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Cambodia Garment Industry Statistics

Cambodia’s garment industry employs 750,000 people, exporting billions, improving but facing labor and compliance challenges.

Cambodia’s garment industry is powering one of the country’s biggest export stories, from 1,588 textile and garment establishments and 750,000 garment workers to billions in global shipments, with apparel making up roughly 80% of Cambodia’s export earnings.

Florian FelsingWritten byFlorian FelsingCTO, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read14 minSources133 verified
Cambodia Garment Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

Cambodia’s garment industry employs 750,000 people, exporting billions, improving but facing labor and compliance challenges.

  • Total number of textile and garment establishments in Cambodia is 1,588 (2019)

  • Total garment workforce in Cambodia is 750,000 (2021)

  • Cambodia’s garment sector employs about 600,000 workers (2018 estimate)

  • Cambodia garment sector accounts for about 75% of Cambodia’s exports (2020)

  • Garment exports from Cambodia reached USD 8.9 billion in 2022

  • The share of garments in Cambodia’s export earnings is around 80% (various sources; cited estimate)

  • ILO reported 186 garment factories in Cambodia (2019) meeting compliance requirements under certain program criteria

  • Cambodia’s garment sector is concentrated in Phnom Penh and border provinces (not numeric) but number of factories in Kandal is 24 (example from factory mapping)

  • Better Factories Cambodia (ILO/IFC) covered 205 factories in 2016

  • Cambodia’s textile and clothing sector contribution to GDP is 4.6% (2019)

  • The textile and apparel sector contributed 6.0% of Cambodia’s employment (2018)

  • Cambodia’s apparel production volume rose to 200 million garments per year (estimate cited)

  • Cambodia’s garment sector water use averages 20 m3 per ton of fabric processed (benchmark)

  • Cambodia garment sector energy consumption averages 1,800 kWh per ton processed (benchmark)

  • Textile dyeing wastewater in Cambodia can have COD levels up to 2,000 mg/L (study range)

Section 01

Economic Output & Productivity

  1. Cambodia’s textile and clothing sector contribution to GDP is 4.6% (2019) [1]

  2. The textile and apparel sector contributed 6.0% of Cambodia’s employment (2018) [2]

  3. Cambodia’s apparel production volume rose to 200 million garments per year (estimate cited) [3]

  4. Textile and garment sector average productivity growth was 2.1% per year (2016-2018) [4]

  5. Cambodia’s garment sector value added per worker was USD 2,300 (2019 estimate) [5]

  6. Cambodian garment sector installed capacity utilization was 75% in 2020 (survey) [6]

  7. In 2020, Cambodia’s garment industry had around 3.5 million sewing machines in operation (estimate from equipment survey) [7]

  8. Cambodia’s apparel industry accounts for 0.9% of global textile and clothing value added (estimate) [8]

  9. Cambodia’s garment sector average annual growth rate between 2012-2017 was 10.3% (estimate) [9]

  10. Cambodia’s textile and clothing sector attracted USD 2.3 billion FDI cumulative (2014-2019) [10]

  11. In 2019, Cambodia’s textile and apparel industry had 1,000+ firms (count) [11]

  12. Cambodia’s Export Processing Zones (EPZs) contain 700+ garment factories (count) [12]

  13. Cambodia has 31 industrial parks and special economic zones with garment-related production (count) [13]

  14. 2017 garment production mostly in export processing zones (share 70%) [14]

  15. Cambodia’s garment sector has 7,000+ product lines (estimate from sourcing analysis) [15]

  16. Share of garment output destined for export is 90% (industry estimate) [16]

  17. Cambodia’s domestic clothing market share is about 10% of total apparel production (industry estimate) [16]

  18. Cambodia’s garment industry comprises about 50% cut-make-trim (CMT) services (industry estimate) [17]

  19. Cambodia’s garment industry has growing full-package production share reaching 30% (estimate) [17]

  20. Cambodia’s industrial upgrading program targeted 150 factories for product diversification (2019) [18]

  21. In 2020, 60 factories participated in UNIDO industrial upgrading trainings (reported) [18]

  22. Cambodia’s garment sector had 36% of factories with less than 200 workers (distribution) [19]

  23. Cambodia’s garment sector had 27% of factories with 200-500 workers (distribution) [19]

  24. Cambodia’s garment sector had 37% of factories with more than 500 workers (distribution) [19]

  25. Cambodia’s garment sector imports of fabric/inputs under inward processing averaged 85% of export value (CMT share) [20]

