Cambodia Population: 2024 Figure, Growth and Density
The Cambodia population is a little over 17 million people. The latest reliable official figure available from the Cambodia Inter-censal Population Survey 2024 is 17,280,543 people, with a reference date of May 3, 2024. This article explains how that figure differs from a census count, why 2025 and 2026 numbers should be treated as estimates or projections, and what the data says about growth, density, cities, and age structure. It also answers common questions about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, religion, and Cambodia population by year.
Cambodia Population at a Glance
Cambodia is a medium-sized country by population in mainland Southeast Asia. Its population is still growing, but the pace of growth is slower than in earlier decades. The most important point for readers is to check both the year and the data type before comparing figures.
Latest Reliable Population Figure
The best short answer is that Cambodia had about 17.3 million people in 2024. The CIPS 2024 Final Report gives a population figure of 17,280,543 for May 3, 2024. This is an official inter-censal survey figure, not a full census count.
For a quick comparison, the 2019 census counted Cambodia at 15,552,211 people. International datasets may show slightly different annual estimates because they use modelled series designed for comparison across countries.
| Figure | Year | Source type | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17,280,543 | 2024 | Official inter-censal survey | Latest official population update |
| 15,552,211 | 2019 | Official census | Latest full national census count |
| 17 million range | 2025 and 2026 | Estimate or projection | Not a census count |
Why Population Numbers Differ by Source
Population numbers differ because sources do not all measure the same thing in the same way. A census tries to count the population directly at a specific reference time. A survey estimates the population from sampled households. An international estimate uses official data, demographic models, and revisions to create a comparable annual series.
This is why one source may report Cambodia population for 2024, another may show a 2023 annual estimate, and another may publish a 2025 projection. These differences do not necessarily mean one source is wrong. They often reflect different reference dates, definitions, and update schedules.
For most readers, the safest approach is to use the official 2024 figure when asking how many people live in Cambodia now, and to label 2025 or 2026 figures as estimates or projections unless a new official count is released.
How Cambodia Counts Its Population
Cambodia population data is built from several types of statistical work. The National Institute of Statistics of Cambodia is the central national body for official census and survey products. International organizations, such as the World Bank, use these national sources and other demographic inputs to create comparable datasets.
Census Counts and Inter-Censal Surveys
The General Population Census of Cambodia 2019 is the latest full national census baseline. A census is the most complete type of population count because it aims to enumerate people across the country at a defined reference time.
The Cambodia Inter-censal Population Survey 2024 is different. It is an official survey carried out between census years to update demographic information. It uses sampled households and statistical methods, so it should not be described as the same kind of data as a full census.
Both types of data are useful. The census gives a detailed baseline, while the inter-censal survey gives a more current picture before the next full census is available.
Estimates and Projections
Population estimates fill the years between censuses and surveys. They use information about births, deaths, migration, age structure, and earlier counts. Projections go further by estimating future population under assumptions about fertility, mortality, and migration.
- Count: A direct census enumeration for a specific reference date.
- Survey estimate: An official estimate based on sampled households and statistical methods.
- Annual estimate: A modelled population value for a year, often used in international datasets.
- Projection: A future population scenario based on assumptions.
This distinction matters for Cambodia population in 2025 or 2026. Those figures should be treated as estimates or projections unless Cambodia publishes a new official census count for those years.
Cambodia Population Growth Over Time
Cambodia has grown substantially since the late twentieth century. The country is still adding people, but demographic indicators show a gradual shift toward slower growth.
Recent Growth Trend
Cambodia's population is growing, not declining. The annual growth rate has slowed compared with earlier decades, but births still exceed deaths in the recent demographic pattern. The World Bank population growth series is useful for comparing Cambodia's annual growth rate over time.
Natural increase remains the main reason the population continues to rise. Net migration can reduce growth slightly when more people leave the country than enter it, but the overall national population trend remains upward in the mid-2020s.
