Cambodia

Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia bordered by Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Its landscape includes the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap Lake. The climate is tropical monsoon, with a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The country covers about 181,000 square kilometers and has a population of around 17 million.

Historically, Cambodia was the heart of the Khmer Empire, which built Angkor and dominated much of mainland Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th centuries. In the 19th and 20th centuries it became part of French Indochina, gaining independence in 1953. The late 1970s were marked by the Khmer Rouge regime, a period of mass killings and social upheaval. Vietnam invaded in 1979, establishing the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. A United Nations-led transition culminated in 1993 with general elections and the restoration of a constitutional monarchy.

Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a king as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The National Assembly is the main legislative body. The Cambodian People's Party has dominated politics since the 1990s. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. Buddhism, primarily Theravada, is the predominant religion.

Key sectors include garment manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. The official currency is the riel, but the United States dollar is widely used in daily transactions. A major cultural landmark is the Angkor Archaeological Park, including Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khmer culture is reflected in traditional dance, crafts, and cuisine.