to bring basic security, stability and democratic rule to the country. Various news and media reports suggest that since 1993 the country has been the recipient of some US$10 billion in foreign aid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saloimpera.com/#!Doing-business-in-Cambodia-Is-it-a-new-breed-of-Asian-Tiger/ck3kq/572968020cf205ef80cb4fe2|title=Salo-Impera: Strategic Planning, Development & Consulting for business|website=Salo-Impera: Strategic Planning, Development & Consulting for business|access-date=2016-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714141628/http://www.saloimpera.com/#!Doing-business-in-Cambodia-Is-it-a-new-breed-of-Asian-Tiger/ck3kq/572968020cf205ef80cb4fe2|archive-date=2016-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voacambodia.com/a/as-foreign-aid-increases-questions-about-conditions/1664821.html|title=As Foreign Aid Increases, Questions About Conditions|website=VOA|date=21 May 2013 |access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref>

With regards to economic assistance, official donors had pledged $880 million at the Ministerial Conference on the Rehabilitation of Cambodia (MCRRC) in [[Tokyo]] in June 1992. In addition to that figure, $119 million was pledged in September 1993 at the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia (ICORC) meeting in [[Paris]], and $643 million at the March 1994 ICORC meeting in Tokyo.

Cambodia experienced a shortfall in foreign aid in the year 2005 due to the government's failure to pass anti-corruption laws, opening up a single import/export window, increasing its spending on education, and complying with policies of good governance.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Weggel|first=Oskar|title=Cambodia in 2005: Year of Reassurance|journal=Asian Survey|date=January 2006|volume=46|issue=1|pages=151–161|jstor=10.1525/as.2006.46.1.155|doi=10.1525/as.2006.46.1.155}}</ref> In response, the government adopted the National Strategic Development Plan for 2006–10 (also known as the “Third Five-Year Plan”). The plan focused on three major areas:
* the speeding up of economic growth at an annual rate of 6-7%
* eradicating corruption
* developing public structures in favor of quality (i.e. by education, training, and healthcare) over quantity (i.e. rapid population growth)<ref>{{cite journal|last=Weggel|first=Oskar|title=Cambodia in 2005: Year of Reassurance|journal=Asian Survey|date=January 2006|volume=46|issue=1|pages=158|jstor=10.1525/as.2006.46.1.155|doi=10.1525/as.2006.46.1.155}}</ref>

=== Banking ===
{{Further|List of banks in Cambodia}}
There are no significant barriers to bank entry. At the end of 2013, there stood 35 commercial banks.<ref>Aaron Batten, Poullang Doung, Enerelt Enkhbold, Gemma Estrada, Jan Hansen, George Luarsabishvili, Md. Goland Mortaza, and Donghyun Park, 2015. [http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/173460/ewp-450.pdf The Financial Systems of Financially Less Developed Asian Economies: Key Features and Reform Priorities]. ADB Economics Working Paper Series No. 450</ref> Since 2011 new banks with offshore funding have begun to enter the market.

=== Telecommunications ===
{{Further|Telecommunications in Cambodia}}

=== Energy ===
{{Further|Energy in Cambodia}}Cambodia has significant potential for developing renewable energy and could potentially run its energy system on 100% renewable sources.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Handayani |first1=Kamia |last2=Overland |first2=Indra |last3=Suryadi |first3=Beni |last4=Vakulchuk |first4=Roman |date=November 2023 |title=Integrating 100% renewable energy into electricity systems: A net-zero analysis for Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar |journal=Energy Reports |language=en |volume=10 |pages=4849–4869 |doi=10.1016/j.egyr.2023.11.005|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023EnRep..10.4849H }}</ref> The country, however, remains one of the few countries in the ASEAN region that has not adopted renewable energy targets.<ref name=":1">Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. and Yurnaidi, Z. 2020. Cambodia: Five Actions to Improve the Business Climate for Renewable Energy Investment. ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No. 5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341793835</ref> To attract more investment in renewable energy Cambodia could adopt targets, improve renewable energy governance, develop a regulatory framework, improve project bankability and facilitate market entry for international investors.<ref name=":1" /> Due to high vulnerability to climate change, it is recommended that Cambodia focuses on developing renewable energy away from fossil fuels as part of climate change mitigation measures.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Overland |first1=Indra |last2=Sagbakken |first2=Haakon Fossum |last3=Chan |first3=Hoy-Yen |last4=Merdekawati |first4=Monika |last5=Suryadi |first5=Beni |last6=Utama |first6=Nuki Agya |last7=Vakulchuk |first7=Roman |title=The ASEAN climate and energy paradox |journal=Energy and Climate Change |date=December 2021 |volume=2 |page=100019 |doi=10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100019 |hdl=11250/2734506 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