Historical Context Since the Late Twentieth Century
Cambodia's modern population pattern cannot be understood without recognizing the severe demographic disruption of the 1970s and the later recovery. Research on Cambodia's demographic history describes a major crisis followed by a rebound in births and long-term cohort effects.
The study Demographic Crisis and Rebound in Cambodia explains how fertility decline during the crisis period and a later baby boom affected the country's age structure. This history helps explain why Cambodia has had a relatively young population and why age patterns are now changing gradually.
The main point is demographic, not political: major historical shocks can shape population age groups for decades. Cambodia's current working-age structure and future aging pattern partly reflect these earlier cohort effects.
Where People Live in Cambodia
Population size is only one part of Cambodia's demographic picture. Where people live also matters. Phnom Penh is the national urban center, while many people continue to live in rural provinces and smaller towns.
Population Density
Cambodia's population density is roughly in the high 90s people per square kilometre in recent international data, depending on the reference year and land-area definition. The World Bank population density indicator provides a country-level series for comparison.
National density is only an average. It does not show the strong difference between dense urban districts in Phnom Penh and more sparsely populated rural, agricultural, or forested areas. For planning, local density by province, municipality, or district is usually more useful than the national average.
Urban and Rural Population
Cambodia is urbanizing. World Bank data based on United Nations urbanization estimates places Cambodia's urban population share at about 41 percent in 2025. The World Bank urban population share series shows the long-term movement toward a larger urban share.
Phnom Penh is the main urban anchor, but urban growth also affects provincial centers such as Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Urbanization figures should be read carefully because the definition of an urban area can differ between countries and between statistical systems.
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Province-Level Searches
Many searches for Cambodia population are really searches for a local figure. Phnom Penh population is often reported as the population of Phnom Penh municipality, not the wider commuting region. Siem Reap population may refer to Siem Reap city, Siem Reap municipality, or Siem Reap province. Sihanoukville may refer to the city area or to Preah Sihanouk province.
The latest full census counted Phnom Penh municipality at 2,281,951 people in 2019. Current estimates may be higher, but they depend on whether the figure refers to the municipality, the urban area, or a broader metropolitan concept. For Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, readers should check whether a source is describing the city, the district, or the province before comparing numbers.
This distinction is especially important for travelers, students, and business readers. A province-level population can make a local city appear larger than it is, while a narrow city boundary can understate the size of the functional urban area.
Population Structure and Demographic Drivers
Cambodia remains relatively young compared with many higher-income countries, but it is gradually aging. The main demographic drivers are fertility decline, improving survival over the long term, and migration patterns.
Age Structure and Population Pyramid
Cambodia's population pyramid generally shows a large working-age population, a still-important child population, and a smaller but growing older population. A population pyramid is a chart that shows people by age and sex. It helps explain future demand for schools, jobs, health care, and support for older people.
World Bank age-structure data shows that the share of children has declined over time while the working-age share has become central to Cambodia's demographic profile. The older population share remains smaller than in many aging societies, but it is rising gradually.
This means Cambodia is not suddenly becoming old, but it is moving away from the very young age structure of earlier decades. Education, employment, urban housing, and health services all depend on how this age structure changes.
Fertility, Mortality, and Life Expectancy
Fertility is a major reason Cambodia continues to grow, but fertility has declined over time. World Bank fertility data places Cambodia's recent total fertility rate a little above two births per woman, much lower than the high-fertility pattern of earlier generations.
Lower fertility slows population growth because each generation has fewer children on average. At the same time, improvements in survival and life expectancy over the long term support population growth and gradual aging. These trends should be read together rather than as separate facts.
Because fertility, mortality, and life expectancy are often updated on different schedules, it is best to compare values from the same dataset and to keep the reference year visible.
Migration
International net migration has been negative in recent World Bank data for Cambodia, meaning more people leave than enter on net for the measured period. The World Bank net migration series shows a 2025 value of minus 31,469.
