Imago Mundi
 

The World Factbook CIA Home CIA Home About CIA Careers Offices of CIA News & Information Library Kid’s Page Contact CIA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

         
  Timor-Leste  
Flag of Timor-Leste
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Timor-Leste
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Timor-Leste from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. Timor-Leste 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-Leste. 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. 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 western 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, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. A military strike led to violence and a near breakdown of law and order in late April 2006. Over 2,000 Australian, New Zealand, and Portuguese police and peacekeepers deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. Although many of the peacekeepers were replaced by UN police officers, 780 Australian soldiers remained as of November 2007.
   Geography    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
706 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mountainous
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Climate Change, Desertification
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,084,971
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 35.7% (male 196,825/female 190,454)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 337,816/female 325,094)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 16,823/female 17,959) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 21.1 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.059% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
26.77 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.033 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.039 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.937 male(s)/female
total population: 1.034 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 44.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 66.6 years
male: 64.28 years
female: 69.04 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.45 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
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
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2002)
   Government    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT 24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic Alliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party - FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, ARF, AsDB, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Nelson SANTOS
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: 202 966-3202
FAX: 202 966-3205
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM
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
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of Timor-Leste 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. The technology-intensive industry, however, 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 Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations; the Fund held assets of US$1.8 billion as of September 2007. The mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest disrupted both private and public sector economic activity. Real non-oil GDP growth in 2006 probably was negative. 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 reduce poverty. The new government in late 2007 announced plans aimed at increasing spending, reducing poverty, and improving the country's infrastructure, but continues to face capacity challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$370 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$349 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 23.1%
services: 68.4% (2004)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
42% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4% (2005)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $733 million
expenditures: $309 million
note: the government passed a transitional budget to cover the latter half of 2007 and has moved the fiscal cycle to a calendar year, starting with the budget they passed for 2008 (FY06/07 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
94,420 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Indonesia (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$202 million (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$184.7 million (2005 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,500 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
49,100 (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban areas
domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban areas
international: country code - 670; international service is available in major urban centers
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
at least 21 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster and 20 community and church radio stations - frequency type NA)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (Timor-Leste has one national public broadcaster)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
94 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,000 (2004)
   Transportation    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
9 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6,040 km
paved: 2,600 km
unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Dili
   Military    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 235,198
females age 18-49: 223,069 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 179,422
females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 12,740
females age 18-49: 12,438 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
   Transnational Issues    Timor-Leste Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with Australian claims in the south; many refugees who left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and Timor-Leste 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
IDPs: 150,000 (2006)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
NA

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Bottom Banner