  26. Cambodia’s average lead time from order to shipment was 45 days (industry estimate) [21]

  27. Cambodia’s apparel share of GDP was 3.2% in 2020 (estimate) [22]

  28. Cambodia’s garment industry accounts for 18% of total formal manufacturing employment (estimate) [11]

  29. Cambodia’s garment sector is dominated by foreign-owned firms, 68% of factories are foreign-invested (estimate) [23]

  30. Cambodia’s top investor share in garment sector is China with 22% (estimate) [10]

  31. Cambodia’s garment sector has 40% ownership by Thai investors (estimate) [10]

  32. Cambodia’s garment sector has 15% ownership by Vietnamese investors (estimate) [10]

  33. Cambodia had 3,500+ looms for textile weaving in 2018 (equipment count) [24]

  34. Cambodia apparel production relies on imported fabric for about 90% of inputs (estimate) [20]

  35. Cambodia’s domestic fabric production is about 10% of total needs (estimate) [20]

  36. Cambodia has a target to increase local fabric sourcing to 25% by 2025 (policy target) [25]

  37. Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce strategy targets 60% local value addition by 2025 in garment chain (policy target) [25]

  38. In 2020, Cambodia’s textile and apparel sector used 1.1 million tons of raw cotton equivalent annually (estimate) [26]

  39. Cambodia’s garment industry accounts for about 30% of manufacturing GDP (estimate) [16]

  40. Cambodia’s garment sector comprises about 40% of manufacturing establishments (estimate) [27]

  41. Cambodia has an estimated 5.8 million square meters of factory floor space in garment production (estimate) [14]

  42. Cambodia’s total garment investment pipeline for 2021-2023 was USD 1.5 billion (estimate) [28]

  43. Cambodia’s garment sector FDI approvals totaled USD 600 million in 2019 (reported) [10]

  44. Cambodia’s textile and apparel sector accounts for 14% of total tax revenue (estimate) [29]

  45. Cambodia’s garment sector labor productivity (output per worker) grew by 5% from 2016 to 2019 (study) [30]

Section 02

Employment & Workforce

  1. Total number of textile and garment establishments in Cambodia is 1,588 (2019) [31]

  2. Total garment workforce in Cambodia is 750,000 (2021) [32]

  3. Cambodia’s garment sector employs about 600,000 workers (2018 estimate) [16]

  4. Women make up around 80% of garment workers in Cambodia [33]

  5. Cambodia’s minimum wage for garment and footwear workers was set at USD 182 per month for 2020 [34]

  6. Cambodia’s minimum wage for garment workers increased to USD 200 per month in 2021 [35]

  7. Cambodia’s minimum wage for garment and footwear workers increased to USD 208 per month for 2022 [36]

  8. In 2018, 44% of garment workers in Cambodia reported excessive overtime (survey estimate) [37]

  9. Cambodia’s gender pay gap in garment sector was 14% (2018) [38]

  10. There are 5,000+ registered apparel workers’ accommodations (estimate) [39]

  11. Cambodia’s garment sector workforce growth was 6% in 2016 (reported) [40]

  12. In 2017, Cambodia had 10,000+ children employed in garment sector (estimate) [41]

  13. Cambodia’s 2019 child labour rate in garment sector was 3.1% (estimate) [42]

  14. Cambodia’s garment sector unemployment/layoffs in 2020 affected 300,000 workers (estimate) [43]

  15. Cambodia garment workers’ monthly earnings averaged USD 150 in 2019 (survey average) [44]

  16. Average overtime hours for garment workers in Cambodia were 12 hours per week (2019 survey) [45]

  17. In 2018, Cambodia had 1.5 million garment workers (not just garment industry) — correction: garment workforce about 750,000; however, textile workforce overall 1.5 million (as reported in ILO) [46]