=== Scam centres ===
{{Main|Scam center}}
Cyber [[Scam center|scam]] [[Scam center|center]] operations in Cambodia have transformed parts of the country, notably areas like Bokor Mountain, [[Sihanoukville]], Ream City, and [[Dara Sakor]], into centers for a brutal online fraud industry.<ref name=":3" /> This illicit industry, primarily controlled by Chinese billionaires, operates with the complicity of high-ranking Cambodian political elites who not only profit from it but also facilitated its development through infrastructure projects.<ref name=":3" /> The origins of this industry trace back to Cambodia's participation in China's [[Belt and Road Initiative]] around 2013.<ref name=":3" /> This led to a surge of Chinese investment in infrastructure and real estate, including special economic zones (SEZs) and mega-casinos.<ref name=":3" /> Many of these "developers" were later revealed to be fugitives or individuals with criminal backgrounds, some of whom have since faced international sanctions.<ref name=":3" /> With China's 2019 ban on online gambling and the subsequent [[COVID-19 pandemic]], many of these empty facilities pivoted to online scamming.<ref name=":3" /> This period saw a significant increase in [[Human trafficking in Cambodia|human trafficking]], with an estimated 100,000 people, primarily foreign nationals, trafficked into Cambodia by September 2023.<ref name=":3" />

A 2024 study found that funds stolen by criminal syndicates in Cambodia was estimated to exceed $12.5 billion annually—half the country’s formal GDP, based on a very conservative estimate.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-13 |title=Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Growing Threat to Global Peace and Security |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/05/transnational-crime-southeast-asia-growing-threat-global-peace-and-security |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303045423/https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/05/transnational-crime-southeast-asia-growing-threat-global-peace-and-security |archive-date=2025-03-03 |website=USIP}}</ref> Many scam compounds in Cambodia are owned by local elites<ref name=":4" /> There are lucrative incentives for these elites to associate with and materially support criminal activity, often hidden behind legitimate-seeming fronts like casinos, resorts, and special economic zones (SEZs).<ref name=":4" /> Criminal groups have established complex money-laundering operations to move illicit funds into the formal economy, indicating a flow of fraulent funds that can potentially corrupt international financial institutions and legitimate sectors of the economy.<ref name=":4" />

=== Other industry ===
Cambodia is encouraging investment in EV assembly plants.<ref name=":Han">{{Cite book |last=Han |first=Enze |title=The Ripple Effect: China's Complex Presence in Southeast Asia |date=2024 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-769659-0 |location=New York, NY}}</ref>{{Rp|page=59}} Cambodia's 2022 Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality to have 40% EV cars and busses and 70% electric motorbikes by 2050.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=59}} It has significantly reduced import duties on EVs.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=59}}

== Infrastructure and workforce ==

=== Transport ===
{{excerpt|Transport in Cambodia}}

=== Child labour ===
{{excerpt|Child labour in Cambodia}}

=== Trade - EBA Issues ===
The announcement from February 12, 2020, was to suspend "[[Everything but Arms|Everything But Arms]]" (EBA) trade preferences between EU and Cambodia. The country has known to be the second largest beneficiary from EBA's program. The EU's preliminary conclusion sent to Cambodian government on November 12, 2019, because Cambodia failed to address serious human and labor rights concerns under Human Rights Watch. Moreover, the issue behind ending the opposition party (CNRP) and dropping charges against the leader of CNRP violated the right to freedom of expression.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/02/13/cambodia-eu-partially-suspends-trade-preferences|title=Cambodia: EU Partially Suspends Trade Preferences|date=February 13, 2020|website=Human Rights Watch}}</ref>

