Cambodia
Background Information
Region
East Asia & Pacific
World Bank income group
Lower middle income
Percent of population aged 10-24
26% (UNFPA, 2023)
Total primary school age population (both sexes)
1,973,463 (UIS, 2023)
Total secondary school age population (both sexes)
1,885,773 (UIS, 2023)
Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 18
(% of women aged 20-24)18%
Source: UNSDG , 2014
Adolescent birth rate
(per 1,000 women ages 15-19)57
Source: UN Human Development Reports , 2013
Percentage of women who ever experienced physical violence since age 15
(% of women 15-49)10%
Source: DHS , 2022
Percentage of married women employed in the last 12 months
(% of married or in-union women 15-49)79%
Source: DHS , 2022
Education Snapshot Back to Top
Number of years of free primary and secondary education guaranteed in legal frameworks
(Years)9
Source: UIS , 2022
Percentage of upper secondary schools providing life skills-based HIV and sexuality education within the formal curriculum or as part of extra-curricular activities
No data available
Proportion of schools with access to single-sex basic sanitation facilities
Percentage of schools-
Primary 47%
(2022)
Source: UIS
Women as a percentage of teachers in tertiary education
Women as a percentageSource: UIS , 2022
Men as a percentage of teachers in pre-primary education
Men as a percentageSource: UIS , 2022
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure
% GDP spent on educationSource: UIS , 2021
Gender parity index for achievement in mathematics, by education level (ratio)
No data available
Gender parity index for achievement in reading, by education level (ratio)
No data available
Proportion of students at the end of primary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading
-
Female 14%
-
Male 8%
Female: UIS, 2019
Male: UIS, 2019
Proportion of students at the end of primary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics
-
Female 20%
-
Male 17%
Female: UIS, 2019
Male: UIS, 2019
Experiencing bullying in the last 12 months in lower secondary education
-
Female 22%
-
Male 22%
Female: UNESCO, 2013
Male: UNESCO, 2013
Youth not in education, employment or training
-
Female 8%
-
Male 4%
Female: ILO, 2021
Male: ILO, 2021
Completion rate
Primary school age
-
Female 87%
-
Male 68%
Female: UIS, 2021
Male: UIS, 2014
Lower secondary school age
-
Female 39%
-
Male 41%
Female: UIS, 2014
Male: UIS, 2014
Upper secondary school age
-
Female 20%
-
Male 20%
Female: UIS, 2014
Male: UIS, 2014
Out-of-school rate
Primary school
-
Female 5%
-
Male 7%
Female: UIS, 2014
Male: UIS, 2014
Lower secondary school
-
Female 26%
-
Male 26%
Female: UIS, 2014
Male: UIS, 2014
Upper secondary school
-
Female 62%
-
Male 58%
Female: UIS, 2014
Male: UIS, 2014
Legal Frameworks Back to Top
Presence of legislation on child protection, to prevent corporal punishment in schools
3
Limited protection from violence in educational institutions
Source: HerAtlas , 2019
Presence of legislation protecting the right to education without discrimination based on sex/gender
2
Only enshrines the right to education or provides for a limited protection of this right
Source: HerAtlas , 2019
Presence of legislation to protect and facilitate education of pregnant adolescent girls
2
No explicit protection of the right to education of pregnant and parenting girls
Source: HerAtlas , 2019
Existence of processes to support coordinated action on gender equality in and through education by ministries, civil society, youth organizations and other actors
Data coming soon!
Existence of systematic processes to review and update curricula and learning resources, with a view to eradicating gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality
Data coming soon!
Training on gender-responsive pedagogies is embedded in teacher training programmes
Data coming soon!
Programs Back to Top
Network/Convening/Conference
Asia Pacific Region National Education Coalitions COVID-19 Zoom Conference
Funding Initiative/Portfolio
Australia Awards Scholarships
Network/Convening/Conference
Better Life, Better Future
Project/Program
Clean Water Wells
Project/Program
Education Access and Equity
Project/Program
Education Endures: Room to Read’s Award-winning Literacy and Gender Equality Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Funding Initiative/Portfolio
Education Out Loud (EOL)
Project/Program
Girls' Education Program (Room to Read)
Project/Program
Girls Learning and Leading Program
Project/Program
Konsae Pilot Project
Project/Program
LitClub
Project/Program
Patsy Collins Trust Fund Initiative (PCTFI) – Cohort 3
Advocacy Campaign/Project
Safe to Learn
Project/Program
School Health Integrated Program (SHIP) - FRESH Framework
Project/Program
Service-learning for WASH in schools
Research Project/Report/Study
The COVID-19 Crisis and its Impact on Global Education
Funding Initiative/Portfolio
UNESCO Malala Fund for Girls’ Right to Education
Project/Program
Unlocking Talent Through Technology
Research Project/Report/Study
Government Programs Back to Top
Project/Program
Adolescent Girls' Programming Community of Practice
Project/Program
UNESCO-China Hainan Airlines Project
Project/Program
Room to Read Literacy and Like Skills Program Cambodia
Project/Program
Pre-school Books Revisions
Project/Program
UNICEF - Cambodia Country Programme 2019–2023
Project/Program
Factory Literacy Program (FLP) in Cambodia
Policy & Frameworks Back to Top
Policy
Teacher Policy Action Plan
The Teacher Policy Action Plan 2024–2030 strengthens the quality and inclusivity of education by focusing on continuous professional development (CPD) for school and teacher education institution (TEI) leadership. Courses developed under this initiative integrate emerging priorities such as ICT, action research, climate education, and gender-responsive and disability-inclusive pedagogy.
Policy
Education Strategic Plan 2024-2028
Key actions include expanding scholarship programs for girls and women, promoting female participation in STEM fields, and integrating gender-sensitive pedagogy across technical and vocational education. It also supports the development of inclusive curricula that challenge gender norms in course selection and encourage diverse career aspirations. Monitoring systems will be used to assess the effectiveness of these strategies and adjust approaches as needed. The plan also prioritizes gender equity in teacher recruitment, deployment, and retention, particularly in underserved areas.
Policy
Five-year strategic plan on gender equality and women's empowerment
The Cambodian government has launched a new Five-Year Strategic Plan (2024–2028) to promote gender equality and empower women and girls, with a focus on increasing investment across the fields of economy, education, health, and public leadership. In the education sector, the strategy supports modern programs that promote social, women’s, and Khmer family values, positive parenting, and workplace childcare initiatives in both public and private institutions. It also emphasizes the importance of empowering girls through leadership programs in formal and informal educational settings and local communities.