FACTS

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Area (only Total) total: 181,040 sq km

Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Population: 14,241,640

Main Language (only first): Khmer

Government type: multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital (Name): Phnom Penh

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+7

Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

January 7 Commemoration of the fall of the Khmer Rouge*

February 8 Meak Bochea Day

March 8 Women's Day

April 15 Cambodian New Year

May 1 Labour Day

May 19 Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha)

May * Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony

May 13 - 15 King Sihamoni's Birthday

June 1 International Children's Day

June 18 Former Queen's Birthday

September 24 Constitution and Coronation Day

September / October * Pchum Ben Day

October 23 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia

October 31 Former King Sihanouk's Birthday

November * Water Festival

November 9 Independence Day

December 10 UN Human Rights Day

*Probably no longer valid since the Paris Agreements.

**Buddhist

* Date Not Confirmed

#Only this one is listed as a holiday by the embassy in Japan

¤ celebrated only by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese