Timor-Leste - TL - TLS - TLS - East and Southeast Asia

chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Ann WELTON (since 16 July 2024)

embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili

mailing address: 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250

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

FAX: (670) 331-3206

email address and website:
ConsDili@state.gov

https://tl.usembassy.gov/

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)

8 50 S, 125 55 E

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

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

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones

slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; compulsory service was authorized in 2020 for men and women aged 18-30 for 18 months of service, but the level of implementation is unclear (2023)

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 an estimated 100,000 to 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.

air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity

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

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

41.8% (2014 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 4% (2014 est.)

highest 10%: 24% (2014 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Light Air Component, Naval Component

Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)

revenues: $1.877 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $1.684 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

name: Dili

geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

706 km

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

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

the US dollar is used

chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)

cabinet: Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the President of the Republic

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 19 March 2022 with a runoff on 19 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister

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%

note: the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections

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

NA

20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

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

total: 253 km

border countries (1): Indonesia 253 km

agricultural land: 23% (2022 est.)

arable land: 7.5% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 5.4% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 10.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 61.8% (2022 est.)

other: 15.3% (2022 est.)

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

legislature name: National Parliament

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 5/21/2023

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%

expected date of next election: May 2028

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.1%

male: 71.9%

female: 64.2% (2018)

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), 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

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

noun: Timorese

adjective: Timorese

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

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 has the unique distinction of being the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere

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

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

17 years of age; universal

general assessment: Timor-Leste has been moving forward with the regeneration of its economy and rebuilding key infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, that were destroyed during the years of civil unrest; fixed-line and fixed broadband penetration in Timor-Leste remains extremely low, mainly due to the limited fixed-line infrastructure and the proliferation of mobile connectivity; in an effort to boost e-government services; the number of subscribers through to 2026 is expected to develop steadily, though from a low base; by August 2020, Timor-Leste had three telecom service providers who jointly achieved a 98% network coverage nationally; the mobile broadband market is still at an early stage of development, strong growth is predicted over the next five years; at the end of 2020, the government issued new policy guidelines to maximize the use of spectrum in Timor-Leste; it invited mobile operators to submit applications for the allocation of spectrum in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands; in November 2020, the government approved the deployment of a submarine fiber link connecting the south of the country to Australia via the North Western Cable System (NWCS) (2021)

domestic: fixed-line services less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular services is 110 per 100 (2022)

international: country code - 670;  international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS); geostationary earth orbit satellite

mountainous

semi-presidential republic

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

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"

note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay

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

Southeast Asia

350 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)

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

telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202

FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205

email address and website:
info@timorlesteembassy.org

percent of population: 41% (2022 est.)

.tl

$2.08 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)

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

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

improved:

urban: 98% of population

rural: 82.5% of population

total: 87.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2% of population

rural: 17.5% of population

total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Patria" (Fatherland)

lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO

note: 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

281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Mount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white

23 years (2016 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

26.1% (2016)

household consumption: 70% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 52.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 22.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -66.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 63.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 56.1 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 13 (2024 est.)

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

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

electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 100%

electrification - rural areas: 100%

4W

improved:

urban: 88.7% of population

rural: 56.1% of population

total: 66.3% of population

unimproved:

urban: 11.3% of population

rural: 43.9% of population

total: 33.7% of population (2020 est.)

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

Roman Catholic 97.6%, Protestant/Evangelical 2%, Muslim 0.2%, other 0.2% (2015 est.)

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.)

note: data represent population by mother tongue; Tetun and Portuguese are official languages; Indonesian and English are working languages; there are about 32 indigenous languages

highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

11.4% of GDP (2021)

the F-FDTL is a small and lightly equipped force with both external defense and internal security roles; it has two infantry battalions, a small air component, and a handful of naval patrol boats

since achieving independence, Timor-Leste has received security assistance from or has made defense cooperation arrangements with Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2024)

approximately 1,500-2,000 personnel (2023)

the military is lightly armed and has a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2024)

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

municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

8.22 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

municipal solid waste generated annually: 63,875 tons (2016 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 20.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 4.74 megatons (2020 est.)

women married by age 15: 2.6%

women married by age 18: 14.9%

men married by age 18: 1.2% (2016 est.)

imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

production: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.92 (2024 est.)

55.9% (2023 est.)

9.28% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.12% of GDP (2022 est.)
4.14% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 0

key ports: Dili

607,000 (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 3.2% (2023 est.)

male: 3.1% (2023 est.)

female: 3.2% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 20.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 19.8 years

female: 21.3 years

$259.088 million (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

204 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

$781.995 million (2023 est.)
$830.81 million (2022 est.)
$934.781 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

3.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

3.98 children born/woman (2024 est.)

1.52% (2023 est.)
1.54% (2022 est.)
2.34% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 1,506,909 (2024 est.)

male: 750,665

female: 756,244

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

from petroleum and other liquids: 660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 14,874 sq km

land: 14,874 sq km

water: 0 sq km

21.64% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$5.992 billion (2023 est.)
$7.318 billion (2022 est.)
$9.214 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

11 (2025)

total: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 1.56 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2022 est.)

28.7 (2014 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

8.42% (2023 est.)
7.01% (2022 est.)
3.7% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$17.331 million (2023 est.)
$474.005 million (2022 est.)
$1.524 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$4,300 (2023 est.)
$5,300 (2022 est.)
$6,800 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 0 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

total: 39.2% (2020 est.)

male: 67.6% (2020 est.)

female: 10.8% (2020 est.)

3.8% (2016)

6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

29.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 277,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 1 (2023)

by type: other 1

31.9% (2020)

$1.204 billion (2023 est.)
$1.405 billion (2022 est.)
$1.298 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$701.808 million (2023 est.)
$1.858 billion (2022 est.)
$2.772 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

2 (2025)

total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

total: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 68.9 years

female: 72.3 years

-18.12% (2023 est.)
-20.58% (2022 est.)
5.32% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-56.97% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 16.9% (2023 est.)

industry: 23.9% (2023 est.)

services: 61% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0.13% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.04% (2024 est.)