Chab Dai Coalition works against human trafficking and sexual exploitation

in the country of Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia.

FULL COUNTRY NAME

Kingdom of Cambodia

LOCATION

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

AREA

181,040 square km; 69,900 square miles.

CLIMATE

Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation.

CAPITAL & MAJOR CITIES

The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. Other major urban areas include Sihanouk Ville, and Siem Reap.

LOCAL TIME

GMT +7 hours, the same time zone as Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

POPULATION

Almost 15 million in 2007 (Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Cham 2%, Chinese 1%, other 2%). More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Overall, the population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. GDP per capital income is set at U$1,800, and 75% of the labor force work in agriculture.

HEALTH

Life expectancy at birth is 59.65 years for males, and 63.83 years for females. HIV/AIDS is on the rise and victims make up 2.6% of the adult population. Overall, the population is at a very high risk of major infectious diseases including Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

GOVERNMENT

Gained independence from France in 1953. Later regained independence from Vietnam in a UN sanctioned election held in 1993. Today, the government is made up of a Multiparty Democracy under a Constitutional Monarchy.

Chief of State: King Norodom Sihamoni.

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language is Khmer. Other languages spoken include English, French, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cham.

OFFICIAL RELIGION

Theravada Buddhism (95% of the population)

Information gathered from The CIA World Factbook.