In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 20 October 1977
- Birthplace
- Cambodia
- Country
- Cambodia
- Nationality
- Cambodian
- Known for
- Succeeding Hun Sen in 2023 after a career in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
- Prime minister
- From 22 August 2023
- Political party
- Cambodian People’s Party
- Military role
- Former commander of the Royal Cambodian Army
- Education
- West Point, NYU and the University of Bristol
Why this life matters
Hun Manet’s rise links elite education and military command with Cambodia’s first transfer of the premiership in nearly four decades, while leaving the ruling party’s dominance intact.
Timeline
Key moments
Graduated from West Point
Completed the United States Military Academy before postgraduate study in economics.
Became army commander
Took command of the Royal Cambodian Army and continued rising through the armed forces.
Named future CPP candidate
The ruling party endorsed him as its future candidate for prime minister.
Became prime minister
The National Assembly approved his government on 22 August after Hun Sen stepped down.
Education and military command
Hun Manet is the eldest son of Hun Sen and Bun Rany. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999, then earned postgraduate economics degrees from New York University and the University of Bristol.
He built his career in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, eventually commanding the army. That path gave him experience in the institutions most closely associated with state power before he moved into electoral politics.
A managed political succession
The Cambodian People’s Party selected Hun Manet as a future prime-ministerial candidate in 2021. He entered the National Assembly after the 2023 election and became prime minister on 22 August, ending his father’s thirty-eight-year tenure.
The transition changed the generation occupying senior offices but not the governing party. His record is therefore studied both as a personal succession and as a test of whether new leadership alters Cambodia’s tightly concentrated political system.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Hun Manet
- Who is Hun Manet?
- Hun Manet is a prime minister of Cambodia. Hun Manet’s rise links elite education and military command with Cambodia’s first transfer of the premiership in nearly four decades, while leaving the ruling party’s dominance intact.
- What is Hun Manet best known for?
- Hun Manet is best known for succeeding Hun Sen in 2023 after a career in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
- When and where was Hun Manet born?
- Hun Manet was born on 20 October 1977 in Cambodia.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 9 September 2026.
