Timor-Leste

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 an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died.

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.

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.

8 50 S, 125 55 E

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

slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland

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

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

706 km

Total: 253 km

Border countries (1): Indonesia 253 km

Agricultural land: 23% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 7.5% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 5.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 10.1% (2022 est.)

Forest: 61.8% (2022 est.)

Other: 15.3% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

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

mountainous

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

Southeast Asia

350 sq km (2012)

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

Highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

8.22 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total : 14,874 sq km

Land: 14,874 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

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)

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.)

Total population: 65.8% (2016 est.)

Male: 72.2% (2016 est.)

Female: 59.6% (2016 est.)

Noun: Timorese

Adjective: Timorese

Urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 87% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 13% of population (2022 est.)

281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

23 years (2016 est.)

Note: Data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Total dependency ratio: 63.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 56.1 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 13 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 73.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 26.3% of population (2022 est.)

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

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

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

11.4% of GDP (2021)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Women married by age 15: 2.6% (2016)

Women married by age 18: 14.9% (2016)

Men married by age 18: 1.2% (2016)

1.92 (2024 est.)

55.9% (2023 est.)

Total: 3.4% (2024 est.)

Male: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Female: 3.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 20.6 years (2024 est.)

Male: 19.8 years

Female: 21.3 years

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

3.98 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 1,506,909 (2024 est.)

Male: 750,665

Female: 756,244

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

Total: 36.1% (2025 est.)

Male: 62.6% (2025 est.)

Female: 8.9% (2025 est.)

3.8% (2016)

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

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

31.9% (2020)

Total: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 68.9 years

Female: 72.3 years

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

7.5% national budget (2021 est.)

2.04% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 63,900 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.5% (2022 est.)

20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since 22 February 2025)

Embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili

Mailing address: 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250

Telephone: (670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400

FAX: (670) 331-3206

Email address and website:
ConsDili@state.gov

https://tl.usembassy.gov/

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 show the administrative center name in parentheses

Name: Dili

Geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E

Time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History: Drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002

Amendment process: 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

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

Election/appointment process: President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister

Most recent election date: 19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022

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%

Expected date of next election: April 2027

Note: the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections

red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist 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; 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

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

Highest court(s): 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

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislature name: National Parliament

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 5/21/2023

Parties elected and seats per party: National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT) (31); Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) (19); Democratic Party (PD) (6); Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) (5); People's Liberation Party (PLP) (4)

Percentage of women in chamber: 35.4%

Expected date of next election: May 2028

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

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

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

17 years of age; universal

semi-presidential republic

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: The name partly derives from the Indonesian and Malay word timur, meaning "east;" leste is the Portuguese word for "east," so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"

Note: Pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay

Chief of mission: Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)

Chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202

FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205

Email address and website:
Info@timorlesteembassy.org

Title: "Patria" (Fatherland)

Lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO

History: 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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Mount Ramelau

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

red, yellow, black, white

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

the US dollar is used

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

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

$1.881 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 70% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 52.9% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 17.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 22.9% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -66.4% (2023 est.)

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

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

11.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
9.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

615,900 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$238.042 million (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$736.967 million (2024 est.)
$781.995 million (2023 est.)
$830.81 million (2022 est.)

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

1.7% (2024 est.)
1.6% (2023 est.)
1.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$5.863 billion (2024 est.)
$5.995 billion (2023 est.)
$7.322 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

2.1% (2024 est.)
8.4% (2023 est.)
7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$529.738 million (2024 est.)
-$177.336 million (2023 est.)
$408.059 million (2022 est.)

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

$4,200 (2024 est.)
$4,300 (2023 est.)
$5,300 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$1.197 billion (2024 est.)
$1.169 billion (2023 est.)
$1.286 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$278.047 million (2024 est.)
$701.808 million (2023 est.)
$1.858 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

-2.2% (2024 est.)
-18.1% (2023 est.)
-20.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-57% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 16.9% (2023 est.)

Industry: 23.9% (2023 est.)

Services: 61% (2023 est.)

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

Electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 100%

Electrification - rural areas: 100%

Imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 277,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 34% (2023 est.)

.tl

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

Total subscriptions: 1.56 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2022 est.)

Total: 0 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

4W

11 (2025)

Total: 1 (2023)

By type: Other 1

2 (2025)

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)

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Air Force Component, Naval Component

Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)

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)

approximately 2,000 Defense Forces  (2025)

the military is lightly armed and has a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2024)

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

Total ports: 1 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 1

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 0

Key ports: Dili