Phnom Penh: population, jobs, health, schools, living conditions and provincial budgets

Phnom Penh is a capital of Cambodia, the largest of 25 by population. Phnom Penh had 2,352,851 residents in 2024 according to the Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey, the highest of 25 provinces by population. At the 2019 census it had 2,281,951.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Phnom Penh: 70.4% of people aged 15 and over in Phnom Penh were in work at the 2019 census, 1.0% were unemployed and 28.6% were not in the labour force (national: 78.0% in work).
• Health in Phnom Penh: 100.0% of births in Phnom Penh in the two years before the 2021-22 Demographic and Health Survey were delivered by a skilled provider (doctor, nurse or midwife) and 99.8% took place in a health facility (national: 98.7% and 97.5%). The survey covered 683 births in Phnom Penh.
• Education in Phnom Penh: 96.0% of people aged 15 and over in Phnom Penh could read and write at the 2019 census, 97.3% of men and 94.9% of women (national: 87.7%); the highest of 25 provinces for adult literacy.
• Poverty and living standards in Phnom Penh: 6.1% of households in Phnom Penh had no toilet at the 2019 census (national: 17.2%); the lowest of 25 provinces for households without a toilet.
• Government budget and revenue in Phnom Penh: The 2025 budget law gave the Phnom Penh capital administration total expenditure of 964.8 billion riel, the highest of 25 capital and provinces and 36.3% of the 2.66 trillion riel for all 25.

How capitals are governed in Cambodia

Capital (Phnom Penh) and provinces (24 khaet). Council indirectly elected by commune councillors; governor appointed by the central government. Oversees districts and communes; the governor leads the board of governors (executive).

Every tier of government in Cambodia

Other capitals of Cambodia

• Kandal 1,352,198
• Prey Veng 1,277,867
• Battambang 1,132,017
• Siem Reap 1,099,825
• Takeo 1,097,243
• Kampong Cham 1,062,914
• Kampong Speu 924,175
• Banteay Meanchey 898,484
• Tboung Khmum 889,970
• Kampong Thom 807,254
• Kampot 682,987
• Svay Rieng 613,159
• Kampong Chhnang 604,895
• Pursat 516,072
• Kratie 441,078
• Oddar Meanchey 267,703
• Preah Vihear 249,973
• Ratanak Kiri 235,852
• Preah Sihanouk 234,702
• Stung Treng 176,488
• Koh Kong 140,962
• Mondul Kiri 93,657
• Pailin 79,445
• Kep 48,772

Up a level: Cambodia · government and power in Cambodia · cities

Sources

• Ministry of Economy and Finance: Total expenditure by capital and province of the budget law, FY2016-FY2025 (current and capital expenditure, million riel), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cf5fa83909f6…)
• National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning: General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019, Final Results (national report with provincial tables PT 01-PT 23), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8a10064a917f…)
• National Institute of Statistics and Ministry of Health, with ICF: Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2021-22, Key Indicators Report (tables by province), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f86a4e2dab4…)
• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (copy hosted by Open Development Cambodia): Public Education Statistics and Indicators 2021-2022 (Department of Education Management Information System), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c6832b80154d…)
• National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning (published on the Ministry of Economy and Finance open data portal): Annual growth rate by provinces, region and area in Cambodia, 2019-2024 (population in the 2019 census and the 2024 Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4a9721adeaaf…)
• National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning: Cambodia Population Projection 2020-2033 (national and provincial summary demographic indicators), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 067ecdcba82c…)

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