Cambodia’s public finances have shown strong growth, according to figures recently presented by acting head of state Samdech Hun Sen. In the first five months of 2026, the General Department of Taxation alone collected more than US$2 billion, exceeding 53% of its US$3.8 billion annual tax-collection target.
Including customs revenue, total government revenue for the period reached US$3.5 billion, reflecting what the report described as the strength and resilience of the economy.
Hun Sen contrasted past and present fiscal conditions. He recalled that, when public finances were constrained, monthly customs revenue of US$20–30 million had been considered fortunate, whereas it had now risen to US$230–240 million.
The most direct change was visible in the funding of public services and government administration —in the past, limited treasury funds repeatedly delayed civil servants’ salaries, with older officials joking bitterly that a month seemed to last 90 days. The government now had sufficient resources to eliminate those arrears and pay salaries every 15 days, marking a substantial improvement in fiscal capacity.
After an era of carefully managing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, Cambodia’s fiscal scale had moved into billions. Under the 2026 national budget law, the government’s total revenue target for the year was US$6.8 billion, comprising US$3 billion in customs revenue and US$3.8 billion in tax revenue.
The General Department of Taxation, as a central revenue-collection body, plays a key role in funding infrastructure, social development and economic growth.
