Cambodia's population has increased by almost 2 million over the past decade, rising from 11.4 million in 1998 to 13.4 million in 2008, according to census results released on Monday. Chhay Than, minister of planning and head of the census committee, said: "The results are critical for the overall economic and social development of Cambodia and will be very useful for policy makers as well as local leaders and planners." The percentage of people over the age of 7 who can read and write also rose, from 62.8 percent in 1998 to 78.35 percent in 2008.