2013 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2013 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
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 Portuguese 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 Timor Timur (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 Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, 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 western Timor as refugees. Most 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, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president. In late 2012, the UN Security Council voted to end its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country by the end of the year.
Geography
Area
- 14,874 sq km 14,874 sq km 0 sq km
- total
- 14,874 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Coastline
706 km
Elevation extremes
- Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
- 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
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification none of the selected agreements
- party to
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
- signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
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
Irrigated land
346.5 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries
- 228 km Indonesia 228 km
- border countries
- Indonesia 228 km
- total
- 228 km
Land use
- 10.09% 4.03% 85.88% (2011)
- arable land
- 10.09%
- other
- 85.88% (2011)
- permanent crops
- 4.03%
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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
- 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm
- contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- exclusive fishing zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural hazards
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones
Natural resources
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Terrain
mountainous
People and Society
Age structure
- 42.7% (male 257,340/female 243,174) 19.7% (male 116,605/female 114,203) 29.3% (male 166,048/female 177,024) 4.8% (male 28,717/female 27,011) 3.6% (male 20,428/female 21,840) (2013 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 42.7% (male 257,340/female 243,174)
- 15-24 years
- 19.7% (male 116,605/female 114,203)
- 25-54 years
- 29.3% (male 166,048/female 177,024)
- 55-64 years
- 4.8% (male 28,717/female 27,011)
- 65 years and over
- 3.6% (male 20,428/female 21,840) (2013 est.)
Birth rate
34.85 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Child labor - children ages 5-14
- 10,510 4 % (2002 est.)
- percentage
- 4 % (2002 est.)
- total number
- 10,510
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
45.3% (2010)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
22.3% (2009/10)
Death rate
6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Dependency ratios
- 96.3 % 89.9 % 6.4 % 15.5 (2013)
- elderly dependency ratio
- 6.4 %
- potential support ratio
- 15.5 (2013)
- total dependency ratio
- 96.3 %
- youth dependency ratio
- 89.9 %
Drinking water source
- urban: 91% of population rural: 60% of population total: 69% of population urban: 9% of population rural: 40% of population total: 31% of population (2010 est.)
- rural
- 40% of population
- total
- 31% of population (2010 est.)
- urban
- 9% of population
Education expenditures
10.1% of GDP (2011)
Ethnic groups
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Health expenditures
5.1% of GDP (2011)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Hospital bed density
5.9 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Infant mortality rate
- 40.09 deaths/1,000 live births 43.23 deaths/1,000 live births 36.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
- female
- 36.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
- total
- 40.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by a significant portion of the population
Life expectancy at birth
- 67.06 years 65.57 years 68.65 years (2013 est.)
- female
- 68.65 years (2013 est.)
- total population
- 67.06 years
Literacy
- age 15 and over can read and write 58.3% 63.6% 53% (2010 est.)
- definition
- age 15 and over can read and write
- female
- 53% (2010 est.)
- male
- 63.6%
- total population
- 58.3%
Major infectious diseases
- very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria (2013)
- degree of risk
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases
- dengue fever and malaria (2013)
Major urban areas - population
DILI (capital) 166,000 (2009)
Maternal mortality rate
300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Median age
- 18.4 years 17.8 years 19 years (2013 est.)
- female
- 19 years (2013 est.)
- male
- 17.8 years
- total
- 18.4 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.1 Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010 est.)
Nationality
- Timorese Timorese
- adjective
- Timorese
- noun
- Timorese
Net migration rate
-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
2.7% (2008)
Physicians density
0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Population
1,172,390 other estimates range as low as 800,000
Population growth rate
2.47% (2013 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
Sanitation facility access
- urban: 73% of population rural: 37% of population total: 47% of population urban: 27% of population rural: 63% of population total: 53% of population (2010 est.)
- rural
- 63% of population
- total
- 53% of population (2010 est.)
