2007 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

0-14 years: 36.3% (male 196,293/female 189,956) 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 328,111/female 315,401) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 16,072/female 16,944) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

8 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

5 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Area

land

NA sq km

total

15,007 sq km

water

NA sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

Background

The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East 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. An unsuccessful 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, an overwhelming majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into West Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state. In March of 2006, a military strike led to violence and a near breakdown of law and order. Over 2,000 Australian, New Zealand, and Portuguese police and peacekeepers deployed to East Timor in late May. Although many of the peacekeepers were replaced by UN police officers, 850 Australian soldiers remained as of 1 January 2007. Geography East Timor

Birth rate

26.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$107.7 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

8 35 S, 125 36 E

name

Dili

time difference

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

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 (code)

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$0

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William Gary GRAY

embassy

Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili

mailing address

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

telephone

(670) 332-4684

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio PINTO

telephone

202 966-3202

Disputes - international

UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has maintained about 1,000 peacekeepers in East Timor since 2002; East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey, and delimit the land boundary, but several sections of the boundary especially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which prevents delimitation of the northern maritime boundaries; many refugees who left East Timor in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and East Timor agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Australia has hampered creation of a southern maritime boundary with Indonesia

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$153 million (2004 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 300,000 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 the end of 2005, all refugees either returned or resettled in Indonesia. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters has begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule and above expectations - the result of high petroleum prices - but the technology-intensive industry does little to create jobs for the unemployed, because there are no production facilities in Timor and the gas is piped to Australia. The parliament in June 2005 unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of East Timor's petroleum wealth for future generations.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

NA kWh (2004)

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

the US dollar is used

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections; he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO

election results

Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held 9 April 2007)

head of government

Prime Minister Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 10 July 2006); First Deputy Prime Minister Estanlislau Maria Alexio da SILVA (since 10 July 2006); Second Deputy Prime Minister Rui Maria do ARAUJO (since 10 July 2006)

Exports

$10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Indonesia 100% (2005)

FAX

202 966-3205

(670) 331-3206

consulate(s) general

New York

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

8.5%

industry

23.1%

services

68.4% (2004)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$800 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$349 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$370 million (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Geography - note

Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; 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

9 (2006)

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%

IDPs

150,000 (2006)

Illicit drugs

NA This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$202 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

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

39.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

52.03 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2005)

International organization participation

ACP, ARF, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO

Internet country code

.tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005

Internet hosts

68 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

1,000 (2004) Transportation East Timor

Irrigated land

1,065 sq km (est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 228 km

total

228 km

Land use

arable land

8.2%

other

87.23% (2005)

permanent crops

4.57%

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 remains in place but are to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated

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

(next to be held in May 2007); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention adopted a constitution and named themselves legislators instead of having elections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the national parliament

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.67 years (2006 est.)

male

63.96 years

total population

66.26 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% (2002) Government East Timor

male

NA%

total population

58.6%

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

223,069 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

235,198

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

184,533 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

179,422

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

12,438 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

12,740

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

20.7 years (2006 est.)

male

20.8 years

total

20.8 years

Military branches

East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.4 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA Transnational Issues East Timor

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

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 (2006 est.)

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]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Francisco Guterres Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [Pedro da COSTA]; 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]

Population

1,062,777

note

other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

42% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.08% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Dili Military East Timor

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios

NA

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

Roadways

paved

2,500 km

total

5,000 km

unpaved

2,500 km (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 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

East Timor has a state-run media oversight authority, which oversees at least one television and one radio station.

Televisions

NA

Terrain

mountainous

Total fertility rate

3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)