What is Phnom Penh's historical significance?

Phnom Penh has served as Cambodia's national capital since 1865 and is the nation's political, economic, and cultural centre. The city is home to the Royal Palace, the official residence and seat of Cambodia's monarchy, and contains numerous temples and monuments reflecting the country's Buddhist heritage and historical narrative.

Where is Phnom Penh located?

Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers in central Cambodia. The city also marks the starting point of the Bassac River. This strategic position on multiple waterways has historically made it an important hub for trade and transport in Southeast Asia.

How large is Phnom Penh's population?

Phnom Penh has a population of approximately 2.35 million people, making it Cambodia's largest city and its primate city. The city significantly exceeds all other Cambodian urban centres in population, economic influence, and political importance.

What are the main economic sectors in Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh's economy is centred on government administration, finance and banking, trade and commerce, industrial manufacturing, and tourism and hospitality. As the capital, the city attracts major domestic and international investment and hosts the headquarters of Cambodia's largest enterprises.

What is the city's connection to Buddhism?

The city's name derives from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple founded by Lady Penh. Buddhism is the primary religion in Phnom Penh, and the city contains numerous temples, monasteries, and religious sites that serve as important centres of spiritual practice and cultural heritage.

Phnom Penh: Cambodia's Capital City

Phnom Penh is Cambodia's capital and most populous city, with a population of approximately 2.35 million people. Located at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers, the city has served as Cambodia's national capital since 1865 and is the start point of the Bassac River. The city's name derives from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple, and Lady Penh, the city's founder. As the nation's primate city, Phnom Penh functions as Cambodia's primary political, economic, industrial, and cultural centre. The city is home to the Royal Palace, the seat of Cambodia's monarchy, and houses numerous government institutions, commercial enterprises, and cultural landmarks that reflect its significance as the country's leading urban centre.

Updated 2026-05-04 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Population: 2.4M
Climate: Tropical monsoon
Best months: Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec

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Timezone

Asia/Phnom_Penh

Phnom Penh: Cambodia's Capital City: 11.575, 104.914Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Quick facts

Phnom Penh has served as Cambodia's national capital since 1865.
The city is located at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers.
Phnom Penh's name derives from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple, and Lady Penh, the city's founder.
The city has a population of approximately 2.35 million people.
Phnom Penh is Cambodia's largest city and the nation's primate city.
The Royal Palace, located in Phnom Penh, serves as the seat of Cambodia's monarchy.
The city marks the origin point of the Bassac River.
Phnom Penh functions as Cambodia's primary political, economic, industrial, and cultural centre.
The city's strategic location on multiple waterways has historically facilitated regional trade and commerce.
Buddhism is the primary religion, reflecting the city's cultural and spiritual heritage.

Geography and Location

Phnom Penh occupies a strategic position at the confluence of two major waterways: the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers, making it a significant water transport hub in Southeast Asia. The city also serves as the origin point of the Bassac River. This geographic advantage has historically facilitated trade and commerce throughout the region. The city's location in central Cambodia places it within the tropical climate zone of mainland Southeast Asia, where monsoon patterns and seasonal river fluctuations influence the local environment and transportation networks.

Coordinates: 11.57°N, 104.91°E
Elevation: Approximately 0–5 metres above sea level
Waterways: Tonlé Sap, Mekong, and Bassac rivers

Population and Urban Development

With a population of approximately 2.35 million inhabitants, Phnom Penh is Cambodia's largest city and the nation's primary urban centre. The city's growth since becoming the capital in 1865 has been substantial, transforming it into the country's leading hub for political administration, economic activity, industrial development, and cultural institutions. As Cambodia's primate city, Phnom Penh significantly exceeds other urban centres in size and influence. The concentration of national government institutions, the Royal Palace, and major commercial operations reinforces the city's dominance within the Cambodian urban hierarchy.

Population: Approximately 2,352,851
Status: Cambodia's capital and largest city
Year designated capital: 1865

Historical and Cultural Significance

Phnom Penh's name originates from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple, and Lady Penh, the city's founder. The city has been designated Cambodia's national capital for over 150 years, during which time it has accumulated significant historical and cultural importance. The Royal Palace, located within the city, serves as the seat of Cambodia's monarchy and represents the nation's political authority. Beyond government institutions, Phnom Penh houses numerous temples, museums, and cultural landmarks that reflect Cambodia's Buddhist heritage and historical narrative. The city functions as the centre of Cambodian cultural expression and preservation.

Name origin: Wat Phnom temple and Lady Penh (founder)
Key institution: Royal Palace (seat of monarchy)
Primary religion: Buddhism

Economy and Infrastructure

As Cambodia's economic centre, Phnom Penh hosts the nation's major commercial enterprises, financial institutions, and industrial facilities. The city's position as the capital ensures it receives significant investment in infrastructure, including transportation networks, utilities, and administrative facilities. The confluence of major rivers provides opportunities for water-based commerce and logistics. Government institutions, banking sectors, and retail and hospitality operations are concentrated in the city, making it the engine of Cambodia's formal economy. The city continues to expand its infrastructure to accommodate ongoing urban growth and economic development.

Economic role: Cambodia's primary commercial and industrial centre
Key sectors: Government, finance, trade, hospitality
Timezone: Asia/Phnom_Penh (UTC+7)

Frequently asked questions

What is Phnom Penh's historical significance?: Phnom Penh has served as Cambodia's national capital since 1865 and is the nation's political, economic, and cultural centre. The city is home to the Royal Palace, the official residence and seat of Cambodia's monarchy, and contains numerous temples and monuments reflecting the country's Buddhist heritage and historical narrative.
Where is Phnom Penh located?: Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers in central Cambodia. The city also marks the starting point of the Bassac River. This strategic position on multiple waterways has historically made it an important hub for trade and transport in Southeast Asia.
How large is Phnom Penh's population?: Phnom Penh has a population of approximately 2.35 million people, making it Cambodia's largest city and its primate city. The city significantly exceeds all other Cambodian urban centres in population, economic influence, and political importance.
What are the main economic sectors in Phnom Penh?: Phnom Penh's economy is centred on government administration, finance and banking, trade and commerce, industrial manufacturing, and tourism and hospitality. As the capital, the city attracts major domestic and international investment and hosts the headquarters of Cambodia's largest enterprises.
What is the city's connection to Buddhism?: The city's name derives from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple founded by Lady Penh. Buddhism is the primary religion in Phnom Penh, and the city contains numerous temples, monasteries, and religious sites that serve as important centres of spiritual practice and cultural heritage.

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-04.

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