- urban
- 27% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- 12 years (2009)
- total
- 12 years (2009)
Sex ratio
- 1.07 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- at birth
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- total population
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.22 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Urbanization
- 28.3% of total population (2011) 4.25% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- rate of urbanization
- 4.25% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- urban population
- 28.3% of total population (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Capital
- Dili 8 35 S, 125 36 E UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- geographic coordinates
- 8 35 S, 125 36 E
- name
- Dili
- time difference
- UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002 (2013)
Country name
- Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay) Timor-Leste Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] East Timor, Portuguese Timor
- conventional long form
- Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay)
- conventional short form
- Timor-Leste
- former
- East Timor, 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]
Diplomatic representation from the US
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott TICKNOR Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 (670) 332-4684 (670) 331-3206
- chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott TICKNOR
- embassy
- Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
- FAX
- (670) 331-3206
- mailing address
- US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
- telephone
- (670) 332-4684
Diplomatic representation in the US
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Julio da Costa FREITAS (since 16 July 2013) 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-3202 [1] (202) 966-3205
- chancery
- 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
- chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Julio da Costa FREITAS (since 16 July 2013)
- FAX
- [1] (202) 966-3205
- telephone
- [1] (202) 966-3202
Executive branch
- President Taur Matan RUAK (Jose Maria de VASCONCELOS) (since 20 May 2012); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is the commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007); note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO (since 8 August 2012) Council of Ministers the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); an election was held on 17 March 2012 with a run-off on 16 April 2012; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister Taur Matan RUAK elected president in 2012; percent of second-round vote - Taur Matan RUAK 61.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 38.8%
- cabinet
- Council of Ministers
- chief of state
- President Taur Matan RUAK (Jose Maria de VASCONCELOS) (since 20 May 2012); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is the commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
- election results
- Taur Matan RUAK elected president in 2012; percent of second-round vote - Taur Matan RUAK 61.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 38.8%
- elections
- the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); an election was held on 17 March 2012 with a run-off on 16 April 2012; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
- head of government
- Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007); note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO (since 8 August 2012)
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
Government type
republic
Independence
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president and NA judges) note - the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 and in 2008, is helping strengthen the country's justice system Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other Supreme Court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament, and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body presided by the Supreme Court president and includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other Supreme Court judge tenure NA Court of Appeal; district courts; magistrates' courts
- highest court(s)
- Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president and NA judges)
- judge selection and term of office
- Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other Supreme Court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament, and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body presided by the Supreme Court president and includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other Supreme Court judge tenure NA
- subordinate courts
- Court of Appeal; district courts; magistrates' courts
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
Legislative branch
- unicameral National Parliament (the number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms in a modified proportional representation system) elections were held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) percent of vote by party - CNRT 36%, FRETILIN 30%, PD 10%, Frenti-Mudanca 3%, others 21%; seats by party - CNRT 30, FRETILIN 25, PD 8, Frenti-Mudanca 2
- election results
- percent of vote by party - CNRT 36%, FRETILIN 30%, PD 10%, Frenti-Mudanca 3%, others 21%; seats by party - CNRT 30, FRETILIN 25, PD 8, Frenti-Mudanca 2
- elections
- elections were held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)
National anthem
- "Patria" (Fatherland) Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Fransisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared
- lyrics/music
- Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
- name
- "Patria" (Fatherland)
National holiday
Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO] Frenti-Mudanca [Jose Luis GUTERRES] National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO] Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI] (only parties in Parliament are listed)
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
coffee, rice, corn, cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Budget
- $1.5 billion $1.6 billion (2012 est.)
- expenditures
- $1.6 billion (2012 est.)
- revenues
- $1.5 billion
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-1.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.21% (31 December 2012 est.) 11.04% (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance
$2.384 billion (2011 est.) $1.161 billion (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
31.9 (2007 est.) 38 (2002 est.)
