Map of Timor-Leste | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: 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

Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 14,874 km²
Land: 14,874 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland
Country comparison total: 253 km
Country comparison border countries: (1) Indonesia 253 km

Land boundaries
Total: 253 km
Border countries: (1) Indonesia 253 km

Coastline: 706 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain: mountainous

Elevation
Highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use
Agricultural land: 25.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 49.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 25.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 350 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 8.22 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones

Geography
Note: 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 has the unique distinction of being the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere


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Population
Distribution: most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili
Total: 1,506,909
Male: 750,665
Female: 756,244 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.04% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 41.8% (2014 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Timorese
Adjective: Timorese

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

Languages: 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.)
Note: data represent population by mother tongue; Tetun and Portuguese are official languages; Indonesian and English are working languages; there are about 32 indigenous languages

Religions: Roman Catholic 97.6%, Protestant/Evangelical 2%, Muslim 0.2%, other 0.2% (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 299,929/female 283,416)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 418,493/female 437,727)
65 years and over: 4.5% (2024 est.) (male 32,243/female 35,101)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 90.3
Youth dependency ratio: 59.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.9
Potential support ratio: 11.2 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.8 years
Female: 21.3 years

Population growth rate: 2.04% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 29.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili

Urbanization
Urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 20.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 4.74 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 23 years (2016 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 204 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.9 years
Female: 72.3 years

Total fertility rate: 3.98 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 26.1% (2016)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98% of population
Unimproved rural: 17.5% of population
Unimproved total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 2% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 88.7% of population
Improved rural: 56.1% of population
Improved total: 66.3% of population
Unimproved urban: 11.3% of population
Unimproved rural: 43.9% of population
Unimproved total: 33.7% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 3.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 39.2% (2020 est.)
Male: 67.6% (2020 est.)
Female: 10.8% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 31.9% (2020)

Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 68.1%
Male: 71.9%
Female: 64.2% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Conventional short form: Timor-Leste
Local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Local short form: Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Etymology: timor' derives from the Indonesian and Malay word 'timur' meaning 'east'; 'leste' is the Portuguese word for 'east', so 'Timor-Leste' literally means 'Eastern-East'; the local [Tetum] name 'Timor Lorosa'e' translates as 'East Rising Sun'
Note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay

Government type: semi-presidential republic

Capital
Name: Dili
Geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
Time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (municipios, singular municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque
Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Dependent areas

Independence: 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)
Note: 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

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

Constitution
History: drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
Amendments: proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum

Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Note: penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the President of the Republic
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 19 March 2022 with a runoff on 19 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2,027); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
Election results: 2022: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9%; 2017: Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%
Note: the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 21 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2,028)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - CNRT 41.5%, FRETILIN 25.8%, PD 9.3%, KHUNTO 7.5%, PLP 6%, other 9.9%; seats by party - CNRT 31, FRETILIN 19, PD 6, KHUNTO 5, PLP 4; composition - men 40, women 25, percentage women 38.5%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)
Judge selection and term of office: court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Note: the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 and being rolled out in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reforms

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD , National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT , National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) , People's Liberation Party or PLP , Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN

International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)
In the us chancery: 4,201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 966-3,202
In the us fax: [1] (202) 966-3,205
In the us email address and website: info@timorlesteembassy.org
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Chargé d'Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2023)
From the us embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
From the us mailing address: 8,250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20,521-8,250
From the us telephone: (670) 332-4,684, (670) 330-2,400
From the us fax: (670) 331-3,206
From the us email address and website: ConsDili@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past, black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome, red stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light

National symbols: Mount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white

National anthem
Name: 'Patria' (Fatherland)
Lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
Note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Francisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared

National heritage


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Economy overview: 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $6.265 billion (2023 est.); $7.316 billion (2022 est.); $9.207 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: -14.36% (2023 est.); -20.54% (2022 est.); 5.32% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $4,600 (2023 est.); $5,500 (2022 est.); $7,000 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 42.5% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 33.1% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 10% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.6% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 55.7% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -42% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.2% (2022 est.)
Industry: 53.8% (2022 est.)
Services: 37.2% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, coffee, beans, pork (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate: -46.25% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 597,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 1.52% (2023 est.); 1.54% (2022 est.); 2.34% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 41.8% (2014 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.877 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $1.684 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 21.67% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 3.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.96% (2019 est.); 2.29% (2018 est.); 0.52% (2017 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$227.62 million (2023 est.); $256.151 million (2022 est.); $1.328 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $701.808 million (2023 est.); $1.858 billion (2022 est.); $2.772 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 25%, Indonesia 20%, Japan 14%, South Korea 13%, Thailand 7% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, coffee, natural gas, beer, construction vehicles (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.179 billion (2023 est.); $1.405 billion (2022 est.); $1.298 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Indonesia 27%, China 23%, Singapore 9%, Australia 6%, Malaysia 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, rice, cars, coal, cranes (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $781.995 million (2023 est.); $830.81 million (2022 est.); $934.781 million (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $207.551 million (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 100%
Access electrification rural areas: 100%
Installed generating capacity: 283,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 414.76 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 100 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 122,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 2.925 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 2.925 billion m³ (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 637,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 637,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 6.497 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.481 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Joint Headquarters with Land, Air, Naval, Service Support, and Education/Training components; Ministry of Interior: National Police (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2024)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; compulsory service was authorized in 2020 for men and women aged 18-30 for 18 months of service, but the level of implementation is unclear (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4W

Airports: 10 (2024)

Heliports: 2 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 6,040 km
Paved: 2,600 km
Unpaved: 3,440 km (2008)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: NA