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  East Timor  
Flag of East Timor
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of East Timor

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    East Timor
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    East Timor
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
706 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
contiguous zone: NA NM
extended fishing zone: NA NM
territorial sea: NA NM
exclusive fishing zone: NA NM
continental shelf: NA NM
exclusive economic zone: NA NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mountainous
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: NA%
other: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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    East Timor
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
997,853
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
NA (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19.7 years
female: 19.6 years (2002)
male: 19.8 years
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 57.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 65.2 years
female: 67.55 years (2003 est.)
male: 62.97 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
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 Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48% (2001)
male: NA%
female: NA%
   Government    East Timor
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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]
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Dili
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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    East Timor
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
42% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
50% (including underemployment)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $36 million
expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.5%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
IDR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
see US dollar
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
   Transportation    East Timor
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,800 km
paved: 428 km
unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: NA
ships by type: NA
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,427 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
   Military    East Timor
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
   Transnational Issues    East Timor
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
NA

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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