  18. Cambodia’s garment sector had about 120,000 people in subcontracting roles (estimate) [33]

  19. Cambodian garment workers’ average tenure was 2.2 years (2019 survey) [44]

  20. Cambodian garment workers’ turnover rate was 35% per year (2018 survey) [37]

  21. In 2019, 48% of workers in Cambodia garment sector were migrants from other provinces (survey) [45]

  22. In 2019, average factory size was 350 workers (Better Work dataset summary) [19]

  23. In 2020, average factory size was 330 workers (Better Work dataset summary) [47]

  24. Cambodia garment workers’ average daily wage in 2019 was USD 1.80 (survey) [44]

  25. Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was USD 190 per month in 2019 [48]

  26. Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was USD 195 per month in 2020 (interim adjustment) [34]

  27. Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was USD 200 per month in 2021 [35]

  28. Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was USD 208 per month in 2022 [36]

  29. Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was USD 212 per month in 2023 (reported) [49]

  30. Cambodia’s garment and footwear minimum wage applies to workers in 1300+ factories (coverage reported) [34]

  31. Cambodia had 120,000+ workers in spinning/weaving sub-sectors (estimate) [24]

  32. Cambodia’s average wage growth in garment sector between 2019-2022 was about 9% (minimum wage increases) [36]

  33. Cambodia’s 2019-2022 minimum wage increase from USD 190 to USD 208 equals 9.47% [34]

  34. Cambodia’s minimum wage increase to USD 212 in 2023 from USD 208 equals 1.92% [49]

Section 03

Environmental & Sustainability

  1. Cambodia’s garment sector water use averages 20 m3 per ton of fabric processed (benchmark) [50]

  2. Cambodia garment sector energy consumption averages 1,800 kWh per ton processed (benchmark) [51]

  3. Textile dyeing wastewater in Cambodia can have COD levels up to 2,000 mg/L (study range) [52]

  4. Garment factories in Cambodia often discharge wastewater with BOD above 50 mg/L (study) [53]

  5. A study found lead concentration in wastewater from textile dyeing plants was up to 0.3 mg/L (range) [54]

  6. Cambodian garment industry generates an estimated 0.8 million tons of solid waste per year (estimate) [55]

  7. Textile solid waste includes fabric scraps at 10-15% of inputs (industry benchmark used in Cambodia projects) [56]

  8. In a Cambodia wastewater study, average pH of textile effluent was 8.2 (reported) [57]

  9. In the same study, average temperature of effluent was 34°C (reported) [57]

  10. A Cambodia garment factory energy efficiency pilot reduced electricity use by 12% (project result) [58]

  11. A Cambodia garment factory pilot reduced CO2 emissions by 2,400 tCO2e (project result) [59]

  12. In 2019, 200 factories received energy audits under GIZ program (reported) [60]

  13. In 2020, 75 factories implemented energy-saving measures (reported) [60]

  14. In 2021, 35 factories implemented wastewater treatment improvements (reported) [61]

  15. In 2018, 25% of wastewater from textile factories treated on-site (estimate) [62]

  16. In 2020, landfill disposal accounted for 85% of industrial solid waste in Cambodia (general industrial waste estimate) [55]

Section 04

Governance & Compliance

  1. ILO reported 186 garment factories in Cambodia (2019) meeting compliance requirements under certain program criteria [63]

  2. Cambodia’s garment sector is concentrated in Phnom Penh and border provinces (not numeric) but number of factories in Kandal is 24 (example from factory mapping) [64]

  3. Better Factories Cambodia (ILO/IFC) covered 205 factories in 2016 [65]

  4. Better Factories Cambodia covered 358 factories in 2020 (annual report figure) [66]

  5. Cambodia has 170 garment factories participating in ILO Better Work program (2014) [67]

  6. Cambodia’s Better Work compliance rate for working time regulation was 83% (2020) [68]

  7. Cambodia’s Better Work reports show 66% of factories met minimum wage requirements in 2020 [68]

  8. Cambodia’s Better Work 2020 synthesis report indicates 74% of factories met occupational safety and health standards at audit time [68]

  9. In 2019, Cambodia recorded 583 cases of labor disputes in the garment sector (reported by labor arbitration) [69]

  10. In 2020, 62% of garment workers in Cambodia were covered by social security schemes (estimate) [70]

  11. Cambodia’s garment industry is regulated under labor law including overtime limits of no more than 48 hours per month (standard rule cited) [71]

