Timor-Leste

Broadcast media

1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; one commercial TV broadcast station broadcasting, a few commercial radio stations, and roughly a dozen community radio stations (2009)

Internet country code

.tl

Internet hosts

252 (2012) country comparison to the world: 195

Internet users

2,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 211

Telephone system

general assessment: rudimentary service in urban and some rural areas domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas international: country code - 670; international service is available in major urban centers

Telephones - main lines in use

3,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 214

Telephones - mobile cellular

614,200 (2011) country comparison to the world: 162

Agriculture - products

coffee, rice, corn, cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Budget

revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.7 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.1% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 11.04% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$2.375 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $1.161 billion (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.9 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 38 (2002 est.)

Economy - overview

Since its 1999 independence, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of oil and gas resources in offshore waters has greatly supplemented government revenues. This technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs for the unemployed in part because there are no production facilities in Timor-Leste. Gas is piped to Australia. In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of US$9.3 billion as of December 2011. The economy continues to recover from the mid-2006 outbreak of violence and civil unrest, which disrupted both private and public sector economic activity. Government spending increased markedly from 2009 through 2012, primarily on basic infrastructure, including electricity and roads. Limited experience in procurement and infrastructure building has hampered these projects. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty. Timor-Leste had a balanced budget in 2012 with government expenditures of $1.7 billion focusing on development of public infrastructure. On the strength of its oil-wealth, the economy has achieved real growth of approximately 10% per year for the last several years, among the highest sustained growth rates in the world.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used, 1 (2012 est.)

Exports

$18 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $17.8 million (2010 est.) note: excludes oil

Exports - commodities

oil, coffee, sandalwood, marble note: potential for vanilla exports

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.214 billion note: non-oil GDP (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.63 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $9.662 billion (2011 est.) $8.736 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25.6% industry: 18.1% services: 56.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $8,800 (2011 est.) $8,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

10% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 10.6% (2011 est.) 9.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 27% (2007)

Imports

$689 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $439.1 million (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 13.5% (2011 est.)

Labor force

418,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 158

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 64% industry: 10% services: 26% (2010)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

41% (2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$386.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $322.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$300 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $280 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$196 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $162.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Unemployment rate

18.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 20% (2006 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

395,300 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Crude oil - exports

96,270 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - production

83,740 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - proved reserves

553.8 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - consumption

67.59 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - production

131.7 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - proved reserves

200 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,755 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,205 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Area

total: 14,874 sq km country comparison to the world: 160 land: 14,874 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Connecticut

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Coastline

706 km

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Irrigated land

140 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Land use

arable land: 8.2% permanent crops: 4.57% other: 87.23% (2005)

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Terrain

mountainous

Administrative divisions

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital

name: Dili geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

20 May 2002 (effective date)

Country name

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay) conventional short form: Timor-Leste local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Judith R. FERGIN embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670) 332-4684 FAX: (670) 331-3206

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Constancio da Conceicao PINTO chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205

Executive branch

chief of state: President Taur Matan RUAK (Jose Maria de VASCONCELOS) (since 20 May 2012); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007); note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO (since 8 August 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); an election was held on 17 March 2012 with a run-off on 16 April 2012); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister election results: Taur Matan RUAK elected president in 2012; percent of vote - Taur Matan RUAK 61.23%, Francisco GUTTERES 38.7%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (the number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms in a modified proportional representation system) elections: elections were held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - CNRT 36%, FRETILIN 30%, PD 10%, Frenti-Mudanca 3%, others 21%; seats by party - CNRT 30, FRETILIN 25, PD 8, Frenti-Mudanca 2

National anthem

name: "Patria" (Fatherland) lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Fransisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in an Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Zacarias Albano da COSTA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes); (only parties in Parliament are listed)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

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 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a 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 forcibly pushed 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 100% 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 unsuccessful attacks the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 305,643 females age 16-49: 293,052 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 243,120 females age 16-49: 251,061 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 12,737 female: 12,389 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada) (2010)

Military expenditures

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 18-month service obligation (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 252,874/ female 238,865) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 302,572/ female 308,991) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 19,719/ female 20,646) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

35.2 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

40.6% (2002) country comparison to the world: 4

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Education expenditures

16.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 1

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

12.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 8

Infant mortality rate

total: 41.4 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 56 male: 44.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by a significant portion of the population

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.27 years country comparison to the world: 157 male: 65.85 years female: 70.81 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: NA female: NA (2002)

Major cities - population

DILI (capital) 166,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever and malaria (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 37

Median age

total: 22.8 years male: 22.8 years female: 22.9 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Timorese adjective: Timorese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

1,143,667 country comparison to the world: 159 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

2.49% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 76% of population rural: 40% of population total: 50% of population unimproved: urban: 24% of population rural: 60% of population total: 50% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.32 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Urbanization

urban population: 28% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; many refugees who left Timor-Leste in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; in 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary

Illicit drugs

NA

Airports

6 (2012) country comparison to the world: 173

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2012)

Heliports

8 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 151 by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Dili

Roadways

total: 6,040 km country comparison to the world: 149 paved: 2,600 km unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)