Cambodia’s online economy is growing quickly, but the country is still trailing several of its ASEAN neighbours in broader digital development. A new policy assessment from the Asian Development Bank highlights the gap as e commerce becomes an increasingly important part of regional trade and market access. The findings, released in August 2026, show that Cambodia scored just 19.3 on the ADB’s 2024 Digitalization Index, compared with 42.6 for Thailand, 34.6 for Viet Nam, 34.2 for Indonesia and 47.5 for Malaysia, while Singapore led the region with 83.1. The figures point to a clear challenge for Cambodia: online commerce is expanding, but the infrastructure, skills, payments and regulations needed to fully support the digital economy still have room to catch up.
Cambodia’s Digital Gap Remains Significant
The ADB’s Digitalization Index measures progress across seven areas, including digital infrastructure, regulation, skills and innovation. Cambodia’s score of 19.3 places it well behind the region’s stronger digital economies, highlighting the difference between the rapid adoption of online commerce and the broader development of the digital ecosystem needed to support it.
That gap matters because e commerce is no longer simply a way for consumers to shop online. It is increasingly becoming a route for businesses to reach customers, participate in regional supply chains and sell across borders. The ADB has warned that many micro, small and medium sized enterprises still struggle to access digital trade because of limited financial resources, technology and skilled workers. For Cambodia, where smaller businesses make up a large part of the economy, improving digital access could therefore have a direct impact on business growth and competitiveness.
Cambodia’s E Commerce Market Continues to Expand
The digitalization gap comes at a time when Cambodia’s e commerce sector is showing strong momentum. According to the Ministry of Commerce’s iTrade Bulletin, Cambodia’s e commerce market was valued at about $1.51 billion in 2024 and was projected to reach $1.78 billion in 2025, representing growth of around 17.88 percent. E commerce accounted for about 6.68 percent of Cambodia’s GDP in 2024, showing that online business has already become a meaningful part of the national economy.
The 2025 figures also reveal how closely Cambodia’s online commerce is tied to social media and digital payments. Facebook, TikTok and Telegram have become important channels for businesses selling products online, while QR payments accounted for 47.15 percent of online transactions, followed by cash at 26.5 percent and mobile money transfers at 13.3 percent. Apparel was among the leading online purchase categories, followed by beauty and cosmetics and food delivery.
For businesses looking for the original 2025 data, the Ministry of Commerce’s iTrade material is also available through Open Development Cambodia’s iTrade Bulletin 2025 record, which provides access to the underlying report and its key findings.
What the 2026 Picture Tells Us
There is an important distinction between Cambodia’s 2025 e commerce data and the digital economy situation in 2026. The latest widely cited official market figures available for Cambodia put the 2025 e commerce market at a projected $1.78 billion. A complete official 2026 annual market figure has not yet been published, so the latest 2025 figure should not be presented as a confirmed 2026 market size.
What is clear in 2026 is that online commerce continues to develop alongside Cambodia’s wider digital transformation. Government data shows that 68.48 percent of the population uses the internet, while mobile subscriptions have reached about 20.69 million. These figures provide a strong foundation for further growth in online shopping, digital payments and digital services.
The wider regional trend is also moving quickly. The Google, Temasek and Bain & Company e Conomy SEA 2025 report projected that Southeast Asia’s digital economy would surpass $300 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025. The report also found that video commerce was expanding particularly rapidly and was expected to account for about 25 percent of regional e commerce GMV in 2025.
This means Cambodia is entering a regional market that is becoming increasingly digital, competitive and interconnected. The opportunity is significant, but businesses need more than social media pages and mobile phones to compete effectively across borders.
Infrastructure and Digital Skills Are Key Obstacles
The ADB identifies reliable infrastructure, interoperable payment systems, efficient logistics and supportive regulations as essential building blocks for cross border e commerce. Without these foundations, Cambodian businesses may find it difficult to move from selling locally through social media to reaching customers throughout ASEAN and beyond.
Digital skills are another major concern. The ADB report notes that around 40 percent of people in the region lack basic digital competencies. Limited skills can prevent workers and small businesses from making effective use of digital tools while also increasing exposure to online fraud and cybersecurity risks. For Cambodia, improving digital literacy will therefore be just as important as expanding internet connectivity.
MSMEs Could Gain the Most From Closing the Gap
The stakes are particularly high for micro, small and medium sized enterprises. Across Asia and the Pacific, MSMEs account for around 97 percent of enterprises, 69 percent of employment and 41 percent of GDP. Yet these businesses often face greater difficulties accessing finance, technology and skilled labour.
Closing Cambodia’s digital gap could give smaller businesses new opportunities to reach customers beyond their traditional markets. A Cambodian producer selling food, fashion, handicrafts or other products online could potentially use digital platforms, electronic payments and improved logistics to connect with consumers across the region. But achieving that potential requires a business environment where digital transactions are trusted, affordable and easy to use.
Regional Agreements Could Open More Doors
Cambodia is also part of a regional environment that is becoming more supportive of digital trade. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement are expected to support greater regional integration by addressing issues such as data flows, payments, trade facilitation and digital governance.
The broader goal is to make cross border digital transactions easier by reducing regulatory differences between markets. If these frameworks are effectively implemented, Cambodian companies could find it easier to participate in regional digital supply chains and reach customers outside the domestic market.
However, regional agreements alone will not close Cambodia’s digitalization gap. The country still needs to strengthen connectivity, digital skills, payment interoperability, logistics and regulatory systems so that local businesses are actually able to take advantage of the opportunities created by regional integration.
Why Cambodia’s E-Commerce Growth Matters?
Cambodia’s situation presents a striking contrast. On one side, consumers and businesses are rapidly embracing online commerce, digital payments and social media based selling. On the other, the country’s overall digitalization level remains well below several ASEAN peers.
That contrast suggests Cambodia’s next stage of digital development should focus less on simply getting more people online and more on making digital participation productive. Better infrastructure, stronger digital skills, safer payments, efficient delivery networks and clearer regulations could help transform e commerce from a fast growing consumer activity into a stronger engine for business expansion and regional trade.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s e commerce boom shows that demand for digital business is already here. The bigger question is whether the country can build the systems needed to support that growth at the same pace as its ASEAN neighbours.
With the e commerce market projected to have reached $1.78 billion in 2025 and regional digital trade continuing to expand, Cambodia has a substantial opportunity ahead. But the ADB’s digitalization score of 19.3 shows that the foundation still needs strengthening. Closing the gap will require investment in connectivity, digital skills, payment systems, logistics and regulation. If those pieces come together, Cambodia’s growing online economy could become a much stronger gateway for MSMEs to reach regional consumers and supply chains.