Cambodia

France colonized the region of Cambodia in 1863. The rise of Norodom Sihanouk into power as well as Japanese occupation during World War II, gave the people of Cambodia the determination to create a country free from outside rule. When the war was over, Cambodians began to fight for their independence, but France was very perisitant about keeping them as a colony. Cambodia was then granted its independence within the French Union in 1949. But then, during the French-Indochinese War, Sihanouk was able to gain full military control. Cambodia finally gained its indepence on November 9, 1953.

STATS:
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.69 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
35% (2004)

Continued European Influence
1) Language- French and English are still used in parts of the country
2) Legal System- primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period

http://www.mekong.net/cambodia/facts.htm