Cambodian riel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cambodian riel
ISO 4217 Code	KHR
User(s)	Cambodia
Inflation	1.4%
Source	The World Factbook, 2015 est.
Pegged with	U.S. dollar at 1 USD ≈ 4,100 KHR
Subunit
1⁄10	kak (កាក់ kăk) (no longer used)
1⁄100	sen (សេន sén) (no longer used)
Symbol	៛
Coins
Rarely used	50៛, 100៛, 200៛, 500៛
Banknotes
Freq. used	100៛, 200៛, 500៛, 1,000៛, 2,000៛, 5,000៛, 10,000៛, 20,000៛, 50,000៛
Rarely used	50៛ (no longer printed but still legal tender); 15,000៛ (commemorative); 30,000៛ (commemorative); 100,000៛

The riel (pronounced "ree-el"; Khmer: រៀល, romanized: riĕl) is the official money of Cambodia. Its special symbol is ៛, and its code is KHR. The riel has been used in Cambodia during two different periods. The first time was from 1953 to May 1975. After a period with no money system, a second version of the riel was started on March 20, 1980.

Since the late 1990s, the riel has often been exchanged at a rate of about 4,100 riels for every U.S. dollar. This means the U.S. dollar is also very commonly used in Cambodia for buying and selling things.

Many people in Cambodia believe the name "riel" comes from a fish found in the Mekong river called riĕl, which means "small fish" in Khmer. However, it's more likely that the name came from the old Spanish dollar. This silver coin was worth eight reales and was used a lot for trade in Asia and the Americas a long time ago.

How Money is Used in Cambodia

In Cambodia, people use both the riel and other currencies. This section explains how they are used.

Riel and Other Currencies Together

In the countryside of Cambodia, the riel is used for almost everything you buy, whether it's a small snack or a bigger item. However, in cities and places where tourists visit, the United States dollar is also very common. If you are near the border with Thailand, you might even find that the Thai baht is accepted too.

The use of the U.S. dollar became popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. This happened when the United Nations sent help to Cambodia, and people living abroad sent money back home. Also, prices were rising very fast, which made people trust the riel less. From 1991 to 1993, the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia had many people working there. Their spending added a lot to Cambodia's economy.

Even though the riel is still used a lot in the provinces, big cities and tourist spots mostly use the U.S. dollar. You can get U.S. dollars from ATMs, and they are accepted for almost all purchases. Hotels, airline tickets, and big financial deals are often priced in U.S. dollars. Most people know that the exchange rate for everyday shopping is about 4,000 riels for 1 U.S. dollar. If you pay with dollars, you often get your change back in riel.

In June 2020, the National Bank of Cambodia announced a plan to slowly remove small U.S. dollar banknotes from circulation. These included the $1, $2, and $5 notes. This plan aims to make it cheaper to handle these small U.S. notes. It also encourages people to use the riel more instead of these smaller dollar bills. Banks did not charge fees to collect these small notes before August 31, 2020. After that date, banks might have had to pay costs to send these notes away.

History of the Riel

Cambodia has had different types of money throughout its history. The riel is the most recent.

Early Currencies in Cambodia

Before the riel, Cambodia used other forms of money. For example, before 1875, the tical was used. This currency was also common in Siam (now Thailand) and Laos.

Then, because of French influence in the area, the tical was replaced by the franc in 1875. The franc was similar to the French franc and was divided into 100 centimes. It was used until 1885. After that, the piastre was introduced in 1885. This piastre was similar in value to the Spanish dollar and was used until 1952.

The First Riel (1953–1975)

The first version of the riel was introduced in 1953. At first, banknotes were printed with values in both piastre and riel, meaning they were worth the same. The riel was divided into 100 centimes, but this changed to 100 sen in 1959. For a few years, both the riel and the piastre were used at the same time.

• The first banknotes were issued between 1955 and 1956.
• Later issues included higher values like 100, 500, and 1,000 riels. Some of these higher values were planned but never actually released.

• 

  1 riel banknote

• 

  Another 1 riel banknote

• 

  10 riels banknote

• 

  Another 10 riels banknote

• 

  500 riels banknote

• 

  Another 500 riels banknote

Coins were also made for the first riel. In 1953, 10, 20, and 50 centimes coins were minted from aluminum. These coins were similar in size to coins from Laos and South Vietnam. A 1 riel coin was planned for 1970 but was never released.

