Cambodia

Phnom Penh serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Cambodia, positioned in South-Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Siem Reap, Battambang — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, where the annual water flow reversal — the Tonlé Sap flowing backward into the great lake for six months each year — created a unique aquatic ecosystem that fed the Khmer Empire and still drives the rhythm of Cambodian agricultural life.

With a population of approximately 16.7M, Cambodia is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Khmer, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Cambodia is reached via the dialling code +855. Cambodians rebuilt their society from near-total destruction — the Khmer Rouge's genocide between 1975 and 1979 killed an estimated 1.7 million people, roughly a quarter of the population, with the targeted elimination of the educated class creating a generational wound that continues to shape family structures and collective memory.

Cambodia spans 181,035 km², in the South-Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 13.0°N, 105.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the Cambodian riel (៛), United States dollar ($), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Cambodia's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+07:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Cambodia is Fish Amok. Cambodian cuisine is defined by prahok, a fermented fish paste so deeply embedded in the culture that it appears in almost every dish and its smell alone can transport expatriates across decades — a preserved protein source developed to sustain populations through Cambodia's flood-drought cycle for over a thousand years.

Bokator holds a special place in the heart of Cambodia's national identity. Bokator, Cambodia's ancient martial art depicted in the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat temples dating to the 12th century, was nearly extinguished during the Khmer Rouge era when its masters were systematically killed — its recent revival under UNESCO recognition is inseparable from broader efforts to reclaim pre-genocide cultural identity.

The highest point in Cambodia is Phnum Aoral, rising to 1,813 metres above sea level. Angkor Wat is not merely a temple but the world's largest religious monument — a 9th-to-15th century hydraulic city of 1,000 square kilometres whose sophisticated water management system enabled rice harvests supporting a million inhabitants, making medieval Angkor larger than any contemporary European city.