Phnom Penh's 2026 population is now estimated at 2,542,893. In 1998, the population of Phnom Penh was 1,133,430. Phnom Penh has grown by 50,490 in the last year, which represents a 2.03% annual change. These population values and projections come from CityPopulation Cambodia cities, urban areas and urban communes table (1998/2008/2019) - fallback and World Population Review Internal Projections .
Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia. Not only is it the capital, but it is also the largest in terms of population. This city – which was once named Krong Chaktomuk – has a population of 1,501,725 people.
Stretched across the total area of almost 232 square kilometers, the population density is 5,700 people per square kilometer.
There are more males than females living in this city, with the latest counts showing that there are 792,926 women and 708,799 men in Phnom Penh.
The majority of the residents of Phnom Penh are Cambodian and account for about 90% of the city’s total population. Other ethnic groups include Kuy, Chong, Thai and Budong.
Over 90% of the city’s residents practice Buddhism.
While the official language is Khmer, English and French are also commonly spoken by many residents.
There are also a large number of inhabitants living in slums, with total counts topping 105,000 as of 2012.
The city’s population growth rate has maintained positive growth since 1980 after a steep population drop in 1978. Historically, the city has seen phenomenal growth throughout the years, with population increase percentages in the double digits throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Plans have been made for an expansion of the metro area to accommodate the ever-growing population, which is expected to surpass 3 million and will only continue growing.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | 2,542,893 | 2.03% |
| Siem Reap | 259,631 | 1.91% |
| Battambang | 144,961 | -0.67% |
| Ta Khmau | 99,248 | 1.15% |
| Poipet | 91,205 | 1.87% |
| Sisophon | 80,478 | 0.29% |
| Preah Sihanouk | 72,317 | 0.25% |
| Kampong Thom | 63,004 | 1.8% |
| Pouthisat | 62,747 | 0.06% |
| Takev | 55,427 | 2.74% |
| Kampong Speu | 55,229 | 0.9% |
| Svay Rieng | 50,153 | 2.39% |
| Stoeng Treng | 49,063 | 2.52% |
| Pailin | 48,626 | 3% |
| Angk Snuol | 46,922 | 2.31% |
| Kokir | 45,865 | 0.4% |
| Kampong Chhnang | 43,833 | 0.17% |
| Kampong Cham | 42,526 | -0.21% |
| Banlung | 39,351 | 2.59% |
| Prey Veng | 38,366 | 0.79% |
