Poverty in Cambodia
Poverty in Cambodia: A short, easy-to-understand overview
Cambodia is a developing country with steady economic growth, but many people still live in poverty. The country is becoming more urban, but most people still live in rural areas.
In the first large national survey, poverty was found to be much higher in rural areas. About 45% of rural people were poor, compared with far fewer in the capital city. This helped set up the first Socioeconomic Development Plan (1996–2000).
Poverty differs a lot by region. Some provinces have very high poverty rates, such as Ratanak Kiri (about 55%), Preah Vihear (about 72%), and Kampong Thom (about 76%). Low literacy and being in rural areas help explain these differences.
Most Cambodians live in rural areas (about 80%). By 2012, rural poverty was about 28.8%, while urban poverty was 6.4%. Poverty fell over time in both rural and urban areas, but it stayed more common in rural places.
Women tend to be poorer than men. Although more women work, they often have fewer opportunities, earn less, and do a lot of unpaid housework. Many women work in low-paid jobs in farming, forestry, and retail, and few women work in higher-skilled jobs. This keeps poverty higher for women and in female-headed households.
The government has tried to reduce poverty with strategies like the National Poverty Reduction Strategy (2002) and the Second Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP II). NGOs play a big role through the Council for the Development of Cambodia. The Rectangular Strategy guides this work, focusing on peace, development partnerships, regional and international links, and a stable economy. In 2013, Cambodia launched Rectangular Strategy Phase III to promote growth, create jobs (especially for young people), cut poverty a little each year, and strengthen governance.
Cambodia’s economy shows a mixed picture. The country’s GDP was about 16.7 billion USD in 2014, and farming still employs about one-third of workers. Many people work in the informal sector, which means jobs are unstable and lack protections. Youth unemployment exists, especially in cities, even if official unemployment rates seem low.
Health, water, and sanitation problems are common in rural areas. Only about 18% of rural people have improved sanitation, and roughly 56% have access to drinking water. Malnutrition, disease, and limited health care contribute to poverty, and many children in rural areas are underweight. HIV/AIDS affects thousands, and health care costs can strain families.
Education levels are not high enough to reduce poverty quickly. In 2011, about 29% of adults over 25 had completed primary education, and 11.1% of people aged 15–24 were illiterate. Primary school enrollment was around 48.8% and secondary enrollment about 54.2%, showing ongoing challenges in getting children and young people into and through school.
Overall, Cambodia has made progress in reducing poverty, but many people remain vulnerable. A small setback—such as drought, illness, or job loss—can push a family back into poverty. Reducing poverty further will require continued growth, better jobs, stronger education, and improved health and sanitation, especially in rural areas.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:10 (CET).