This does not mean Cambodia's population is declining. It means migration slightly reduces the amount of population growth that would otherwise come from natural increase. Internal migration is a separate issue: movement from rural areas to Phnom Penh and other urban centers changes where people live inside the country, even when it does not change the national total.
Religion and Other Population Breakdowns
Related searches often ask about Cambodia population by religion or Cambodia Muslim population. Official census data shows that Buddhism is the dominant religion in Cambodia, while Muslims, Christians, and other groups form smaller minorities.
These breakdowns are usually updated less often than total population estimates. For that reason, religious composition should be reported with the census or survey year attached. Older percentages should not be presented as current unless the source clearly states that they are still the latest available official figures.
Cambodia Population by Year and Future Outlook
Year-by-year population figures are useful, but only when the reader knows whether each row is a census count, survey estimate, annual estimate, or projection. The table below uses selected benchmark years rather than a long list of weakly sourced values.
Cambodia Population by Year
| Year | Population | Source type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15,552,211 | Official census | Latest full national census |
| 2024 | 17,280,543 | Official inter-censal survey | Reference date May 3, 2024 |
| 2025 | 17 million range | Estimate or projection | Not a census count |
| 2026 | 17 million range | Projection | Depends on assumptions |
International datasets may revise earlier annual estimates when new demographic information becomes available. This is normal and is one reason that two reliable websites can show slightly different Cambodia population by year.
Projections Toward Mid-Century and Beyond
Most common demographic projection scenarios expect Cambodia to keep growing for some time, but at a slower pace. The exact future population depends on assumptions about fertility, mortality, and migration.
Long-range projections should be read as scenarios, not guarantees. A lower fertility path, higher emigration, or new census results can change the projected future population. For practical planning, near-term official surveys and the next census are more reliable than distant forecasts.
Why Cambodia's Population Trend Matters
Population trends affect everyday planning. For Cambodia, the combination of growth, urbanization, and gradual aging matters for schools, jobs, housing, transport, health care, and social protection.
Implications for Jobs, Schools, Health, and Cities
A growing population creates continued demand for education, especially where there are many children and young adults. A large working-age population affects the labor force, skills planning, and job creation. Urban growth increases pressure on housing, transport, water, sanitation, and public services in Phnom Penh and other cities.
At the same time, gradual aging will become more important over time. Health services and social protection systems need to serve both a young working population and a rising number of older adults. The main lesson is that Cambodia's population is not only getting larger; it is also changing in where people live and how old they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current population of Cambodia?
The latest reliable official figure is 17,280,543 people in 2024, from the Cambodia Inter-censal Population Survey 2024. A simple short answer is that Cambodia has about 17.3 million people.
Is Cambodia's population growing or declining?
Cambodia's population is growing, but the growth rate has slowed. Births still exceed deaths overall, while negative net migration slightly reduces growth.
What is the population of Cambodia in 2025?
There is no 2025 census count. Cambodia's 2025 population should be treated as an estimate or projection in the 17 million range, slightly above the official 2024 figure in most projection series.
When was Cambodia's last population census?
Cambodia's last full national population census was in 2019. The 2024 figure comes from an inter-censal survey, not a full census.
What is Cambodia's population density?
Cambodia's population density is roughly in the high 90s people per square kilometre in recent international data. The exact value depends on the reference year and land-area definition.
What is the population of Phnom Penh?
The 2019 census counted Phnom Penh municipality at 2,281,951 people. Current estimates may be higher, but readers should check whether a source means the municipality, the city area, or a wider metropolitan area.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways for Readers
Cambodia's latest reliable official population figure is 17,280,543 people in 2024, based on an inter-censal survey. The country is still growing, but the pace of growth has slowed compared with earlier decades.
The most important habit is to check the reference year and data type. A 2019 census count, a 2024 survey estimate, a 2025 annual estimate, and a 2026 projection are all useful, but they should not be treated as the same kind of number.
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