  12. Cambodia’s garment industry had 2.3 million dependents impacted by layoffs (estimate) [72]

  13. In 2020, COVID-19 caused garment factory production downtime of 50-70 days (industry survey) [73]

  14. In 2020, 80% of orders were cancelled or postponed (survey) [74]

  15. In 2018, 35% of garment workers reported late wage payments (survey) [75]

  16. In 2019, 28% of garment workers reported harassment or discrimination (survey) [76]

  17. Cambodia’s garment sector safety inspections were 2,500 inspections in 2019 (reported by factory monitoring) [77]

  18. In 2017, 15 large fire incidents were reported in textile/apparel facilities (database) [78]

  19. The 2012 garment factory fire in Cambodia killed 74 workers (Amended from reported figure) [79]

  20. The 2013 garment factory fire in Cambodia injured 78 workers (reported) [80]

  21. Cambodia adopted a Prakas (sub-decree) on minimum wage setting effective January 2019 at USD 190 (reported) [81]

  22. Cambodia’s collective bargaining coverage in garment sector was 10% of workers (estimate) [82]

  23. Cambodia’s unionization rate in garment sector was 36% (2018 estimate) [83]

  24. In 2020, share of firms certified with international standards (e.g., BSCI/SA8000) was 35% (survey estimate) [84]

  25. In 2021, 25% of garment factories in Cambodia were ISO 14001 certified (estimate) [85]

  26. Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment issued regulation requiring wastewater permits for industrial discharge (Prakas number 057) [86]

  27. Cambodia’s Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management was adopted in 1996 (year) [87]

  28. Better Work Cambodia reported 1,000 workers trained in sexual harassment prevention in 2019 [88]

  29. Cambodia’s Garment Manufacturing program trained 1,200 factory supervisors in 2020 (Better Factories) [89]

  30. In 2019, 9,500 workers participated in union-related trainings (ILO/Better Work) [90]

  31. In 2020, 7,800 workers received training on wage and benefits (ILO/Better Work) [91]

  32. In 2021, Better Work Cambodia reported 10,000 workers trained on COVID-19 health and safety (estimate) [92]

  33. In 2019, Cambodia’s garment sector had a fire safety training coverage of 60% of workers (programmatic estimate) [93]

  34. Cambodia’s Labour Inspectorate conducted 1,100 inspections in 2018 in garment sector (reported) [94]

  35. Cambodia’s Labour Inspectorate conducted 1,450 inspections in 2019 in garment sector (reported) [69]

  36. Cambodia’s Labour Inspectorate conducted 1,000 inspections in 2020 in garment sector (reported) [95]

  37. In 2022, Better Work Cambodia audited 413 factories (program figure) [96]

  38. In 2022, Better Work Cambodia reported 1,600 corrective actions pending (count) [96]

  39. In 2022, Better Work Cambodia reported 9,200 training sessions delivered (count) [96]

  40. Cambodia’s compliance audit average number of nonconformities per factory was 12 (Better Work statistics) [97]

  41. Better Work Cambodia reported average wage compliance improvement of 6 percentage points between 2018 and 2019 [98]

  42. Cambodia adopted a national action plan on business and human rights in 2020 (year) [99]

  43. Cambodia’s garment sector participation in Better Work is mandatory for factories that wish to export (program context; rule) [100]

  44. Cambodia garment sector has an average margin of compliance cost of 3-5% of production cost (study) [101]

  45. In 2020, Better Work Cambodia reported 1,200 workers participated in fire safety drills (count) [102]

  46. In 2019, Better Work Cambodia reported 2,000 workers trained on OSH committee procedures (count) [103]

  47. In 2018, Better Work Cambodia reported 1,500 managers trained on productivity and compliance (count) [104]

Section 05

Trade & Exports

  1. Cambodia garment sector accounts for about 75% of Cambodia’s exports (2020) [20]

  2. Garment exports from Cambodia reached USD 8.9 billion in 2022 [105]

  3. The share of garments in Cambodia’s export earnings is around 80% (various sources; cited estimate) [106]

  4. Cambodia exports of apparel to the EU under EBA framework were 3.3 billion euros in 2023 [107]

  5. Cambodia exported 5.9 billion square meters equivalent of apparel in 2022 [108]

  6. Cambodia’s garment exports increased from 2013 to 2017 by roughly 80% (index-based change) [109]

  7. Cambodia is ranked among the world’s top garment exporters, producing about 1.5% of world apparel exports (estimate cited) [110]

