Cambodia

Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. Cambodia spans an area of about 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi), dominated by a low-lying plain and the confluence of the Mekong river and Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia's largest lake. It is dominated by a tropical climate. Cambodia has a population of about 17 million people, the majority of whom are ethnically Khmer. A majority of its population adhere to Buddhism, with Islam and Christianity having a minor presence. Its capital and most populous city is Phnom Penh, followed by Siem Reap and Battambang. Cambodia has been inhabited for over 5000 years, with its earliest recorded mandala known as Funan. In 802 AD, Jayavarman II declared himself king, uniting the warring Khmer princes of Chenla under the name "Kambuja". Cambodia with this became the centre of power of the Khmer Empire. Over 600 years, the Khmer Empire facilitated the spread of first Hinduism and then Buddhism across Southeast Asia and undertook infrastructural projects throughout the region. In the 15th century, Cambodia saw a decline in power and territorial losses to its neighbours. In 1863, it became a French protectorate and later a part of French Indochina. During World War II, Cambodia was occupied by Japan. French rule was then restored until Cambodia secured independence in 1953. Spillover of the Vietnam War in the 1960s destabilised Cambodia and contributed to internal conflict. The civil war ended with the takeover of the Khmer Rouge regime, which carried out the Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979. A Vietnamese intervention and occupation deposed the Khmer Rouge, while insurgencies continued until 1999. By 1993 a United Nations peacekeeping mission had restored Cambodia's monarchy, and established a new democratic constitution with elections. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy and a de jure multi-party state, while the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) dominates the political system and rules the country as a de facto one-party state. The UN designates Cambodia as a least developed country, given the persistent socio-economic challenges. Agriculture remains its dominant economic sector, with growth in textiles, construction, garments, and tourism leading to increased foreign investment and international trade. Corruption, deforestation, human rights issues and organized crime have remained issues in Cambodia's post-conflict development.

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