AS the world’s population hits seven billion, latest statistics from the United Nations Population Fund’s State of the Popul-ation report show the number of Cambodians decreased by five  per cent in the past year.

The report, which was released last Wednesday, puts the total population of Cambodia at 14.3 million – 7 million males and 7.3 million females – compared with 15.1 million in 2010.

It follows the publication last month of Cambodia’s own demographic and health survey for 2010, which found that only 62 per cent of children aged five were officially registered in the Kingdom.

In a break from tradition, the UN has chosen not to recognise an individual baby born yesterday as the seventh billion global citizen, but many countries  honoured a new-born to mark the occasion.

At the time of going to print last night, unconfirmed reports indicated that Cambodia had chosen a child born in the Preah Sihanouk provincial hospital early yesterday morning as the honorary seventh billion citizen.