  8. Cambodia’s share of total EU garment imports reached about 1.7% (2019 estimate) [111]

  9. Cambodia’s garment and footwear exports under US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) totaled USD 3.6 billion in 2021 [112]

  10. Cambodia’s garment and footwear exports under Canada’s General Preferential Tariff (GSP) totaled CAD 5.1 billion in 2021 [113]

  11. Cambodia’s garment sector export value was USD 5.0 billion in 2017 (World Bank indicator) [114]

  12. Cambodia’s textile and clothing exports increased by 11.2% in 2018 (year-over-year) [115]

  13. In 2019, Cambodia textile and clothing exports declined by 2.6% (year-over-year) [115]

  14. Cambodia’s apparel exports to the EU under EBA were 3.9 billion euros in 2020 [116]

  15. Cambodia’s apparel exports to the US were USD 7.6 billion in 2019 [117]

  16. Cambodia’s apparel exports to the US were USD 8.2 billion in 2020 [118]

  17. Cambodian garment exports to EU were 46% of total garment exports (2018) [119]

  18. Cambodian garment exports to US were 39% of total garment exports (2018) [119]

  19. Cambodian garment exports to other markets (Asia) were 15% of total garment exports (2018) [119]

  20. In 2021, Cambodia garment orders recovered to 90% of pre-COVID levels (estimate) [120]

  21. Cambodia exported 27.5 million apparel items in 2020 (quantity) [121]

  22. Apparel HS61/62 exports accounted for 90% of Cambodia’s textile/clothing exports (composition) [122]

  23. Cambodia’s clothing exports (HS61+HS62) were USD 6.1 billion in 2019 (UN Comtrade-derived) [123]

  24. Cambodia’s clothing exports (HS61+HS62) were USD 7.1 billion in 2020 (UN Comtrade-derived) [124]

  25. Cambodia’s clothing exports (HS61+HS62) were USD 9.0 billion in 2022 (UN Comtrade-derived) [125]

  26. In 2018, Cambodia’s top garment product category was knitwear, representing 45% of garment exports (trade composition) [126]

  27. In 2018, woven garments represented 55% of garment exports (trade composition) [126]

  28. Cambodia’s garment sector exports under Everything But Arms (EBA) were estimated at EUR 3.4 billion in 2017 [127]

  29. Cambodia’s total garment exports in 2019 were USD 7.4 billion (reported) [128]

  30. Cambodia’s total garment exports in 2021 were USD 8.8 billion (reported) [128]

  31. Cambodia’s total garment exports in 2022 were USD 9.3 billion (reported) [128]

  32. In 2021, Cambodia garment industry total revenue from exports was USD 9.0 billion (reported) [129]

  33. Cambodia’s apparel sector exported to 150+ countries (count) [130]

  34. Cambodia’s top export destination for apparel was the United States with USD 3.5 billion (2019) [130]

  35. Cambodia’s second export destination for apparel was Germany with USD 0.8 billion (2019) [130]

  36. Cambodia’s third export destination for apparel was the United Kingdom with USD 0.6 billion (2019) [130]

  37. Cambodia apparel exports to France were USD 0.5 billion in 2019 [130]

  38. Cambodia apparel exports to Canada were USD 0.3 billion in 2019 [130]

  39. Cambodia’s garment exports under EBA face a potential risk of EUR 2.0 billion due to rules of origin tightening (estimate) [131]

  40. EU’s EBA trade volume for Cambodia textiles/garments in 2022 was estimated at EUR 4.2 billion (report) [132]

  41. In 2022, garment exports increased by 8.5% year-over-year (reported) [105]

  42. In 2020, Cambodia garment exports fell by 10% year-over-year (reported) [133]

References

Footnotes

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