Country Profile: Cambodia

This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea), based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Cambodia's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status. 

Country Background

Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand. It is bounded by Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. The official language is Khmer. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 16.2 million. The official religion of Cambodia is Buddhism, and Cambodia is a predominantly Buddhist country, with about 97% of the population Buddhist.

A Brief Modern History of Cambodia

Cambodia gained its independence from France in 1954. However, a key movement in Cambodian history was the rise of communism in the country during the latter half of the 20th century. Known as the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), the international community referred to them as the Khmer Rouge. After Prime Minister Lon Nol overthrew the monarchy in 1970, a new state  the Khmer Republic  was established in 1972. The following decades were the bloodiest in Cambodian history. This regime, which was supported by United States, pursued disastrous military campaigns against Vietnamese communist forces on Cambodian soil. It also fought a bloody civil war against the CPK and its supporters. Eventually the CPK were victorious, and enslaved the entire Cambodian population, committed mass murders against its own people, and countless other human rights violations. It is estimated that 2 million people (a quarter of Cambodia's population at the time) died during the CPK's brief regime. A cycle of civil war and humanitarian crimes persisted until 1993, when the previous monarchy was elected back into power.  

Constitution & Legal Structure

Today, Cambodia is referred to as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Under its the Constitution (which was ratified in 1993), Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with the King as its head of state. Cambodia's government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative (which is vested in a bicameral parliament), executive (headed by the elected prime minister), and judicial (exercised by a constitutionally independent judiciary). The Cambodian legal system is based on French civil law. However, the courts are often prone to corruption and political activists are often tried and committed by the state. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Cambodia.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Cambodia. 

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Cambodia has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

Unofficial Databases

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].