East Timor
Country Guide

Explore East Timor

East Timor with its capital Dili is located in Oceania (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). It covers some 14,875 square kilometers (slightly larger than Connecticut) with 1,291,360 citizens. Portuguese, Indonesian and English are the common languages used in East Timor (consider regional differences). Interesting info Indonesia is the only bordering country.

East Timor is a country in Southeast Asia. It lies northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago. East Timor has some of the best scuba diving in the world, and this is a major draw for tourists with East Timor shore diving becoming known worldwide amongst the diving community. Pristine beaches and coral reefs stand in stark contrast to one of the poorest populations on Earth. Carnival de Timor is the annual festival held in Dili in middle of April (sometimes in May, depending on rain season). Initiated by the Ministry of Tourism in 2010, Carnival de Timor is all about fun, music and multiculturalism. Both modern and traditional costumes, East Timorese and foreign minorities, even embassies also participate in this annual festival.

Popular Destinations in East Timor

Administrative regions of East Timor

• Aileu
• Ainaro
• Baucau
• Bobonaro
• Cova Lima
• Dili
• Ermera
• Lautem
• Liquica
• Manatuto
• Manufahi
• Oecusse
• Viqueque

About the country

The landscape is mountainous. The average density of population is about 87 per km². The climate in East Timor can be described as tropicalhot, humid, distinct rainy and dry seasons. Potential threats by nature are earthquakes, floods and landslides are common, tropical cyclones and tsunamis.

To reach someone East Timor dial +670 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".tp". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E, F, I). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is USD.

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.

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 Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. 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 Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, 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 forced 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 160)	14,874	sq km
Land (World Rank: 158)	14,874	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 127)	10.10	%
Comparative	slightly larger than Connecticut
Coastline
706
Landborder
253
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 71)	2,963	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 146)	25.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 111)	10.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 56)	4.90	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 127)	10.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 119)	350	sq km
Map reference
Southeast Asia
Environment
Issues	widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification
Hazzards	- earthquakes - floods and landslides are common - tropical cyclones - tsunamis
Location
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
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain
mountainous

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 156)	1,291,360
Deathrate (World Rank: 168)	0.59	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 28)	3.34	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 30)	2.36	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 148)	-0.39	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 16)	4.79	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 208)	18.30
Female (World Rank: 202)	19.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 145)	271,623
0 14 female (World Rank: 146)	256,733
15 24 male (World Rank: 152)	133,254
15 24 female (World Rank: 151)	129,166
25 54 male (World Rank: 160)	185,911
25 54 female (World Rank: 159)	200,903
55 64 male (World Rank: 161)	32,168
55 64 female (World Rank: 163)	31,680
65 x male (World Rank: 161)	23,924
65 x female (World Rank: 163)	25,996
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 54)	3.51	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 163)	68	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 164)	70	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 157)	67	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 166)	0.08
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 27)	5.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 170)	40.60	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 190)	3.80	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 177)	71.90	%

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Energy

Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 55)	49,240	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 39)	74,230	bbl / day
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 184)	3,100	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 177)	3,055	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 45)	7,700,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 117)	38	m³
Export (World Rank: 25)	7,700,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
500000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 9)	8	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 35)	3	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 192)	2	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 214)	-76	% of GDP
National symbol
Mount Ramelau
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Timorese
Noun
Timorese
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. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. 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 Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, 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 forced 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country.
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; 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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 168)	6,597,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 39)	5.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 165)	5,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 95)	9.20	%
Source industry (World Rank: 3)	57.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 219)	31.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 163)	286,700
In poverty (World Rank: 35)	41.80	%
Products
Industries	- handicrafts - printing - soap manufacturing - woven cloth
Agriculture	- bananas - cabbage - cassava - coffee - corn - mangoes - manioc - rice - soybeans - sweet potatoes - tapioca - vanilla
Exports	- coffee - marble - note: potential for vanilla exports - oil - sandalwood
Imports	- food - gasoline - kerosene - machinery

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 206)	2,720
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 220)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 82)	118.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 156)	318,373
Population (World Rank: 172)	25.20	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 181)	2.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 155)	4.00
Heliports (World Rank: 27)	8.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 149)	6,040
Paved length (World Rank: 122)	2,600
Unpaved length (World Rank: 111)	3,440

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