Timor-Leste

Full name of country: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Region: East & Southeast Asia

Official language: Portuguese, Tetun

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

Nationality: Timorese (singular and plural) (noun), Timorese (adjective)

Land area: 14,874 sq km (5,743 sq miles)

Capital: Dili

National anthem: "Patria" (Fatherland), by Fransisco Borja Da Costa/Afonso De Araujo

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

Population growth: 2.04% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +9

Flag: The flag of Timor-Leste is red. The left side or “hoist” side of the flag features a black triangle in front of a yellow triangle. The two triangles represent the country’s move from colonialism to independence while the color red represents the struggle to achieve independence. In the center of the black triangle is a white star, representing peace.

Motto: “Unidade, Acção, Progresso” (Unity, Action, Progress)

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

Government type: republic

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Legal system: 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

Timor-Leste, formerly known as East Timor, is a small nation in Southeast Asia that gained independence from Indonesia in May 2002. Officially known as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, it is one of the poorest nations in Asia and has a long history of violence and civil war. Portuguese, Malay, and Pacific Islander culture and language are strong influences in the country; the Catholic Church has also been an important political and cultural power.

Between 1975 and 1999, Indonesian occupation forces upheld a repressive government, and human rights violations such as torture, kidnapping, and murder were common. Prior to the 1975 occupation, Timor-Leste was a colonial territory of Portugal. It was a valuable colony due to its natural resources such as sandalwood and spices.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The Timorese people have created their cultural and ethnic identity out of a variety of different cultures and races. Much of the population is of mixed ethnic heritage, including the Afro-Timorese, the Goan Timorese, the Portuguese Timorese, and the Sino-Timorese. Cultures from Africa, Polynesia, Malaysia, and Portugal have played a part in forming the Timorese national identity. Major ethnic groups are the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) and Papuan; there is also a small Chinese minority.

While Portuguese is one of the official languages of Timor-Leste, the most widely spoken language is Tetun, which is also an official language. Many also speak English. There are about thirty-two Indigenous languages, and Mambai, Makasai, Baikenu, and Kemak are also spoken by significant portions of the population.

Catholicism was first introduced to Timor-Leste by Portuguese settlers and has become the country's leading religion. At the time of the 2015 census, 97.6 percent of residents of Timor-Leste belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, which became involved with social justice issues during the time of the occupation and civil war. There are also small minorities of Protestant Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, and animists.

Indigenous People: The island of Timor has experienced migrations of different ethnic groups throughout its history. One of these groups, the Melanesian Atoni people, may have been the first to settle there. The Balu people were another group of early settlers. Some of the island's Indigenous people resemble the native populations of New Guinea and Melanesia, while others are similar to the Malay people.

The people of Timor have had a long history of involvement in trade, which brought about interaction between different cultures and peoples. China was a longtime trading partner of the island. The first Europeans reached Timor-Leste in the sixteenth century from Portugal. Other early European settlers came from the Netherlands; the Dutch eventually came to control West Timor.

Education: Education in Timor-Leste is managed by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sports. Prior to independence, education followed Indonesian models and standards. Since gaining independence, the country has had to build up a national system of education. The education redevelopment project involves training teachers and rebuilding schools and has been supported by the World Bank and the United Nations Children's Fund.

Schools were reopened after the violence ended in 1999, with the Catholic Church playing a large role in reorganization. Because students often suffer from malnutrition and poor hygiene, schools play an important role in nourishing them and providing them with the support they need in their daily lives. The country's schools ostensibly provide six years of primary education and six years of secondary education.

The country's only tertiary educational institution, the Universitas Timor Timur, was destroyed during the violence in the late 1990s. After Timor-Leste gained independence, the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e was constructed and opened in 2000. University education is supported by scholarships for some students. Some students also travel to Australia to pursue higher education.

Health Care: Political and economic problems made it very difficult for Timor-Leste to establish a working health care system. During the Indonesian occupation, health services improved, as the Indonesian government attempted to gain the support of the Timorese citizens by providing medical care. Indonesia constructed a number of hospitals and health clinics and supplied the country with doctors and nurses. However, growing violence in the late 1990s forced many health professionals to leave Timor-Leste.

The country's Division of Health Services has been instrumental in the process of transition from a state of health emergency to a more stable health system. Emergency services were provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Religious groups and nongovernmental organizations also helped to distribute health services in the country, and private health providers began operating there as well. Following independence, the country significantly reduced its child mortality rate, eliminated leprosy, and improved vaccination coverage. More than six hundred integrated community health service centers were established across the country. However, challenges remain in addressing malnutrition and improving health care access in rural areas.

Food: Timorese cuisine is similar to other Asian cuisine in the region, and Portuguese, Japanese, and Filipino food can also be found in Timor-Leste. Fish, rice, spices, and curry are traditional Timorese foods.

During the violence of the late 1990s, many East Timorese did not have enough food. Drought and other poor weather conditions made it difficult to grow crops, and malnutrition was a major problem. A severe drought in 1998 made the situation particularly difficult.

