AKP Phnom Penh, January 26, 2021 --

The population of Cambodia saw an increase by 2.2 million in ten years, said a press release issued after the launching ceremony of the National Report on the Final Result of the General Population Census of Cambodia 2019 held here this morning under the presidency of Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior.  

According to the previous census (2008), the population was 13.4 million, the same source pointed out. 

The number of households in the country is 3,553,021, equal to 15,552,221 people, it continued, stressing that there are four provinces with more than 1 million inhabitants: Phnom Penh (2.3 million), Kandal (1.2 million), Prey Veng (1.1 million) and Siam Reap (1.0 million).

The press release went on that there have been important changes in the age structure of the population. Between the two censuses, the young population (0-14 years) declined from 33.0 to 29.4 percent, the middle age population (15-59 years) from 60.0 to 61.7 percent, and the elderly (60 years and plus) increased from 6.3 to 8.9 percent. The median age of the population increased from 22 to 27 years of age. “These figures suggest that the Cambodian population is starting a process of ageing. It is important to clarify, that this does not mean that the population of Cambodia is old, but it is just starting getting old,” it said. 

An important determinant of the population ageing is the decline of fertility and the fall of mortality. According to the 2008 Census, fertility was already low: total fertility rate (TFR) was 2.7 children per woman; the 2019 Census indicate a TFR of 2.5 children per woman. Regarding mortality, a substantial improvement can be observed. According to the 2008 census, infant mortality rate was 26 infant deaths (less than 1 year of age) per 1,000 births. The 2019 census estimated this rate as 18 infant deaths per 1,000 births. Also relevant to mention is maternal mortality. Between the two censuses, it declined from 461 to 141 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. 

“The 2019 population census are critical for the overall economic and social development of Cambodia, and will be useful for policy makers as well as leaders and planners,” underlined the press release. 

                                                                                        (Photo: Lanh Visal)

By C. Nika