Living arrangements and socio-demographic conditions of older adults in Cambodia

Since the takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, analysis of social conditions in the country has been lacking. Only recently has dependable socio-demographic data become available. We use some of these data to examine living arrangements and other socio-demographic conditions among Cambodia’s older population and compare results to those recently found in Thailand and Vietnam. On balance, living arrangements in Cambodia are similar to those in neighboring countries. Older adults are likely to be living with a grown child and in a variety of arrangements involving different family members. To determine gender preference for coresident children we adjust living arrangement patterns for Cambodia’s unique sex and marital status structure. We find a predominance of the elderly living with never-married children of either sex and a slight preference for living with daughters. Older adults in Cambodia may face particular challenges due to the influences of the past decades of instability and violence. We conclude with a discussion of how future research might assist in developing a national policy for older adults.