The last census in Cambodia in 1998 put the population at 11.8 million people. However, the today's figure is likely to be about 15 million. About 40% of the population is under the age of 15.The majority of people in Cambodia are ethnic Khmer and have inhabited this area since the beginning of recorded history. There are also significant populations of ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese in Cambodia, some who have been here for several generations. There is also a large population of Cham Muslims in the provinces around Phnom Penh
Cambodia is also home to a diverse population of chunchiets (ethnolinguistic minorities) who traditionally live in the country’s remote mountainous regions in the northeast. Today, there are about sixty to seventy thousand minority people, including the Kreung and Jarai in Ratanakiri and the Pnong in Mondulk.
Language
The official language of Cambodia is Khmer (Cambodian), spoken by the vast majority of the population. Derived from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, written Khmer can be traced back to the 6th century when the first inscriptions appeared on temples.
English is the most popular international language and is widely spoken in urban centres. French was the language of choice in the 1950s and 1960s and many older Cambodians still speak some. Chinese and Vietnamese are quite widely understood among those populations, as well as some Lao or Thai
in areas near the Lao and Thai borders.
Religion
There is also a significant minority of Cham and Malay people who practise Islam, as well as a very
small number of Christians.
Economy
The Cambodian economy is small compared with some of its neighbours, but it has been growing
rapidly in recent years. Before the civil war, rubber was a major industry and this is once again being
redeveloped. Tourism is the biggest industry in Cambodia today and the temples of Angkor are now attracting around two million visitors a year, including domestic tourists. The garment sector is another
big industry. Cambodia has succeeded in carving out a niche for itself as an ethical producer with
good labour conditions. Other up and coming industries in Cambodia include mineral exploitation
and oil and gas exploration.
Festivals and Events
The festivals of Cambodia follow the lunar calendar, so the dates vary from year to year.
Some of the most important festivals include: Late January or early February
Chinese New Year – The Chinese community celebrates its new year with dragon dances in the streets of Phnom Penh and many businesses close for a few days. This is Tet to the Vietnamese who also let loose for several days.
Mid-April
Chaul Chnam – Khmer New Year is the most important festival in the Cambodian calendar, like Christmas, New Year and birthdays all rolled into one. Held in mid-April, this three days celebration often extends to a week. Cambodians make offerings at WATS, clean their homes and plaster each other in water and talc throughout the country.
Early-May
Chat Preah Nengkal – The Royal Ploughing ceremony is a ritual agricultural festival in which the royal oxen determine whether it will be a good harvest or a bad one. It takes place in front of the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
Late-May, early-June
Visakha Puja – This celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinibbana (passing in
nirvana). The festival falls on the eighth day of the fourth moon and is best seen at Angkor Wat, where there is a candle-lit processions of monks.
Mid-September or early October
P’chum Ben – This festival is a kind of All Souls’ Day, when respects are paid to dead relatives through offerings made at wats.
Late-October or early-November
Bon Om Tuk – This festival commemorates Jayavarman VII's victory over the Chams in 1177 and the reversal of the Tonle Sap river. This is one of the most important festivals in the Khmer calendar and a lively time to be in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
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