Official Language: Cambodia

Home Speakers: Vietnam, Thailand

Background
Khmer is the national language of Cambodia. It is spoken by over 12.100.00 people. There are also some 1,100,000 speakers in Viet Nam and Thailand. Khmer is the most important member of the Mon-Khmer family of languages. The Khmers were once a powerful people who dominated much of Southeast Asia from the 9th through the 12th century. Their alphabet, like most of those of the area, had its ultimate origin in southern India.

Reprinted from www.unhchr.ch/udhr/