Administrative divisions13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Age structure
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 196,007; female 189,584)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 308,254; female 295,584)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 14,663; female 15,160) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Airports
8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut
Background
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. East 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, anti-independence militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state.
Birth rate
27.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $36 million
expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital
Dili
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Coastline
706 km
Constitution
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
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]
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
IDR
Death rate
6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
NA
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
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
Disputes - international
East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey, and delimit the land boundary, but several sections of the boundary especially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which may delay decision on the northern maritime boundaries; numbers of East Timor refugees in Indonesia refuse repatriation; the 1999 maritime delimitation established partial maritime boundaries with Australia over part of the Timor Gap but temporary resource-sharing agreements over an unreconciled area grant Australia a 90% share of exploited gas reserves and hamper creation of a southern maritime boundary with Indonesia
Distribution of family income - Gini index
38 (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
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. Growth was held back in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual winding down of the international presence. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the workforce. One promising long-term project is the planned development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters, but the government faces a substantial financing gap over the next several years before these revenues start flowing into state coffers.
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Environment - current issues
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements
NA
Ethnic groups
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Exchange rates
the US dollar is the legal tender
Executive branch
chief of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation; he formally used the name Jose Alexander 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: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%
Exports
$8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners
NA
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
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
GDP
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-3% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Geography - note
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
Government type
republic
Heliports
1 (2003 est.)
Highways
total: 3,800 km
paved: 428 km
unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs
NA
Imports
$237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities
mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners
NA
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
Industrial production growth rate
8.5%
Industries
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Infant mortality rate
total: 48.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 55.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8% NA (2003 est.)
International organization participation
AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO
Internet country code
.tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
NA
Irrigated land
1,065 sq km (est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
NA
Land boundaries
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Land use
arable land: 4.71%
other: 94.62% (2001)
permanent crops: 0.67%
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
Legal system
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
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: (next to be held August 2006); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention named themselves legislators instead of having elections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the national parliament.
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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 65.56 years
male: 63.31 years
female: 67.92 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6% (2002)
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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
territorial sea: NA nm
extended fishing zone: NA nm
exclusive economic zone: NA nm
continental shelf: NA nm
exclusive fishing zone: NA nm
Median age
total: 20 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 19.9 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
none
Military branches
East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
NA
Military manpower - availability
NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
NA (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Nationality
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Natural hazards
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Natural resources
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines
NA
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders
the Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL is the largest political pressure group; it rejects the current government and claims to be the rightful government; it is led by Cristiano DA COSTA, a.k.a. Aitahan MATAK; Kolimau 2000 is another opposition group; leader is Dr. BRUNO (NFI) according to Indonesian press
Population
1,019,252
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
42% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate
2.11% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios
NA
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 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 (2004 est.)
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Telephone system
NA
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
NA
Terrain
mountainous
Total fertility rate
3.7 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
50% (including underemployment) (1992 est.)