Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
0 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.tl
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
35.04% (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
116 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
1.63 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, pork, beans, coffee (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.826 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.877 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$2.390 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$1.106 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$224.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$533.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$339.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$191.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$450.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$487.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$1.985 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$408.059 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$177.336 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$529.738 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$287.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$238.042 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
United States dollar
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, scrap iron, telephones (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$66.8 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$66.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$48.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$51.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$38.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$45.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$431.2 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$793.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$2.302 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.858 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$701.808 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$278.047 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
22.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
52.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
70% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-66.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
17.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
3.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
16.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
23.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
61% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,423 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.881 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$6.195 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, cars, plastic products, trucks (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.110 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$906.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$937.6 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$891.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$963.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.004 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.040 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.318 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.286 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.169 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.197 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-57% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.55% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-1.34% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.56% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.64% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.96% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.50% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.01% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.42% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.06% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
615,900 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
41.80% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$3.380 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$3.745 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$4.165 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$4.335 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$5.928 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$8.131 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$9.215 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$7.322 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.995 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.863 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.48% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.01% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-3.18% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-0.47% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
24.21% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
31.73% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.37% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-20.52% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-18.14% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-2.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,860 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,108 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,391 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,463 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$4,557 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$6,132 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$6,825 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,730 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,807 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$33.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$43.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$61.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$95.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$150.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
9.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
11.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$437.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$281.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$544.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$673.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$656.2 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$667.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$980.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$830.81 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$781.995 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$736.967 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.15% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
2.81% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
2.34% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
1.54% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
1.52% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
1.52% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
3.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
3.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
100%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
99.7% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
277,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
23% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
71% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
8.215 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
99 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
28.66% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
63,900 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.5% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland
Geography: Area: land
14,874 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
706 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
350 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Indonesia 253 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
253 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
23% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
71% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Southeast Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones
Geography: Population distribution
most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili
Geography: Terrain
mountainous
Government: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
8 35 S, 125 36 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Timor-Leste
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Government: Country name: local long form
Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Government: Country name: local short form
Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
(670) 331-3206
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@timorlesteembassy.org
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 966-3205
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 966-3202
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
April 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022
Government: 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: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
May 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
5/21/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
65 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
35.4%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: 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
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, black, white
Government: National holiday
Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Government: National symbol(s)
Mount Ramelau
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.32% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.60% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.61% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.32% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.69% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.78% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.08% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.38% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.65% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.66% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
38.7% (male 299,929/female 283,416)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
56.8% (male 418,493/female 437,727)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.5% (2024 est.) (male 32,243/female 35,101)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
23.39 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.2% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
2.6% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
14.9% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
31.9% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.60% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
12.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
62 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
54.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 87% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 13% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
4.3% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.24% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.35 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
11.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
28.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
34.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
69.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
71.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
73.1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
69.40% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
192 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
21.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.8 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
23 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Timorese
People and Society: Net migration rate
-3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
3.8% (2016)
People and Society: People - note
one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines
People and Society: Physician density
0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
1,400,638 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.17% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
710,845
People and Society: Population: male
693,940
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 73.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 26.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.92 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
8.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
62.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
36.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.63 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
28.66% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
11 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4W
Transportation: Heliports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
other 1
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
1 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Dili
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.