Southeast Asia has experienced unprecedented change over the past half-century transforming itself from a poor, undeveloped, and conflict-ridden region, to one with political stability, booming economies, and some of the most highly educated and skilled workforces in the world. Countries like China & Singapore have received a large portion of the limelight and even countries like Thailand and Vietnam are being labeled, ‘The Next China’. 

But one country that might not be on your radar is Cambodia.

Located between Vietnam and Thailand, this country of just 17 million has experienced two decades of stable economic growth. In 1999 Cambodia joined ASEAN and from 2010 – 2019 saw an average GDP growth rate of 7%, making them one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.  The government is predicting continued growth in the future and is currently aiming to become a middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. 

As of 2021, the GDP is 29.8 billion with a GDP per capita of $1,730.  Impressive as these numbers are given the tumultuous history, they still lag behind the per capita GDP of their neighbors, Vietnam ($2,800) and Thailand ($7,100).