Demographics of Cambodia


This article is about the demographic features of the population of Cambodia, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population

Between 1874 and 1921, the total population of Cambodia increased from about 946,000 to 2.4 million. By 1950, it had increased to between 3,710,107 and 4,073,967, and in 1962 it had reached 5.7 million. From the 1960s until 1975, the population of Cambodia increased by about 2.2% yearly, the lowest increase in Southeast Asia. By 1975 when the Khmer Rouge took power, it was estimated at 7.3 million. Of this total an estimated one to two million reportedly died between 1975 and 1978. In 1981, the PRK gave the official population figure as nearly 6.7 million, although approximately 6.3 million to 6.4 million is probably more accurate. The average annual rate of population growth from 1978 to 1985 was 2.3%. A post-Khmer Rouge baby boom pushed the population above 10 million, although growth has slowed in recent years.
In 1959, about 45% of the population was under 15 years of age. By 1962, this had increased slightly to 46%. In 1962, an estimated 52% of the population was between 15 and 64 years of age, while 2% were older than 65. The percentage of males and females in the three groups was almost the same.

Population and age distributionhttp://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm [Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision]

Total population Population aged 0–14 Population aged 15–64 Population aged 65+
19504 34642.255.12.7
19554 84042.355.02.7
19605 43342.554.82.7
19656 14142.854.42.7
19706 93843.254.02.8
19757 30842.354.92.8
19806 30639.058.12.9
19857 92042.155.02.9
19909 53243.853.42.8
199511 16947.549.72.8
200012 44741.655.43.0
200513 35836.460.33.3
201014 13831.964.33.8
201515 52131.664.34.1
202016 71930.964.24.9

Structure of the populationhttp://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm

Structure of the population :
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total7 320 1127 642 47914 962 591100
0-4806 531777 8541 584 38510,59
5-9721 480693 3391 414 8199,46
10-14768 899735 9631 504 86210,06
15-19878 612830 9801 709 59211,43
20-24848 931800 7371 649 66811,03
25-29678 825712 0441 390 8699,30
30-34613 674637 9731 251 6478,37
35-39338 735363 397702 1324,69
40-44411 072441 415852 4875,70
45-49344 372395 214739 5864,94
50-54295 645352 214648 3474,33
55-59190 528288 806479 3343,20
60-64153 721218 867372 5882,49
65-69105 605147 502253 1071,69
70-7476 017108 069184 0861,23
75-7947 60172 558120 1590,80
80+39 86465 059104 9230,70

Vital statistics

UN estimates

Births and deaths
YearPopulationLive birthsDeathsNatural increaseCrude birth rateCrude death rateRate of natural increaseTFR
2004384,267124,391259,876

Fertility

The total fertility rate in Cambodia was 3.0 children per woman in 2010. The fertility rate was 4.0 children in 2000. Women in urban areas have 2.2 children on average, compared with 3.3 children per woman in rural areas. Fertility is highest in Mondol Kiri and Rattanak Kiri Provinces, where women have an average of 4.5 children, and lowest in Phnom Penh where women have an average of 2.0 children.

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate and Crude Birth Rate :
YearCBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR
1995-199829,04,1125,03,3129,04,25
200027,74,0 23,93,1 28,34,2
200525,63,4 23,82,8 25,93,5
201024,23,0 21,02,2 25,03,3
201422,02,7 20,22,1 22,42,9

Total fertility rate and other related statistics by province, as of 2014:
ProvinceTotal fertility ratePercentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnantMean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Banteay Meanchey2.85.24.0
Kampong Cham3.33.53.9
Kampong Chhnang2.45.44.2
Kampong Speu2.46.34.1
Kampong Thom2.95.84.4
Kandal2.55.73.9
Kratie3.67.34.5
Phnom Penh2.04.62.8
Prey Veng3.04.93.5
Pursat3.15.94.0
Siem Reap2.75.23.9
Svay Rieng2.55.73.4
Takeo2.43.93.7
Otdar Meanchey3.08.54.6
Battambang/Pailin2.95.53.8
Kampot/Kep2.54.93.9
Preah Sihanouk/Koh Kong2.75.84.1
Preah Vihear/Stung Treng3.69.55.2
Mondul Kiri/Ratanak Kiri3.36.94.8

