2020 Edition

Background

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 as many as 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.

Area

land

14,874 sq km

total

14,874 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Coastline

706 km

Elevation

highest point

Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

lowest point

Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

350 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Indonesia 253 km

total

253 km

Land use

agricultural land

23% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)

forest

71% (2023 est.)

other

6% (2023 est.)

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

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

mountainous

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

23.39 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

1.2% (2016)

women married by age 15

2.6% (2016)

women married by age 18

14.9% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31.9% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.4% (2022 est.)

Death rate

6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.7 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

12.9 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

62 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

54.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 13% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

4.3% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.35 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

28.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

41.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.3 years

male

68.9 years

total population

70.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

71.8% (2022 est.)

male

73.1% (2022 est.)

total population

72.5% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

21.3 years

male

19.8 years

total

23 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23 years (2016 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Timorese

noun

Timorese

Net migration rate

-3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.8% (2016)

People - note

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

Physician density

0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

710,845

male

693,940

total

1,404,785 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.28% (2025 est.)

Religions

Catholic 90.7%, other 7.1%, Protestant Evangelical 1.9%; less than 1%: Islam, Buddhist, Hindu (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 73.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 26.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

8.9% (2025 est.)

male

62.6% (2025 est.)

total

36.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.79 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

8 35 S, 125 36 E

name

Dili

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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

history

drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

conventional short form

Timor-Leste

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"

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

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)

email address and website

ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili

FAX

(670) 331-3206

mailing address

8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250

telephone

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)

email address and website

info@timorlesteembassy.org

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3205

telephone

[1] (202) 966-3202

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president

chief of state

President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 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%

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

expected date of next election

April 2027

head of government

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)

most recent election date

19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022

Flag

description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left 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 meaning: 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

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN, 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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

May 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Parliament

most recent election date

5/21/2023

number of seats

65 (all directly elected)

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%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

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

lyrics/music

Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO

title

"Patria" (Fatherland)

National color(s)

red, yellow, black, white

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Mount Ramelau

Political parties

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

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.826 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$1.877 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$408.059 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$177.336 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$529.738 million (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$238.042 million (2023 est.)

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2022

$1.858 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$701.808 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$278.047 million (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

22.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

52.9% (2023 est.)

household consumption

70% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-66.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

3.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.9% (2023 est.)

industry

23.9% (2023 est.)

services

61% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.881 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$1.286 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.169 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$1.197 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

-57% (2023 est.)

Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

615,900 (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$7.322 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.995 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.863 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-20.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-18.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-2.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$4,200 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

9.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

11.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$830.81 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$781.995 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$736.967 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

1.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.7% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

3.7% (2024 est.)

male

3.2% (2024 est.)

total

3.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

277,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

99.7% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

exports

521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total

0 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.tl

Internet users

percent of population

34% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

2,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

116 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

1.63 million (2024 est.)

Airports

11 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4W

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

other 1

total

1 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Dili

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

0

small

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

0

Military - note

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)

Military and security forces

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)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military is lightly armed with a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

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

total emissions

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

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

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

Particulate matter emissions

20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8.215 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

99 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

63,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.5% (2022 est.)