Background: The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. A campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999 in a UN-supervised popular referendum the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During 1999-2001 pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002 East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.

Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S 125 55 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 15,007 km²
Land: NA km²
Water: NA km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries
Total: 228 km
Border countries: (1) Indonesia 228 km

Coastline: 706 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: NA NM
Extended fishing zone: NA NM
Territorial sea: NA NM
Exclusive fishing zone: NA NM
Continental shelf: NA NM
Exclusive economic zone: NA NM

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

Terrain: mountainous

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Natural resources: gold petroleum natural gas manganese marble

Land use
Arable land: NA%
Other: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%

Irrigated land: 1065 km² (est.)

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

Geography
Note: Timor comes from the Malay word for 'Orient;' the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands

Population
Note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 2.13% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: 42% (2002 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Timorese
Adjective: Timorese

Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) Papuan small Chinese minority

Languages
Note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people

Religions: Roman Catholic 90% Muslim 4% Protestant 3% Hindu 0.5% Buddhist Animist (1992 est.)

Age structure: NA (2003 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.7 years
Female: 19.6 years (2002)
Male: 19.8 years

Population growth rate: 2.13% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 27.75 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 6.41 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

Environment
Current issues: widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
International agreements: NA

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male/female
Total population: 1.04 male/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 50.47 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 43.55 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 57.05 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 65.2 years
Female: 67.55 years (2003 est.)
Male: 62.97 years

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 48% (2001)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

Country name
Conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Conventional short form: East Timor
Local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Former: Portuguese Timor
Local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Government type: republic

Capital: Dili

Administrative divisions: 13 administrative districts; Aileu Ainaro Baucau Bobonaro (Maliana) Cova-Lima (Suai) Dili Ermera Lautem (Los Palos) Liquica Manatuto Manufahi (Same) Oecussi (Ambeno) Viqueque

Independence: 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

National holiday: Independence Day 28 November (1975)

Constitution: 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Legal system: UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation; he often is referred to as Xanana GUSMAO
Head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
Cabinet: Council of State
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future
Election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)
Election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]

International organization participation: AsDB IBRD ICCt IDA IMF Interpol UN WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
In the us consulates general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2003)
In the us fax: 202 965-1517
In the us telephone: 202 965-1515
In the us chancery: 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20,007
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
From the us embassy: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
From the us mailing address: Department of State, 8,250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20,521-8,250
From the us telephone: (670) 332-4,684, 331-3,205/3,160/3,472
From the us fax: (670) 331-3,206

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; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle

Economy overview: In late 1999 about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years however a massive international program manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1300 police officers led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002 all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project is the planned development of oil resources in nearby waters.

Real gdp growth rate: 18% (2001 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 25.4%
Industry: 17.2%
Services: 57.4% (2001)

Agriculture products: coffee rice maize cassava sweet potatoes soybeans cabbage mangoes bananas vanilla

Industries: printing soap manufacturing handicrafts woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate: 8.5%

Labor force: NA
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 50% (including underemployment)

Population below poverty line: 42% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index: 38 (2002 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $36 million
Expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

Exports: $8 million (2001 est.)
Commodities: coffee sandalwood marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Partners: NA

Imports: $237 million (2001 est.)
Commodities: mainly food (2001)
Partners: NA

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: see US dollar

Electricity
Production: NA kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: NA kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 0 kWh (2001)

Telephones
Main lines in use: NA
Mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: NA

Internet
Country code: .tp
Service providers isps: NA
Users: NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $4.4 million (FY03)
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 8 (2002)
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2427 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
With unpaved runways total: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Heliports: 1 (2002)

Pipelines: NA

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: NA

Merchant marine
Total: NA
Ships by type: NA

Disputes international: East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to survey and delimit the land boundary; some East Timor refugees delay return from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitation and resource-sharing agreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over 'Timor Gap' hydrocarbon reserves but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaits further discussions

Illicit drugs: NA