Cambodia’s Council of Ministers Approves 2027 Draft Budget, Targeting 4.8% Growth
Cambodia’s Council of Ministers approved the 2027 draft national budget on 23 October, planning KHR 39,700 billion in spending and forecasting economic growth to pick up from about 4.0% in 2026 to 4.8% in 2027.
អត្ថបទនេះមិនទាន់មានជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅឡើយទេ។ អ្នកកំពុងអានអត្ថបទដើមជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស។
Cambodia’s Council of Ministers approved the draft national budget for 2027 on the morning of Thursday, 23 October, according to a press release reported by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP). The plan sets total state expenditure at KHR 39,700 billion, equal to 16.57 per cent of gross domestic product, and expects the economy to gather pace next year.
Key points
- The Council of Ministers approved the 2027 draft national budget on 23 October 2026.
- Planned spending is KHR 39,700 billion, or 16.57% of GDP, up 3.2% on the 2026 budget law.
- Revenue is forecast at KHR 32,327 billion, or 13.49% of GDP, up 6.7%.
- Growth is projected to rise from about 4.0% in 2026 to 4.8% in 2027, with GDP per capita reaching about US$3,277.
Revenue growing faster than spending
Planned spending is 3.2 per cent higher than in the 2026 Financial Management Law, while total revenue is forecast to rise 6.7 per cent to KHR 32,327 billion, or 13.49 per cent of GDP. Revenue growing at roughly twice the pace of spending points to a careful approach to the public finances at a time of global uncertainty.
The draft also continues to channel resources to provinces, districts and communes. Sub-national expenditure is set at KHR 5,068 billion, around 11.9 per cent of total state spending, while sub-national revenue is projected at KHR 2,819 billion.
The government has framed the budget around six priorities: protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintaining stability, safeguarding people’s livelihoods, supporting targeted economic growth, keeping adequate capacity to respond to shocks, and ensuring that public finances remain sustainable.
A brighter outlook for 2027
Underpinning the budget is a forecast that Cambodia’s economic growth will strengthen from about 4.0 per cent in 2026 to 4.8 per cent in 2027. Average income per person is projected to rise from around US$3,098 to about US$3,277 over the same period.
Growth is expected to come from a broad base. In industry, garment and non-garment manufacturing, food and beverages, and tobacco are seen as the main contributors. In services, the budget looks to hospitality and food services, wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage, and information technology and telecommunications. Agriculture, through crop production, livestock and fisheries, is also expected to play its part.
The forecast comes as several sectors show momentum. Cambodia has this month reported record rice exports and strong garment, footwear and travel goods shipments, while the government has launched a new national strategy to help micro, small and medium enterprises grow.
For investors and businesses, the budget signals continuity: steady public investment, a widening revenue base and a growth outlook that improves year on year.
Sources: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP).
Frequently asked questions
How big is Cambodia’s 2027 national budget?
The draft approved by the Council of Ministers sets total expenditure at KHR 39,700 billion, equal to 16.57% of GDP.
What growth does Cambodia expect in 2027?
The government projects growth of 4.8% in 2027, up from about 4.0% in 2026.
What will Cambodia’s GDP per capita be in 2027?
It is projected to rise from about US$3,098 in 2026 to around US$3,277 in 2027.
