Timor-Leste

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<p>The island of Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century, it exported sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. The sandalwood trade attracted the Portuguese, who arrived in the early 16th century; by mid-century, they had colonized the island, which was previously ruled by local chieftains. In 1859, Portugal ceded the western portion of the island to the Dutch. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. The eastern part of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, but Indonesian forces invaded and occupied the area nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor or Timor Leste). Indonesia conducted an unsuccessful pacification campaign in the province over the next two decades, during which as many as 250,000 people died. <br><br>In a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, anti-independence Timorese militias -- organized and supported by the Indonesian military -- began a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution, killing approximately 1,400 Timorese and displacing nearly 500,000. Most of the country's infrastructure was destroyed, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, schools, and most of the electrical grid. Australian-led peacekeeping troops eventually deployed to the country and ended the violence. In 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.</p> <p>In 2006, Australia and the UN had to step in again to stabilize the country, which allowed presidential and parliamentary elections to be conducted in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In 2008, rebels staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. Since that attack, Timor-Leste has made considerable progress in building stability and democratic institutions, holding a series of successful parliamentary and presidential elections since 2012. Nonetheless, weak and unstable political coalitions have led to periodic episodes of stalemate and crisis. The UN continues to provide assistance on economic development and strengthening governing institutions. Currently, Timor-Leste is one of the world's poorest nations, with an economy that relies heavily on energy resources in the Timor Sea.</p>

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Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

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8 50 S, 125 55 E

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Southeast Asia

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slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland

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706 km

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tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

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mountainous

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gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

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350 sq km (2012)

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most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili

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floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones

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the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands; the district of Oecussi is an exclave separated from Timor-Leste proper by Indonesia; Timor-Leste is the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere

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Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority

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Tetun Prasa 30.6%, Mambai 16.6%, Makasai 10.5%, Tetun Terik 6.1%, Baikenu 5.9%, Kemak 5.8%, Bunak 5.5%, Tokodede 4%, Fataluku 3.5%, Waima'a 1.8%, Galoli 1.4%, Naueti 1.4%, Idate 1.2%, Midiki 1.2%, other 4.5% (2015 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by mother tongue; Tetun and Portuguese are official languages; Indonesian and English are working languages; there are about 32 indigenous languages

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Catholic 90.7%, other 7.1%, Protestant Evangelical 1.9%; less than 1%: Islam, Buddhist, Hindu (2022 est.)

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1.28% (2025 est.)

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23.39 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili

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281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

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23 years (2016 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

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192 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.79 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.35 (2025 est.)

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0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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3.8% (2016)

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31.9% (2020 est.)

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56.4% (2022 est.)

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one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines

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air pollution and deterioration of air quality; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; deforestation and soil erosion from slash-and-burn agriculture; loss of biodiversity

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tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

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20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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8.215 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay

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semi-presidential republic

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12 municipalities (<em>municipios</em>, singular - <em>municipio</em>) and 1 special adminstrative region* (<em>regiao administrativa especial</em>); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque

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<strong>note:</strong> administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses

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civil law system based on the Portuguese model

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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17 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections

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Democratic Party or PD <br>National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT <br>National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) <br>People's Liberation Party or PLP <br>Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN

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ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

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28 November 1975 (from Portugal); 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)

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Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

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<strong>description:</strong> red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> yellow stands for past colonialism, black for obscurantism that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom; the white star represents peace and a guiding light

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Mount Ramelau

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red, yellow, black, white

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lower middle-income Southeast Asian economy; government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns; endemic corruption undermines growth; foreign aid-dependent; wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$1.881 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, pork, beans, coffee (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

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-57% (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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615,900 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 46%, Singapore 25%, Japan 15%, Indonesia 5%, USA 3% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, scrap iron, telephones (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Indonesia 34%, China 26%, Singapore 9%, Taiwan 5%, India 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, rice, cars, plastic products, trucks (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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<p>the US dollar is used</p>

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7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage;&nbsp;2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)

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.tl

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4W

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11 (2025)

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2 (2025)

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Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Air Force Component, Naval Component<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)

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approximately 2,000 Defense Forces&nbsp; (2025)

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the military is lightly armed with a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)

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the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) has both external defense and internal security roles; it also engages in national development missions, international peacekeeping, and regional security cooperation; the F-FDTL has ties with a variety of partners, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2025)