Older adults in Cambodia are survivors of harsh living conditions, including poverty and periods
of extreme violence. Although these experiences may affect health outcomes, little data has
existed to monitor Cambodia’s older population. The current paper uses data from the 2004 Study
of the Elderly in Cambodia (SEC) and focuses on disability status. The data is the first of its kind for
Cambodia*a comprehensive survey employing a representative sample of adults 60 and older
living across the country. Disability prevalence by age and sex, Active Life Expectancy (ALE) and
common correlates of disability, using Activity of Daily Living (ADL) items, are examined. In
addition, disability prevalence rates are compared to those for older adults living in other
countries in South-east Asia. The results indicate that older Cambodians are more disabled than
their counterparts living elsewhere. Possible reasons include long-term influence of social
disruption and poverty. Women live longer than men, but spend a greater proportion of their
remaining life in states of disability and severe disability. Correlates of disability show that
younger age, being male, having higher income satisfaction, being married and living in urban
areas associate with lower probabilities of reporting disability. A contribution of the analysis is the
examination of a basic measure of health among a population of which little is known.