Cambodia to Expand Social Protection Coverage to Nearly 50% of Citizens by Q3 2026

The Cambodian government has announced plans to expand social protection coverage to approximately 8.5 million citizens, or nearly 50% of the population, by the third quarter of 2026. This initiative is part of the seventh-term government's commitment under Prime Minister Hun Manet to prioritize the improvement of citizens' welfare and livelihoods, human capital development, and poverty reduction. The expansion aims to contribute to the long-term vision of transforming Cambodia into a high-income country by 2050. Significant progress has been made in developing the social protection system under the guidance of the National Social Protection Council, chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet as honorary chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth, Minister of Economy and Finance, as chairman. Since 2017, the government has achieved numerous milestones in developing the social protection system by expanding the scope of existing national social assistance programs and social security schemes, and by launching new ones. By the third quarter of 2026, the social protection system and health coverage in Cambodia are expected to benefit a total of approximately 8.5 million citizens, an increase from about 6.5 million at the beginning of the seventh parliamentary term. As of the third quarter of 2026, the National Social Assistance Program aims to cover approximately 5 million target citizens. The government has allocated approximately 1,130.1 billion Cambodian Riel (equivalent to about 282 million US dollars) in the 2026 state budget for the implementation of various national social assistance programs, including the Health Equity Fund. Separately, social security schemes cover over 3.5 million citizens. In 2026, the government has allocated approximately 1,900 billion Cambodian Riel (equivalent to about 487 million US dollars) in the state budget, in addition to contributions from members of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), for three major social security schemes: 1) Health Care Social Security Scheme, 2) Work Injury Social Security Scheme, and 3) Pension Social Security Scheme. Furthermore, special social assistance programs and interventions have been implemented to stabilize the livelihoods of citizens affected by various crises and emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, severe floods, and border conflicts. The government remains prepared to implement necessary interventions to help maintain citizens' livelihoods during future crises and emergencies. Source: CPP Cambodia