Kompong Thom has the population of 776,978, of which 86% are classified as rural. The poverty rate in the province in 2007 was 52.4%. Primary net enrolment rates are 92.3% and primary completion rates 30.4%. Female illiteracy rates are 34.7%.

Agriculture accounts for 69% of economic activity, livestock for 4%, forestry 0.1%, and fisheries 2.5%. Rice is harvested on 122,074 ha with an average yield of 1.4 tons per ha; maize on 857 ha wiht an average yield of 2.4 tons; sesame on 1,108 ha wiht a average yield of 1.2 tons; mung beans on 1,419 ha with an average yield of 1.1 tons; soyabeans on 2,636 ha with an average yield of 1.6 tons; peanuts on 403 ha with an average yield of 1.5 tons; and cassava on 1,135 ha with and average yield of 7.1 tons. Cashew is the major fruit harvested in the province. Small-scale fish catch is 10,000 tons and commercial fish catch 8,800.

The services sector accounts for 3.7%, while industry – 18.6% of the economic activity.