Arts & Entertainment: The culture of Timor-Leste reflects the population's mixed ethnic heritage. Much of Timorese mythology and history exists in an oral tradition and in poetry. In addition to serving as president of the country for a time, Xanana Gusmão is also a famous poet of Timor-Leste, as well as an accomplished painter and writer. Other well-known Timorese writers include Fernando Sylvan (1917–93), Francisco Borja da Costa (1946–75), Ruy Cinatti (1915–86), and Fitun Fuik.

The music of Timor-Leste reflects both Portuguese and Indonesian influences. Gamelan is a kind of Indonesian music, featuring the metallophone, xylophone, and drums. Fado is a traditional Portuguese style of music that has also influenced Timorese musicians. Modern Western rock and hip-hop have also had an impact on Timorese music. One famous contemporary Timorese folk musician is Teo Batiste Ximenes.

Crafts in Timor-Leste include basketmaking and wood carving, as well as pottery. Timorese craftspeople also make ropes, mats, and other goods from the husk of the coconut. Popular sports in Timor-Leste include cycling, badminton, weightlifting, and table tennis. The country belongs to the International Olympic Committee.

Holidays: Because the majority of Timorese belong to the Catholic Church, many public holidays in Timor-Leste are Christian holidays. Major Muslim holidays, such as Idul Adha, are also observed. The country also celebrates the restoration of its independence on May 20. November 12 is set aside to honor those killed in the Santa Cruz massacre, a mass murder of more than two hundred Timorese pro-independence student protestors that occurred on November 12, 1991. Other secular holidays include Labor Day (May 1), Popular Consultation Day (August 30), Proclamation of Independence Day (November 28), National Youth Day (November 12), and National Heroes' Day (December 7).

Environment and Geography

Topography: Timor-Leste is located in the far south of the Indonesian archipelago, occupying the eastern half of Timor Island, which is 470 kilometers (292 miles) long and 110 kilometers (68 miles) wide. The country has a mixture of tropical rainforests, such as those found throughout Indonesia, and arid ecosystems that are similar to those found in northern Australia.

The Timor Sea separates the island from Australia, to the southeast. The Wetar Strait lies to the north of the island, and the Ombai Strait is located to the northwest. Timor-Leste's territory also includes the Oecussi enclave in Indonesian West Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco.

Timor-Leste is a mountainous country with many rocky outcroppings known as fatus. A range of mountains stretches across the middle of the island. The highest peak is Foho Tatamailau, which measures 2,963 meters (9,721 feet) high. A large plateau covers most of the eastern part of the island, and a number of rivers run through the mountains.

Natural Resources: Timor-Leste has significant oil and natural gas reserves located offshore. However, because of the country's past political instability and economic devastation, it was long unable to develop these resources. Turning the oil and gas into a viable industry has required investment and extensive reconstruction of the country's infrastructure. The development of offshore oil and gas resources has provided significant government revenues, although the industry has failed to create jobs in Timor-Leste because no production facilities have been established in the country. Other important natural resources include gold, manganese, and marble.

Plants & Animals: Timor-Leste has both arid and tropical regions and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Eucalyptus and acacia are commonly found in the forests; the island is also home to rainforests. One of the most valuable trees found in Timor is the sandalwood, which grows in upland areas. Grasses and shrubs are common in low-lying savannah areas.

There are a number of animals found on the island, including a marsupial known as the cuscus, and a variety of monkeys, deer, civet cats, snakes, and crocodiles. Buffalo are also common there. The kuda is a breed of pony native to the country; other domestic animals include pigs, goats, and dogs.

Among the birds found in Timor-Leste include the Timor black pigeon (Turacoena modesta), the yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), the Timor sparrow (Padda fuscata), and the Wetar ground-dove (Gallicolumba hoedtii). Many birds living in Timor-Leste are listed as endangered or vulnerable species.

Climate: Timor is the most arid island of the Indonesian archipelago. It has a savanna climate that is desert-like in dry areas and tropical in wet regions. Timor-Leste experiences a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season occurs from July to November. The rainy season lasts from December to March, and corresponds with the monsoon.

The weather is often hot and humid, although the mountains tend to experience cooler temperatures and higher humidity. July is the coolest month, while November is the hottest. The temperature ranges from highs of 30 to 34 degrees Celsius (86 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit) to lows of 20 to 23 degrees Celsius (68 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit).

Economy

Timor-Leste is one of the poorest nations in Asia. Economic problems stem from a lack of jobs and an infrastructure that was extensively damaged during the Indonesian occupation. Rural areas tend to be poorer than urban areas and lack services such as electricity and a safe water supply. The country established a national petroleum fund in 2005 and applied those resources to reestablish basic infrastructure such as electricity, roads, and irrigation ditches in an effort to diversify the economy before its oil and gas reserves run out.

