Cambodia

Analysis

Cambodia is a minor power in Asia.

Cambodia overtook Sri Lanka and Myanmar to become the region’s 20th ranked power in 2022, improving by two places from last year.

Cambodia was one of just six countries in the region to register an upward change in its overall score. This was due to a large increase in its diplomatic influence score, reflecting positive views about Cambodia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2022.

Cambodia performs best in the economic relationships and diplomatic influence measures, for which it ranks 16th. Its lowest ranking is in the resilience measure, coming in at 25th place. In 2022, Cambodia saw its greatest improvement in diplomatic influence, where it increased its ranking by four places. Cambodia also rose two places to 16th for economic relationships, largely as a result of its participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and a new free trade agreement with China.

Cambodia’s cultural influence ranking dropped by four places to 21st due to the negative impacts of Covid-19 on its tourism industry.

For the first time, Cambodia exerts more influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s positive power gap score.

Read more analysis in the Key Findings report. Explore further results in the Scores section.