Timor-Leste

Democratic Republic of Timor-LesteRepublika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

republic

Timor-Leste as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 fields, one of 24 editions from 2002 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDili
Position8 50 S, 125 55 E
Area15,007 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago
2003

Every edition of Timor-Leste

Populationas each edition published it
997,853 people 2002 est. · 952,618 in 2002
Population growth% a year
2.13% 2003 est. · 7.26% in 2002
Median ageyears
19.7 years 2002 · 23 yrs in 2025
Life expectancyyears at birth
65.2 years 2003 est. · 64.85 yrs in 2002
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.79 children per woman 2003 est. · 3.88 in 2002
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
50.47 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 51.99 in 2002
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$500 2001 est. · $500 in 2002
GDP real growth% a year
18% 2001 est. · 18% in 2002

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. A 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, the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia.

During 1999-2001, pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.

Geography

18 fields
Area
15,007sq km
land: NA sq kmwater: NA sq kmslightly larger than Connecticut
Coastline
706km
contiguous zone: NA NMextended fishing zone: NA NMterritorial sea: NA NMexclusive fishing zone: NA NMcontinental shelf: NA NMexclusive economic zone: NA NM
Highest point
2,963m
Foho Tatamailaulowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
228km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Location

  • Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago;
  • note - East Timor 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

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Climate

  • tropical;
  • hot, humid;
  • distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain

mountainous

Natural resources

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use

arable land:
NA%
other:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%

Irrigated land

1,065 sq km (est.)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Geography - note

Timor comes from the Malay word for "Orient;" the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands

People

19 fields
Population
997,853
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003 est.)growth rate: 2.13% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth
27.75Death
6.41Net migration
0

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)65.2
62.97 · 67.55Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)50.47
57.05 · 43.55
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2002)19.7
19.8 · 19.6
MaleFemale

Age structure

NA (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.97 male(s)/female
total population:
1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Timorese
adjective:
Timorese

Ethnic groups

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)

Languages

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:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48% (2001)
male:
NA%
female:
NA%

Government

Republic; President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

82.7%
Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007)

Legislature, 88 seats, elected 30 August 2001one dot, one seat

FRETILIN 55PD 7PSD 6ASDT 6PDC 2UDT 2KOTA 2PNT 2PPT 2UDC/PDC 1PST 1PL 1independent 1

Percent of vote

FRETILIN 57.37%PD 8.72%PSD 8.18%ASDT 7.84%UDT 2.36%PNT 2.21%KOTA 2.13%PPT 2.01%PDC 1.98%PST 1.78%independents/other 5.42%

Country name

conventional long form:
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form:
East Timor
local short form:
Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former:
Portuguese Timor
local long form:
Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Administrative divisions

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque

Independence

  • 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal);
  • note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Constitution

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002);
  • note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation;
  • he often is referred to as Xanana GUSMAO
head of government:
Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
cabinet:
Council of State
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  • election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);
  • after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future
election results:
Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

Legislative branch

  • unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
  • note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis
elections:
last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)
election results:
  • percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%;
  • seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders

  • Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL];
  • Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES];
  • Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES];
  • Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
  • Liberal Party or PL [leader NA];
  • Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA];
  • People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
  • Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];
  • Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
  • Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA];
  • Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL];
  • Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO];
  • Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA];
  • Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO];
  • Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]

International organization participation

AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
consulate(s) general:
New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2003)
FAX:
202 965-1517
telephone:
202 965-1515
chancery:
3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy:
Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
mailing address:
Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone:
(670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472
FAX:
(670) 331-3206

Flag description

  • red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag;
  • there is a white star in the center of the black triangle

Economy

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward.

33 fields
Real growth rate
18%
(2001 est.)industrial production growth: 8.5%
Unemployment rate
50%
(including underemployment)

GDP - composition by sector(2001)

agriculture 25.4%industry 17.2%services 57.4% (2001)

Budget

Revenues
$36 millionExpenditures
$97 million (2003 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - overview

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 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 mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project is the planned development of oil resources in nearby waters.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)

Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel:
100%
hydro:
0%
other:
0% (2001)
nuclear:
0%

Agriculture - products

coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Exports

$8 million (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports

Imports

$237 million (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

mainly food (2001)

Economic aid - recipient

$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates

see US dollar

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,427 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
2
Paved 3Unpaved 5

Networkskm

Highways
3,800Railways
0
Highways: paved: 428 km · unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)

Highways

total:
3,800 km
paved:
428 km
unpaved:
3,372 km (1995)

Merchant marine

total:
NA
ships by type:
NA

Airports

8 (2002)

Heliports

1 (2002)

Military

7 fields

Military branches

  • The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component;
  • note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years

Military manpower - military age

18-21 years of age (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to survey and delimit the land boundary;
  • some East Timor refugees delay return from camps in Indonesia;
  • maritime delimitation and resource-sharing agreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over "Timor Gap" hydrocarbon reserves, but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaits further discussions

Central Intelligence Agency. “East Timor.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/timor-leste/2003.

How to cite ← 2002 edition 2004 edition →