Good to know
Good to Know
- Siem Reap's population is very young by global standards (median age 27.4); majority under 30 reflects post-conflict recovery
- The term 'barang' (meaning French) is still used by locals to refer to any non-Asian foreigner, reflecting colonial history
- Expat community is increasingly diverse; no longer dominated by any single nationality, though Americans, French, and East Asians are prominent groups
- Tourism drives the local economy and expat presence; expat employment heavily concentrated in hospitality, education, and NGO sectors
- Entrepreneurship is accessible—several successful tech and creative ventures have launched from Siem Reap with low startup costs
- The city offers coworking and nomad-friendly infrastructure, particularly The 1961, which caters to remote workers and founders
- Real estate agents in Siem Reap often segment by nationality, reflecting differing preferences for Western vs. Asian apartment styles
Age Profile
- Percent Over 61
- 5
- Percent Under 17
- 34
- Median Age Years
- 27.4
- Note
- Cambodia has a young post-war population; notably few elderly residents due to historical events
City Population
- Growth Rate Annual Percent
- 1.91
- Estimate 2026
- 139458
- Municipality Population 2026
- 121229
- Note
- Central Siem Reap city accounts for approximately 20% of Siem Reap Province's ~1.1 million residents
Foreign Born Residents
- Estimated Percent Of Residents
- 5-10%
- Note
- Estimate based on ~10,000-22,000 long-term expatriates in Siem Reap per available sources
Estimated Count
- Low
- 7000
- High
- 14000
Business And Tech Presence
Sectors
- Tourism and hospitality (primary employment sector)
- NGO and development work (significant presence)
- English language education (international schools and centers)
- Arts, design, and creative industries (growing expat-led entrepreneurship)
- Tech and digital startups (emerging but nascent)
Key Notes
- Foreign nationals can register tech businesses and wholly own companies within weeks
- Low operational costs (rent, salaries, office space) provide financial advantage for startups
- Digital nomad population growing; Siem Reap positioned as potential Southeast Asia nomad hub
- Tech startups in Siem Reap span IT services, software development, fintech, education technology, and sustainability
- Several startups launched from Siem Reap bases, particularly in tourism-tech and social enterprises
Startup Ecosystem
- Overview
- Siem Reap has emerging startup culture with coworking/incubation spaces; part of broader Cambodia tech development
Coworking And Startup Spaces
The 1961
- Day pass
- KHR 40,400
- Note
- Rated 4.7/5; ideal for tourism-tech startups and remote workers
- Description
- Premier provincial hub for digital nomads and tech startups; reliable internet, weekly nomad meetups
OMOHUB
- Description
- Stylish, affordable coworking space
Ethnicity Local Population
- Cham Percent
- 1
- Khmer Percent
- 95
- Chinese Percent
- 1
- Vietnamese Percent
- 3
- Note
- Siem Reap's local population composition mirrors national ethnic breakdown; city feels diverse due to expatriate presence despite local homogeneity
Notable Expat Nationalities
- Note
- Historically French were dominant barang (foreign) group; now diverse multinational mix with growing East Asian presence
Primary Groups
- American (concentrated; diplomats, NGO staff, educators, entrepreneurs)
- French (longstanding community; business, development, cultural sectors)
- British
- Australian
- Korean (large presence; restaurants reflect this)
- Japanese (large presence; restaurants reflect this)
- Chinese
- Vietnamese
Expat Community Characteristics
Occupations
- Hospitality and tourism sector workers
- NGO and international development staff
- English teachers and educators at international schools
- Entrepreneurs (restaurants, boutique hotels, creative businesses, tech)
- Digital nomads and remote professionals
- Artists, photographers, designers
Integration Factors
- Strong English proficiency among locals due to tourism industry facilitates integration
- Active community events, charity fundraisers, and expat networks
- Cultural fusion in dining (Korean, Japanese, Western restaurants alongside Khmer)
- International schools support families with children
- Real estate market segments by nationality with different housing expectations (Western vs. Korean style apartments)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.worldpopulationreview.com
- 2.citypopulationdata.com
- 3.ceicdata.com
- 4.siemreap.net
- 5.worldpopulationreview.com
- 6.movingcountries.guide
- 7.movetocambodia.com
- 8.quora.com
- 9.expat.com
- 10.phnompenhpost.com
- 11.techcollectivesea.com
- 12.globalindiannetwork.com
- 13.blog.teamwave.com
- 14.nucamp.co
- 15.cambodiainvestmentreview.com
- 16.linkedin.com
- 17.tradingeconomics.com
More About Siem Reap
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.