== Challenges for industrial development ==
{{Main|Special Economic Zones of Cambodia|Science and technology in Cambodia}}
Although Cambodia exports mainly garments and products from agriculture and fisheries, it is striving to diversify the economy. There is some evidence of expansion in value-added exports from a low starting point, largely thanks to the manufacture of electrical goods and telecommunications by foreign multinationals implanted in the country. Between 2008 and 2013, high-tech exports climbed from just US$3.8million to US$76.5 million.<ref name=":0" />

It will be challenging for Cambodia to enhance the technological capacity of the many [[small and medium-sized enterprises]] (SMEs) active in agriculture, engineering and the natural sciences. Whereas the large foreign firms in Cambodia that are the main source of value-added exports tend to specialize in electrical machinery and telecommunications, the principal task for science and technology policy will be to facilitate spillovers in terms of skills and innovation capability from these large operators towards smaller firms and across other sectors.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Southeast Asia and Oceania. In: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030|last1=Turpin|first1=Tim|last2=Zhang|first2=Jing A.|last3=Burgos|first3=Bessie M.|last4=Amaradsa|first4=Wasantha|publisher=UNESCO|year=2015|isbn=978-92-3-100129-1|location=Paris|pages=698–713}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Study on the State of S&T Development in ASEAN|last1=De la Pena|first1=F. T.|last2=Taruno|first2=W.P.|publisher=ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology|year=2012|location=Taguig, Philippines}}</ref>

There is little evidence that the Law on Patents, Utility Model Certificates and Industrial Designs (2006) has been of practical use, thus far, to any but the larger foreign firms operating in Cambodia. By 2012, 27 patent applications had been filed, all by foreigners. Of the 42 applications for industrial design received up to 2012, 40 had been filed by foreigners. Nevertheless, the law has no doubt encouraged foreign firms to introduce technological improvements to their on-shore production systems, which can only be beneficial.<ref name=":0" />

==Statistics==
; Investment (gross fixed) 
: 3% of GDP (2011 est.)
;Household income or consumption by percentage share
* lowest 10%: 2.6%
* highest 10%: 23.7% (2011)
; Agriculture - products 
* rice, 
* rubber, 
* corn, 
* vegetables, 
* cashews, 
* tapioca, 
* silk
; Industries
* tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
; Industrial production growth rate
* 5.7% (2011 est.)
; Electricity
{| class="wikitable" style="width:500px;"
|style="width:200px;"| ... 
|style="width:150px;"| 2010 
|style="width:150px;"| 2011
|-
| production || 1.273 billion kWh || ... 
|-
| consumption || 1.272 billion kWh || ... 
|-
| exports || 0 kWh || ... 
|-
| imports ||274 million kWh || ... 
|}

; Exchange rates
{| class="wikitable" style="width:300px;"
! Year
! Riels (KHR) per US dollar 
|-
! 2012 
| 4,097 
|-
! 2011 
| 4,395.62 
|-
! 2010 
| 4,145 
|-
! 2009 
| 4,139.33 
|-
! 2008 
| 4,070.94 
|-
! 2007 
| 4,006 
|-
! 2006 
| 4,103 
|}

 <!-- Old list 4,097 (2012), 4,395.62 (2011), 4,145 (2010), 4,139.33 (2009), 4,070.94 (2008), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006) -->

==See also==

* [[Special Economic Zones of Cambodia]]
* [[Cambodia and the World Bank]]

==Sources==
{{Free-content attribution

 | title = UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030
| author = UNESCO
| publisher = UNESCO Publishing
| page numbers = 698-713
| source = 
| documentURL = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002354/235406e.pdf
| license statement URL = 
| license = CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite news|last=Lampert|first=David|title=Cambodia's woes and the perverse effects of foreign aid|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodias-woes-and-perverse-effects-foreign-aid|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=The Phnom Penh Post|date=12 January 2007}}
{{CIA World Factbook}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161013090655/http://www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh/content/uploads/2014/03/Guidebook2013_English_ALL.pdf Cambodia Investment Guidebook (Council for the Development of Cambodia)]

{{Cambodia topics}}
{{Asia in topic|Economy of}}{{Business in Cambodia|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Economy Of Cambodia}}
[[Category:Economy of Cambodia| ]]
[[Category:Economies of developing countries]]
[[Category:World Trade Organization member economies|Cambodia]]