Infant and childhood mortality

Childhood mortality rates are decreasing in Cambodia. Currently, the infant mortality rate is 45 deaths per 1,000 live births for the five-year period before the survey compared with 66 deaths reported in the 2005 CDHS and 95 in the 2000 CDHS. Under-five mortality rates have also decreased from 124 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000, 83 deaths in 2005 to 54 deaths per 1,000 in 2010.
Childhood mortality decreases markedly with mother’s education and wealth. Infant mortality, for example, is twice as high among children whose mothers have no schooling compared to those with secondary or higher education. The association with wealth is even stronger. There are 77 deaths per 1,000 live births among infants from the poorest households compared to only 23 deaths per 1,000 live births among infants from the richest households.
Mortality rates are much higher in rural than urban areas. Infant mortality, for example, is 64 deaths per 1,000 live births in rural areas compared to only 22 in urban areas.
Mortality also differs by province. Infant mortality ranges from only 13 deaths per 1,000 live births in Phnom Penh to 78 deaths per 1,000 live births in Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng.

Life expectancy

In 1959, life expectancy at birth was 44.2 years for males and 43.3 years for females. By 1970, life expectancy had increased by about 2.5 years since 1945. The greater longevity for females apparently reflected improved health practices during maternity and childbirth.
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years		PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195540.31985–199052.0
1955–196041.11990–199554.3
1960–196541.41995–200056.4
1965–197042.02000–200560.8
1970–197537.82005–201065.1
1975–198014.52010–201567.6
1980–198552.0

Source: UN World Population Prospects

Ethnic groups

The largest of the ethnic groups in Cambodia are the Khmer, who comprise approximately 90% of the total population and primarily inhabit the lowland Mekong subregion and the central plains.
The Khmer historically have lived near the lower Mekong River in a contiguous arc that runs from the southern Khorat Plateau where modern-day Thailand, Laos and Cambodia meet in the northeast, stretching southwest through the lands surrounding Tonle Sap lake to the Cardamom Mountains, then continues back southeast to the mouth of the Mekong River in southeastern Vietnam.
Ethnic groups in Cambodia other than the politically and socially dominant Khmer are classified as either "indigenous ethnic minorities" or "non-indigenous ethnic minorities". The indigenous ethnic minorities, more commonly collectively referred to as the Khmer Loeu, constitute the majority in the remote mountainous provinces of Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri and Stung Treng and are present in substantial numbers in Kratie Province.
Approximately 17-21 separate ethnic groups, most of whom speak Austroasiatic languages related to Khmer, are included in the Khmer Loeu designation, including the Kuy and Tampuan people. These peoples are considered by the Khmer to be the aboriginal inhabitants of the land. Two of these highland groups, the Rade and the Jarai, are Chamic peoples who speak Austronesian languages descended from ancient Cham. These indigenous ethnic minorities haven't integrated into Khmer culture and follow their traditional animist beliefs.
Ethnic groupPopulation% of total*
Khmer13,684,98590%
Vietnamese760,2775.0%
Chinese152,0551%
Other608,2224%

The non-indigenous ethnic minorities include immigrants and their descendants who live among the Khmer and have adopted, at least nominally, Khmer culture and language. The three groups most often included are the Chinese Cambodians, Vietnamese and Cham peoples. The Chinese have immigrated to Cambodia from different regions of China throughout Cambodia's history, integrating into Cambodian society and today Chinese Cambodians or Cambodians of mixed Sino-Khmer ancestry dominate the business community, politics and the media. The Cham are descendants of refugees from the various wars of the historical kingdom of Champa. The Cham live amongst the Khmer in the central plains but in contrast to the Khmer who are Theravada Buddhists, the vast majority of Cham follow Islam.
There are also small numbers of other minority groups. Tai peoples in Cambodia include the Lao along the Mekong at the northeast border, Thai, and the culturally Burmese Kola, who have visibly influenced the culture of Pailin Province. Even smaller numbers of recent Hmong immigrants reside along the Lao border and various Burmese peoples have immigrated to the capital, Phnom Penh.
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%.

Languages

;Official language:Khmer:
;Languages of education:English, French.
;Minority languages:Cham, Vietnamese, Tumpoon, Lao, Jarai, Yue Chinese, Teochew Chinese, and many other indigenous Mon–Khmer languages
;Sign languages:American Sign Language

Religions

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population growth rate

Life expectancy at birth

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate
People living with HIV/AIDS
Deaths

Nationality

Urbanization

Literacy

Education expenditure

Diaspora

Countries with notable populations of Cambodians are: