Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Cambodia instead of Hong Kong, you would:

Health

live 14.6 years less

In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 85 years (83 years for men, 88 years for women) as of 2024. In Cambodia, that number is 71 years (68 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 90.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Hong Kong, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Cambodia, that number is 0.3% as of 2025.

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be 17.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Hong Kong, 19.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Cambodia, however, that number is 16.5% as of 2016.

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make 95.0% less money

Hong Kong has a GDP per capita of $56,983 as of 2025, while in Cambodia, the GDP per capita is $2,872 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.1 times more children

In Hong Kong, there are approximately 4.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cambodia, there are 20.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 6.4 times more likely to die during infancy

In Hong Kong, approximately 2.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Cambodia, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 28.5% less likely to have internet access

In Hong Kong, approximately 95.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Cambodia, about 68.5% do as of 2024.

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be 17.2% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Hong Kong, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Cambodia, 83% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 42.8% less on education

Hong Kong spends 3.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Cambodia spends 2.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 39.6% less coastline

Hong Kong has a total of 733 km of coastline. In Cambodia, that number is 443 km.

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Infrastructure

find 89.7% less home broadband

Hong Kong has 40.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Cambodia has 4.2 as of 2024.

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use 85.3% less electricity

Hong Kong uses 6,359 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Cambodia uses 932 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 76.1% less CO2

Hong Kong emits 4.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Cambodia emits 1.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Hong Kong vs. Cambodia

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Cambodia is 65.5% cheaper than Hong Kong overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Hong Kong is about 163 times smaller than Cambodia.
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Moving from Hong Kong to Cambodia · UN DESA 2020
123 people born in Hong Kong live in Cambodia.
→

Cambodia: At a glance

Cambodia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 176,515 sq km. Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders have been tried or are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity by a hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal supported by international assistance. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. In October 2004, King Norodom SIHANOUK abdicated the throne and his son, Prince Norodom SIHAMONI, was selected to succeed him. Local elections were held in Cambodia in April 2007, with little of the pre-election violence that preceded prior elections. National elections in July 2008 were relatively peaceful, as were commune council elections in June 2012.
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How big is Cambodia compared to Hong Kong? See an in-depth size comparison.

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