Cambodia is beginning to make progress towards its MDGs, as donor and government investment over the last decade begins to show results.
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Cambodia has made impressive gains in poverty reduction. The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line has fallen from 34.8% in 2004 to 30.1% in 2007, which indicates that Cambodia is in line to meet this MDG.
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
With net primary school enrolment in Cambodia having increased from 76% to 91% between 1997 and 2005, Cambodia is likely to achieve this MDG.
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
There is significant gender inequality in education, with girls currently accounting for less than 40% of lower secondary school enrolment. However, the percentage of seats in Parliament held by women has doubled, from 9.8% in 2007 to 19.5% in 2008.
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
Since 2000, there has been a 30% drop in both infant and under-5 mortality.
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
The rate at which Cambodian women die shortly before, during and shortly after giving birth is – at 472 deaths per 100,000 live births – one of the worst in Asia.
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Cambodia is likely to meet its target of reducing HIV prevalence rates by 2015. The incidence, prevalence and death rate of tuberculosis have also been declining but only very slowly.
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Cambodia is unlikely to achieve the sanitation or the natural resource management elements of this MDG, particularly in rural areas
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
An element of this MDG is access to communications technology. From 2002 to 2006, the percentage of people in Cambodia with a mobile phone subscription rose massively from 2.76% to 12%.
