2003 Edition

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

Age structure

NA (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Airports

8 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,427 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

5 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Area

land

NA sq km

total

15,007 sq km

water

NA sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

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. Geography East Timor

Birth rate

27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)

revenues

$36 million

Capital

Dili

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Coastline

706 km

Constitution

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

conventional short form

East Timor

former

Portuguese Timor

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]

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

IDR

Death rate

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Grover Joseph REES

embassy

Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili

mailing address

Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250

telephone

(670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES

consulate(s) general

New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2003)

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)

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 1,300 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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

NA kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

lowest point

Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

NA

Ethnic groups

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Exchange rates

see US dollar

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State

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

election results

Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)

Exports

$8 million (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners

NA

FAX

202 965-1517

(670) 331-3206

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007

telephone

202 965-1515

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications East Timor

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 East Timor

GDP

purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

25.4%

industry

17.2%

services

57.4% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

18% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

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 People East Timor

Government type

republic

Heliports

1 (2002) Military East Timor

Highways

paved

428 km

total

3,800 km

unpaved

3,372 km (1995)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

NA This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$237 million (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

mainly food (2001)

Imports - partners

NA

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

Industrial production growth rate

8.5%

Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Infant mortality rate

female

43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

57.05 deaths/1,000 live births

total

50.47 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International organization participation

AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO

Internet country code

.tp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

NA Transportation East Timor

Irrigated land

1,065 sq km (est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 228 km

total

228 km

Land use

arable land

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

Languages

Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English

note

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis

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

elections

last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.55 years (2003 est.)

male

62.97 years

total population

65.2 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government East Timor

male

NA%

total population

48% (2001)

Location

Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor 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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

NA NM

continental shelf

NA NM

exclusive economic zone

NA NM

exclusive fishing zone

NA NM

extended fishing zone

NA NM

territorial sea

NA NM

Median age

female

19.6 years (2002)

male

19.8 years

total

19.7 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

NA

total

NA

Military branches

The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.4 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA% Transnational Issues East Timor

Military manpower - availability

NA

Military manpower - fit for military service

NA

Military manpower - military age

18-21 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

NA

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Timorese

noun

Timorese

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Pipelines

NA

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

997,853

note

other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

42% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.13% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios

NA

Railways

0 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Telephone system

NA

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA

Terrain

mountainous

Total fertility rate

3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

50% (including underemployment)

Waterways

NA