Administrative divisions of Cambodia

There are several types of administrative divisions of Cambodia. The country is divided into twenty provinces (ខេត្ត, "khaet") and four province-level municipalities (ក្រុង, "krong"). Provinces are further subdivided into districts (ស្រុក, "srok"), which are divided into communes (ឃុំ, "khum"), then further divided into villages ("phum"). The municipalities are divided into sections (ខ័ណ្ឌ, "khan"), which are divided into quarters (សង្កាត់, "sangkat"), and further divided into groups ("krom").

First-level divisions: provinces and municipalities

Provinces ("khaet") and municipalities ("krong") are Cambodia's first-level administrative divisions. Rural areas are divided among Cambodia's twenty provinces, and urban areas are divided among Cambodia's four municipalities. In the listing below, municipalities are in italics. Provinces and municipalities are divided into districts ("srok") and sections ("khan"), respectively.

econd-level divisions: districts and sections

Districts ("srok") are subdivisions of provinces and consist of multiple communes ("khum"). A section ("khan") is a subdivision of a municipality and consists of multiple quarters ("sangkat").

Lower-level divisions

Communes ("khum")

Communes ( _km. ឃុំ, "khum") are subdivisions of districts. Communes consist of multiple villages ("phum").

Villages ("phum")

Villages ("phum"), the basic geographical and administrative subdivision in Cambodia, are subdivisions of communes ("khum").

During the Khmer Rouge years and under the Communist government in power during the Vietnamese occupation villages were further subdivided into 'groups' ("krom") of 15-20 households who were led by a group leader ("Meh Krom"). However, this system is no longer part of the official administrative system and is now unevenly applied.

The administrative head of a Phum is the village chief ("Protean Phum") who is usually assisted by a deputy. Village chiefs report to the leader of the commune or commune chief ("Meh Khum"). Village chiefs come under the authority of the Ministry of Interior which is responsible for administration and the National Police. Prior to 2006, village chiefs were government appointed and required ministerial approval after a nomination from the commune. However, in 2006 Cambodia held its first election for village chiefs.

Quarters (sangkat)

Quarters or communes (sangkat) are subdivisions of districts.