Economy - overview
Since its 1999 independence, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore waters has greatly supplemented government revenues. This technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs for the unemployed in part because there are no production facilities in Timor-Leste. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of US$9.3 billion as of December 2011. The economy continues to recover from the mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest, which disrupted both private and public sector economic activity. Government spending increased markedly from 2009 through 2012, primarily on basic infrastructure, including electricity and roads. Limited experience in procurement and infrastructure building has hampered these projects. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty. Timor-Leste had a balanced budget in 2012 with government expenditures of $1.7 billion focusing on development of public infrastructure. On the strength of its oil-wealth, the economy has achieved real growth of approximately 10% per year for the last several years, among the highest sustained growth rates in the world.
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Exports
$34.1 million (2011 est.) $34.1 million (2011 est.) excludes oil
Exports - commodities
oil, coffee, sandalwood, marble potential for vanilla exports
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition, by end use
- 12.1% 20.9% 14.6% 2.8% 79.6% -30% (2012 est.)
- exports of goods and services
- 79.6%
- government consumption
- 20.9%
- household consumption
- 12.1%
- imports of goods and services
- -30%
- investment in fixed capital
- 14.6%
- investment in inventories
- 2.8%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- 2.8% 83.2% 13.9% (2012 est.)
- agriculture
- 2.8%
- industry
- 83.2%
- services
- 13.9% (2012 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$20,100 (2012 est.) $19,100 (2011 est.) $17,600 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - real growth rate
8.3% (2012 est.) 12% (2011 est.) 9.5% (2010 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$6.215 billion non-oil GDP (2012 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$23.19 billion (2012 est.) $21.42 billion (2011 est.) $19.12 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars
Household income or consumption by percentage share
- 4% 27% (2007)
- highest 10%
- 27% (2007)
- lowest 10%
- 4%
Imports
$689 million (2011 est.) $378 million (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
Industrial production growth rate
5.5% (2012 est.)
Industries
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
11.8% (2012 est.) 13.5% (2011 est.)
Labor force
418,200 (2009)
Labor force - by occupation
- 64% 10% 26% (2010)
- agriculture
- 64%
- industry
- 10%
- services
- 26% (2010)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
41% (2009 est.)
Stock of broad money
$386.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) $322.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$-681 million (31 December 2012 est.) $-280 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$205.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) $162.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
24.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
Unemployment rate
18.4% (2010 est.) 20% (2006 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
211,100 Mt (2011 est.)
Crude oil - exports
87,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
79,490 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Electricity - consumption
67.59 million kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - production
131.7 million kWh (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 es)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
2,755 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
1,264 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Communications
Broadcast media
1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; 1 commercial TV broadcast station, 3 commercial radio stations, and roughly 20 community radio stations (2012)
Internet country code
.tl
Internet hosts
252 (2012)
Internet users
2,100 (2009)
Telephone system
- rudimentary service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas country code - 670; international service is available (2012)
- domestic
- system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas
- general assessment
- rudimentary service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors
- international
- country code - 670; international service is available (2012)
Telephones - main lines in use
3,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
621,000 (2012)
Transportation
Airports
6 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 1 (2013)
- 2,438 to 3,047 m
- 1
- total
- 2
Airports - with unpaved runways
- 2 (2013)
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 2
- total
- 4
Heliports
8 (2013)
Merchant marine
- passenger/cargo 1 (2010)
- total
- 1
Ports and terminals
Dili
Roadways
- 6,040 km 2,600 km 3,440 km (2005)
- total
- 6,040 km
- unpaved
- 3,440 km (2005)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
- 305,643 293,052 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 293,052 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 305,643
Manpower fit for military service
- 243,120 251,061 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 251,061 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 243,120
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
- 12,737 12,389 (2010 est.)
- female
- 12,389 (2010 est.)
- male
- 12,737
Military branches
- Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2013)
- Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL))
- Army, Navy (Armada) (2013)
Military expenditures
NA
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-month service obligation; no conscription but, as of May 2013, introduction of conscription was under discussion (2013)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; many refugees who left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; in 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary
Illicit drugs
NA