Phnom Penh - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
It's a big community, beyond the diplomatic missions there's lots of NGOs, UN, foreign private businesses, digital nomads, retirees from Australia and New Zealand, etc. - May 2024
Tough question! Maybe 200K? Overall morale is very good. Cambodia is an easy place to live if you understand it and take it all in. - Jul 2021
Huge and great. - Nov 2020
Lots of expatriates, but there are three basic types--the professional NGO and government workers, the backpacker-type English teachers and volunteers, and the long-term expats who teach English or maybe moved here to start a business. They tend to stick in their own circles, with only occasional mingling, and sometimes exhibit disdain for one another. You can be very happy here, there's a large expat community with lots to do and regular events, but choose your social group wisely as it's also not difficult to get sucked into troublesome circles. - May 2017
Phnom Penh is a relatively small town but I felt like there are lots and lots of expats here. Morale is generally good -- Phnom Penh is an easy place to live overall. - Oct 2016
There are a lot of expats in Phnom Penh, due to the high number of NGOs. I would say the expat community is divided into two groups. There are the people who just absolutely LOVE Cambodia, think it's the best place in the world, and never want to leave. And there are the people who think Cambodia is alright, but a bit boring, and are ready to leave after twelve months. I was in the 2nd group. - Feb 2015
Pretty big; there are a lot of Europeans here that tend to hang out at a lot of the same places. You will easily find all the expat hangouts. - Aug 2013
Huge, especially for a city/country of this size. Lots of French, but probably an equal number of Anglophone expats, if you add all Australians, Americans, Brits, etc. - Jan 2012
thousands - Oct 2010
Expats from the embassies, expats from the NGOs, expats in business and expats in tourism business and traveling through on tourism. There must be several hundred in Phnom Penh, a few hundred in Siem Reap and a hundred in Kampot and Kampong Som. - Feb 2008
