People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Cambodian, Khmer of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 259,340

ROP3 Code: 104946
IMB Affinity Group: Southeast Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Southeast Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Mon-Khmer
Language: Central Khmer - (khm)
Religion: Buddhism
Country of Origin: Cambodia

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
Copyright © Cambodia Research Network.

Majority Located Where

  Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - 47,000

  Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA - 27,000

  Stockton-Lodi, CA - 15,147

  Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA - 15,000

  Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA - 14,000

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Cambodian, Khmer are one of the oldest population groups in Indochina, occupying the Mekong valley and fertile plains from modern day northeast Thailand to southern Vietnam.

Their language is related to many languages spoken by hilltribe peoples of Laos and Vietnam, but is very different from Thai or Lao.

Prior to 1975, most Cambodians in North America came from children of upper income families or those having government-funded scholarships sent abroad to attend school. After the fall of Phnom Penh to the communist Khmer Rouge in 1975, a few Cambodians managed to escape. However, when the Khmer Rouge was overthrown in 1979, large numbers of Cambodians began immigrating to North America as refugees.

Cambodians maintain their unique identity by staying in touch with one another, no matter how far they might reside from one another.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that Cambodian, Khmer will experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Pray for the great need for discipleship and leadership training among evangelical Cambodian, Khmer.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.


Other Resources

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Online Talking Bible - Khmer, Central
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.

Online Talking Bible - Khmer, Central (CCPC)
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-30 of 63 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesLong BeachLos Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimCA47,000
United StatesBostonBoston-Cambridge-QuincyMA27,000
United StatesTacomaSeattle-Tacoma-BellevueWA15,000
United StatesPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia-Camden-WilmingtonPA14,000
United StatesMontréalMontreal (Laval)QC13,210
United StatesStocktonStockton-LodiCA12,000
United StatesNewmarketToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON6,430
United StatesSan JoseSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa ClaraCA6,275
United StatesSan BernardinoRiverside-San Bernardino-OntarioCA6,158
United StatesMinneapolisMinneapolis-St. Paul-BloomingtonMN5,480
United StatesFresnoFresnoCA4,660
United StatesProvProvidence-WarwickRI4,542
United StatesDallasDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX4,300
United StatesCarrolltonDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX4,250
United StatesHoustonHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTX4,200
United StatesSan DiegoSan Diego-Carlsbad-San MarcosCA4,044
United StatesRiverdaleAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellGA3,446
United StatesTinley ParkChicago-Naperville-ElginIL3,170
United StatesSkokieChicago-Naperville-ElginIL3,170
United StatesModestoStockton-LodiCA3,147
United StatesSacramentoSacramento--Arden-Arcade--RosevilleCA2,654
United StatesColumbusColumbusOH2,489
United StatesJacksonvilleJacksonvilleFL2,041
United StatesNashvilleNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--FranklinTN2,000
United StatesLas VegasLas Vegas-Henderson-ParadiseNV2,000
United StatesRichmondRichmondVA1,689
United StatesAuroraDenver-Aurora-LakewoodCO1,662
United StatesCharlotteCharlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC1,574
United StatesWest Valley CitySalt Lake CityUT1,533
United StatesGreensboroGreensboro-High PointNC1,216