After an awesome month in Thailand (if you haven’t read my last blogs about our ministry there check em’ out) my team traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and then unto the capital city of Phnom Penh. Here’s a little background on Cambodia….
– Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia and is bordered by Thailand in the west, Laos in the North and Vietnam in the east.
– Cambodia is a relatively small country with a population of about 14 million. Interestingly, it’s estimated that 50% of the population is under the age of 20! Roughly 80% of the population is under age 30, and only 3% of the population is over the age of 65! This is due primarily to the deaths during the conflict era (Khmer Rouge, etc) and the high mortality rate.
– Cambodia has a history of political and social conflict. One of the bloodiest periods occurred during the mid to late 1970’s under the rule of Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot was notorious for his mass killings and torture techniques. It is estimated that by the time the Khmer Rouge reign ended nearly 2 million Cambodians had been killed, roughly 1/3 of the population at the time.
– Spiritually, Cambodia is 93% Theravada Buddhist, and only 2% Christian. The other religions that are prevalent include: animistic spirit worship, Islam, and Hindu.
