Mother Earth Travel > Country Index > Cambodia > Map Economy History |
| Economy - overview: Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in
1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political
infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first
full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and
growth resumed at 4%. GDP growth for 2000 had been projected to reach
5.5%, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural
crops, and high oil prices hurt industrial production, and growth for the
year is estimated at only 4%. Tourism is Cambodia's fastest growing
industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000. The long-term development of the
economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population
lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden
countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic
infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption
within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid.
On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with
assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.1 billion (2000 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.), 4% (2000 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43% industry: 20% services: 37% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 36% (1997 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1999 est.), 1.6% (2000 est.) Labor force: 6 million (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $363 million expenditures: $532 million, including capital expenditures of $225 million (2000 est.) Industries: garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles Electricity - production: 147 million kWh (1999) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.18% hydro: 40.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) Electricity - consumption: 136.7 million kWh (1999) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999) Agriculture - products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables Exports: $942 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) Exports - commodities: timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish Exports - partners: Vietnam 18%, Thailand 15%, US 10%, Singapore 8%, China 5% (1997) Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) Imports - commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles Imports - partners: Thailand 16%, Vietnam 9%, Japan 7%, Hong Kong 5%, China 5% (1997) Debt - external: $829 million (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by international donors Currency: riel (KHR) SOURCE: The World Factbook |
Mother Earth Travel > Country Index > Cambodia > Map Economy History