Khmer Rouge Period (1975–1980)

During the time of the Khmer Rouge (1975–1980), money was officially abolished in Cambodia. Even though banknotes were printed, they were not used as actual money.

• Banknotes printed in 1975 included values like 0.1 riel (1 kak) up to 100 riels.
• In 1993, the Khmer Rouge printed another series of colorful banknotes. These were used only in the areas they controlled.

The Second Riel (1980–Present)

After the Vietnamese forces helped remove the Khmer Rouge in 1978, the riel was brought back as Cambodia's national currency. This happened on March 20, 1980. At first, 4 riels were equal to 1 U.S. dollar. The riel is divided into 10 kaks or 100 sens.

Because the economy was in a very bad state, the government actually gave away the new money to people. This was done to encourage everyone to start using it. Around the same time, the United Nations provided humanitarian aid to Cambodia in U.S. dollars. Many people preferred the more stable U.S. dollar. As more riels were printed in the early 1990s, the riel's value went down. It changed from 4 riels to 1 dollar in 1980 to about 4,000 KHR per USD in the 2000s. It has stayed around 4,100 KHR per USD in the 2020s.

• Many different series of banknotes have been issued since 1979, with various values.
• The latest issues include special commemorative notes, like the 15,000 riels and 30,000 riels.

Banknotes of the Second Riel

Cambodia uses many different banknotes today. Here are some of the common ones and their features:

• 100 riels (issued in 2001 and 2015)
• 200 riels (issued in 1995 and 2022)
• 500 riels (issued in 2002 and 2014)
• 1,000 riels (issued in 2006, 2013, and 2017)
• 2,000 riels (issued in 2008, 2013, and 2022)
• 5,000 riels (issued in 2001 and 2017)
• 10,000 riels (issued in 2001 and 2015)
• 15,000 riels (issued in 2019, a special note)
• 20,000 riels (issued in 2008 and 2018)
• 30,000 riels (issued in 2021, a special note)
• 50,000 riels (issued in 2001 and 2014)
• 100,000 riels (issued in 1995 and 2013)

Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description		Date of
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	printing	issue	withdrawal	lapse
		50 riels	130 × 60 mm	Dark brown and tan	Banteay Srei	Dam	2002	29 August 2002		current
		100 riels	130 × 60 mm	Purple, brown and green	Independence Monument	School	2001	9 August 2001		current
		100 riels	138 × 64 mm	Orange and brown	Naga (mythical snake) head, Buddha, King Father Norodom Sihanouk as a young monk	Khmer statue, Wat Preah Keo (Silver pagoda), Buddha	2014	14 January 2015		current
		200 riels	138 × 64 mm	Gray, green and orange	Royal arms of Cambodia, Naga (mythical snake) head, King Norodom Sihamoni as a young man	Preah Thineang Chan Chhaya (Moonlight Pavilion) of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Paul Ducuing’s statue of King Sisowath at the National Museum of Cambodia	2022	14 November 2022		current
		500 riels	138 × 64 mm	Red and purple	Angkor Wat	Kizuna bridge over the Mekong	2002 2004 2014	4 April 2003		current
		500 riels	138 × 64 mm	Red, pink and gray	Naga (mythical snake) head, arms, king Norodom Sihamoni	Neak Loeung Bridge, Kizuna bridge over the Mekong River, monument, frieze	2014	14 January 2014		current
		1,000 riels	138 × 64 mm	Brown and lilac	Southern gate at Bayon	Autonomous Port of Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)	2005 2007 2014	6 January 2006		current
		1,000 riels	148 × 68 mm	Lilac and dark-blue	Naga (mythical snake) head, Royal Arms of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk (1922–2012)	Royal Palace throne room, swan-shaped float carrying Sihanouk's body	2012	30 January 2013
		1,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Purple and blue	Naga (mythical snake) head, arms, King Norodom Sihanouk	Royal palace throne room, Kinnari (half-human, half-bird)	2016	25 October 2017		current
		2,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Green, black and yellow	Prasat Preah Vihear	Angkor Wat and rice field Worker	2007 2015	3 January 2008		current
		2,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Green	Naga (mythical snake) head, Royal Arms of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihanouk (1922–2012)	King Norodom Sihanouk alongside two soldiers crossing a river (December 1953); Independence Monument (Phnom Penh)	2013	8 November 2013
		2,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Green, orange, black, brown, and yellow	Royal arms of Cambodia, naga (mythical snake) head, King Norodom Sihamoni	Ancient stone artifact; Prasat Tao (King Lion Temple) at Sambo Prei Kuk Kampong Tom Province; chinthe (King Lion)	2022	14 November 2022		current
		5,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Green and gray	King Norodom Sihanouk (1922–2012)	Bridge of Kampong Kdei (Siem Reap Province)	2001 2002 2004 2007	6 April 2001		current
		5,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Violet and brown	Naga (mythical snake) head, vessel, King Norodom Sihanouk wearing beret	Naga (mythical snake) head, Kampong Kdei bridge (Siemreap Province), freezes, chariot	2015	25 October 2017		current
		10,000 riels	146 × 68 mm	Violet, brown and blue	King Norodom Sihanouk (1922–2012)	Sisowath Quay	2001 2005 2006	6 April 2001		current
		10,000 riels	155 × 72 mm	Blue	Naga (mythical snake); King Norodom Sihamoni	Neak Pean (entwined serpents) archeological ruins of Buddhist temple on circular island in Preah Khan Baray, Angkor; stone statue of horse, Balaha	2015	15 May 2015		current
		15,000 riels	170 x 75 mm	Purple	King Norodom Sihamoni, seven-headed naga	Coronation of Norodom Sihamoni, Win-Win Memorial, three-headed elephant carrying a garuda bearing a swan	2019	7 October 2019		current
		20,000 riels	155 × 72 mm	Violet and purple	King Norodom Sihamoni	Angkor Wat, Four faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara	2008	5 December 2008		current
		20,000 riels	155 x 72 mm	Light and dark pink and gray	Naga (mythical snake), king Norodom Sihamoni	Banteay Srei Temple in Siem Reap province	2017	16 May 2018		current
		30,000 riels	170 x 75 mm	Green, brown and purple	Naga (mythical snake), king Norodom Sihanouk	King Norodom Sihanouk and Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Royal Palace, Eiffel Tower and Independence Monument	2021	18 October 2021		current
		50,000 riels	150 × 70 mm	Violet, brown and blue	Norodom Sihanouk	Angkor Wat, three-headed elephant	2001	6 April 2001		current
		50,000 riels	155 × 72 mm	Brown	Naga (mythical snake), King Norodom Sihanouk	Bakong Temple and sculpture of elephant at Koh Ker temple	2013	6 May 2014		current
		100,000 riels	170 × 77 mm	Green	Royal Arms of Cambodia, King Father Norodom Sihanouk, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, Naga (mythical snake) head	King Father Norodom Sihanouk, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath and King Norodom Sihamoni, stone sculpture	2012	14 May 2013
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Coins of the Second Riel

The first coins for the second riel were 5 sen pieces, made in 1979 from aluminum. No more coins were made until 1994. In 1994, coins with values of 50, 100, 200, and 500 riels were introduced. However, these coins are not often seen in everyday use.

Coins of the Cambodian riel
Image		Value	Diameter	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	Year of
Obverse	Reverse								first minting	withdrawal
		50 riels	15.9 mm	1.6 g	Steel	Plain/Smooth	Denomination, year of minting in Buddhist and Gregorian calendar	Independence Monument in Phnom Penh	1994
		100 riels	17.9 mm	2 g	Steel	Plain/Smooth	Denomination, year of minting in Buddhist and Gregorian calendar	Angkor Wat	1994
		200 riels	20 mm	2.4 g	Steel	Plain/Smooth	Denomination, year of minting in Buddhist and Gregorian calendar	2 Ceremonial bowls (one above the other) Above this is symbol Om (in Khmer language) from which rays of light emitting	1994
		500 riels	25.8 mm	6.5 g	Bi-Metallic; steel in center, brass in ring	Segmented (Plain and Reeded edges)	Denomination, year of minting in Buddhist and Gregorian calendar	Royal arms of Cambodia (Lesser version)	1994

See also

• Economy of Cambodia