Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The garment sector accounted for 70% of Cambodia’s total merchandise exports in 2021
Cambodia’s garment, footwear, and travel goods industry employed approximately 840,000 workers in 2020
Around 80% of the garment sector workforce in Cambodia are women
The garment industry contributed about 16% to Cambodia’s GDP in 2019
The total export value of garments, footwear and travel goods from Cambodia reached $11.38 billion in 2022
Garment exports dropped by 20% in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022
Approximately 1,100 garment and footwear factories are operational in Cambodia
Cambodia ranks as the world's sixth-largest exporter of garments
The average monthly minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia is $200 USD as of 2023
Over 30% of garment workers send remittances to rural family members
51% of garment factories in Cambodia have been audited through Better Factories Cambodia
The EU accounted for 34% of Cambodia's garment exports in 2020
The United States received 32% of Cambodia's garment exports in 2020
Economic Contribution
- The garment industry contributed about 16% to Cambodia’s GDP in 2019
- Approximately 1,100 garment and footwear factories are operational in Cambodia
- Over 30% of garment workers send remittances to rural family members
- 95% of garment factories in Cambodia are foreign-owned, primarily by companies from China, Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore
- Cambodia's garment industry uses 10 million cubic meters of water annually
- Energy expenses account for around 15% of operational costs in Cambodia's garment factories
- Roughly 600 factories registered with the GMAC (Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia)
- 12% of garment factories in Cambodia are equipped with solar panels
- The textile and garment industry consumes 40% of industrial electricity in Cambodia
- The industry generates over 15,000 tons of textile waste annually
- The industry pays over $1.8 billion annually in wages in Cambodia
- Cambodia produces 28 million pairs of shoes annually through garment sector
- Each garment worker contributes an estimated $1,680 annually to Cambodia's economy
- Less than 10% of garment factories use recycled textile materials
- Cambodia's garment industry generates $6.5 billion in foreign exchange annually
Interpretation
In Cambodia, a foreign-owned, water-thirsty, energy-hungry garment industry stitches together 16% of the GDP, $6.5 billion in foreign exchange, and the livelihoods of rural families—while leaving behind 15,000 tons of textile waste and a carbon footprint that overshadow its largely unrecycled seams.
Export and Trade Performance
- The garment sector accounted for 70% of Cambodia’s total merchandise exports in 2021
- The total export value of garments, footwear and travel goods from Cambodia reached $11.38 billion in 2022
- Garment exports dropped by 20% in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022
- Cambodia ranks as the world's sixth-largest exporter of garments
- From 1995 to 2020, Cambodia’s apparel exports grew from $26 million to over $7 billion
- Travel goods manufacture added over $1 billion in export value in 2021
- Cambodian garment exports to the U.S. totaled $3.7 billion in 2022
- Footwear exports from Cambodia reached $1.3 billion in 2021
- Cambodia exported garments worth $9.6 billion in 2021, up from $7.4 billion in 2020
- Cambodia’s garment industry grew at a CAGR of 11% between 2010 and 2020
- Approximately 30% of Cambodian garment factory exports are destined for the United States
- Over 2,000 container shipments of garments leave Cambodia monthly
- Approximately 85% of Cambodia's garment exports qualify for duty-free access under EBA or GSP
- Approximately 20% of exports from Cambodia’s garment sector are re-exports from neighboring countries
- 43% of garment exports are shipped through Phnom Penh Autonomous Port
- Cambodia lost about $1 billion in garment exports in 2020 due to pandemic impact
- The garment sector saw 9% growth in export value in 2022 compared to 2021
- Cambodia’s garments account for 75% of its total manufacturing exports
Interpretation
While Cambodia's garment industry stitches together billions in exports and ranks among the world’s top suppliers, its heavy reliance on the sector—and its vulnerability to global shocks—makes it a well-dressed economy walking a tightrope.
Geographic Distribution
- The EU accounted for 34% of Cambodia's garment exports in 2020
- The United States received 32% of Cambodia's garment exports in 2020
- 68% of garment and footwear exports from Cambodia are destined for the US and EU markets
- 90% of Cambodia’s garment exports go through Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh ports
- Over 70% of garment workers are internal migrants from rural provinces
- 7% of factory buildings in the sector were newly built after 2015
- 62% of garment factories operate in Phnom Penh and Kandal provinces
Interpretation
Cambodia’s garment industry—powered by rural hands, funneled through just two ports, and stitched tightly to Western demand—spins a global success story that still wears an uneven domestic pattern.
Worker Rights and Awareness
- Only 6% of workers reported understanding their labor rights fully
Interpretation
When only 6% of Cambodia's garment workers fully understand their labor rights, it's less a fabric of progress and more a patchwork of exploitation waiting to unravel.
Workforce and Labor Conditions
- Cambodia’s garment, footwear, and travel goods industry employed approximately 840,000 workers in 2020
- Around 80% of the garment sector workforce in Cambodia are women
- The average monthly minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia is $200 USD as of 2023
- 51% of garment factories in Cambodia have been audited through Better Factories Cambodia
- COVID-19 caused the closure or suspension of over 250 garment factories in 2020
- More than 150,000 garment workers lost their jobs during the pandemic in 2020 in Cambodia
- Garment workers often clock 60 hours per week due to voluntary overtime
- 25% of garment workers surveyed reported food insecurity during COVID-19
- Cambodia’s minimum wage rose from $61 in 2012 to $200 in 2023
- Social benefits and bonuses average $10/month per worker across garment industry
- Basic hourly wage for garment workers is $0.93 as of 2023
- 27% of female garment workers use microcredit to manage household finances
- The average age of garment workers is 29 years old
- 80% of Cambodia's garment factories report increased use of automation since 2015
- An average worker in Cambodia’s garment sector works 10 hours a day, 6 days a week
- About 25,000 workers are represented by unions active in the garment sector
- There are more than 100 labor unions registered in Cambodia’s garment sector
- Over 400,000 garment workers participate in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
- 45% of factories provide daycare or child support services
- 90% of garment factories in Cambodia operate in rented buildings
- Female workers make up 88% of sewing machine operators in the industry
- 70% of Cambodia’s garment factories lack modern air ventilation systems
- Workers spend an average of 1.5 hours commuting daily to and from factories
- Only 40% of factories provide proper maternity leave conditions
- 35% of factories have established grievance mechanisms for labor complaints
- The cost of compliance with international labor standards is approximately $0.08 per garment
- 59% of garment workers use smartphones as their main communication tool
- 65% of garment workers experienced partial wage losses during pandemic-related closures
- 78% of factories pay workers wages via electronic transfer
- 14% of garment sector factories received training on green production between 2019 and 2021
- The average Cambodian garment worker supports 3.7 dependents
Interpretation
In Cambodia, where 840,000 mostly young women stitch the global fashion economy together on 60-hour weeks for under a dollar an hour, the real threads holding the industry are grit, microloans, and an urgent need for more than token compliance with labor standards.