Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It has a population of over 15 million people, most of whom are ethnic Khmer and follow Buddhism. The country has a history of kingdoms and empires dating back to the 1st century CE. More recently, Cambodia endured heavy losses under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s and is still recovering economically. The government is a multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy, with the prime minister as head of government. The economy relies on agriculture, garment exports, and tourism, but poverty remains a significant challenge.