Australia, the United States, and the United Nations have given financial support to Timor-Leste. The country also belongs to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. Timor-Leste's estimated gross domestic product (GDP) for 2023 was estimated at US$5.992billion, or US$4,300 per capita. Timor-Leste ranked 155 out of 191 countries and territories on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Industry: The oil and natural gas industries have become a vital sector. Printing is another major industry. Products that are manufactured in Timor-Leste include soap, textiles, and handicrafts. Timor-Leste exports oil, coffee, broadcasting equipment, scrap metal, and food items like vanilla. The country's major export partners were Singapore, China, and Japan in 2019.

Agriculture: Timor-Leste's agricultural sector accounts for a small portion of GDP; it remains underdeveloped and subject to weather conditions such as droughts and flooding. The most important crops are coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, and vanilla. Livestock yields hides and wool.

Sandalwood is a valuable hardwood tree that produces fragrant oil, which can be used to make perfume and other products for export. The trees are also used as a source of lumber. Fishing is a major source of employment in Timor-Leste, particularly on the island of Atauro. Pearl cultivation is an important sector within the fishing industry.

Tourism: Due to the years of violence and upheaval, Timor-Leste's tourist industry has suffered; however, the government is trying to develop this sector. The country joined the World Tourism Organization and has been trying to promote itself as a new tourist destination. Tourist attractions in Timor-Leste include scuba diving, hiking through the rainforests, and visiting the country's beaches.

Government

On November 28, 1975, Timor-Leste achieved independence from Portugal. The Portuguese government had administered Timor-Leste since the early seventeenth century. The only interruption of Portuguese rule occurred during World War II, when the Japanese took control of the country. After the war, Portugal resumed control of Timor-Leste until the early 1970s, when it began to grant its colonies independence.

The tensions of decolonization and the concern that Indonesia might take control of the country resulted in a coup d'état in April 1975. Begun by the Timorese Democratic Union Party, the coup turned into a civil war when the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste, or FRETILIN, fought back and took over the country. FRETILIN declared Timor-Leste an independent state.

In response, Indonesia invaded. Although it was ordered out of the country by the United Nations, Indonesia maintained that it was protecting Timor-Leste from the FRETILIN government and moved to annex the country. Guerrilla warfare between supporters of Timorese independence and the Indonesian occupation forces followed, lasting through the 1990s.

During the occupation, civil rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press were harshly suppressed. A number of human rights violations occurred during the occupation, including false arrests and imprisonment, torture, kidnapping, rape, and mass murder. The most notorious large-scale murder occurred in 1991 at Santa Cruz. Overall, the death toll resulting from the occupation is estimated to have reached 100,000 to 250,000 people.

The worst of the violence and destruction occurred in September 1999, when militia groups burned buildings and destroyed most of the country's infrastructure in retaliation after voters overwhelmingly supported independence. The conflict was contained in 1999 by United Nations peacekeeping forces. With the end of the violence, many refugees returned to Timor-Leste from exile. The country finally gained independence in May 2002.

In 2006, a military strike led to widespread violence and crime; in response, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force was deployed and the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste was established. Successful presidential and parliamentary elections took place in 2007 and 2012. The International Stabilization Force and the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste left the country in late 2012.

Today, Timor-Leste is a semipresidential republic with three separate branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch consists of a president, who is the head of state, and a prime minister, who is the head of government. The president is directly elected to a five-year term and appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition as the prime minister. The president serves a predominantly symbolic role but is commander in chief of the military and has the power to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections. The prime minister proposes members for the Council of Ministers.

Timor-Leste's unicameral legislature has sixty-five seats. Its members are directly elected in a single nationwide constituency to serve five-year terms. The Supreme Court of Justice is the country's highest court. Timor-Leste's largest political parties are the Democratic Party, the Frenti-Mudanca, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO), People's Liberation Party (PLP), and the Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN).

Interesting Facts

• Headhunting, in which the heads of enemies were cut off and displayed as trophies, was a common practice in Timor-Leste until the twentieth century.
• The animist religion in Timor-Leste honors the spirits of the dead within natural objects called "luliks."
• Within Timorese culture, it is traditional for adult women to remove all of their body hair, with the exception of the hair on their heads.
• The waters around Timor-Leste are considered among the most biodiverse coral reef ecosystems in the world.
• Timor-Leste celebrated its first LGBTQ pride parade in June 2017.

Bibliography

"East Timor Country Profile." BBC News, 5 June 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14919009. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Government of Timor-Leste, timor-leste.gov.tl/?lang=en. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

"Timor-Leste." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/timor-leste/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Timor-Leste." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/TLS. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

“Timor-Leste: National Education Profile.” Education Policy and Data Center, FHI 360, 2018, www.epdc.org/sites/default/files/documents/EPDC‗NEP‗2018‗TimorLeste.pdf. Accessed 5 Oct. 2020.

“Timor-Leste (TLS) Exports, Imports, and Trade Partners.” OEC, Observatory of Economic Complexity, 2020, oec.world/en/profile/country/tls. Accessed 5 Oct. 2020.

“2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Timor-Leste.” US Department of State, 2020, www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/timor-leste. Accessed 5 Oct. 2020.