from
CIA World Factbook 2006
East Timor
Introduction
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 East 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 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 East Timor voted for independence from
Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a
multinational peacekeeping force in late September
1999, 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 West Timor as
refugees. The majority 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
the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the
International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed
to the country and brought the violence to an end. On
20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized
as an independent state.
Geography
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
Geographic 8 50 S, 125 55 E
coordinates:
Map Southeast Asia
references:
Area: total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
Area - slightly larger than Connecticut
comparative:
Land total: 228 km
boundaries: border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime territorial sea: NA
claims: exclusive economic zone: NA
continental shelf: NA
exclusive fishing zone: NA
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain: mountainous
Elevation lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
resources:
Land use: arable land: 8.2%
permanent crops: 4.57%
other: 87.23% (2005)
Irrigated 1,065 sq km (est.)
land:
Natural floods and landslides are common; earthquakes,
hazards: tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Environment - widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
current deforestation and soil erosion
issues:
Environment - NA
international
agreements:
Geography - Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island
note: of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the
largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
People
Population: 1,062,777
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July
2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.3% (male 196,293/female 189,956)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 328,111/female 315,401)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 16,072/female 16,944)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 20.8 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.08% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 26.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 45.89 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 52.03 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 39.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 66.26 years
expectancy at male: 63.96 years
birth: female: 68.67 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese
minority
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu
0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)
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
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2002)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor
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: Portuguese Timor
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau,
divisions: Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera,
Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same),
Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
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
National Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
holiday:
Constitution: 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system: UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains
in place but will be replaced by civil and penal codes
based on Portuguese law; these have passed and are
expected to be promulgated in early 2006
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since
branch: 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely
symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve
parliament, and call national elections; he formerly
used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Jose RAMOS-HORTA
(since 10 July 2006); First Deputy Prime Minister
Estanlislau Maria Alexio da SILVA (since 10 July 2006);
Second Deputy Prime Minister Rui Maria do ARAUJO (since
10 July 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held in May 2007)
election results: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected
president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO
82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%
Legislative unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can
branch: 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 in May 2007); direct
elections for national parliament were never held;
elected delegates to the national convention adopted a
constitution and 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
Judicial Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one
branch: 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
Political Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT
parties and [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic
leaders: 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];
People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or
FRETILIN [Francisco Guterres Lu OLO]; Social Democrat
Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
Socialist Party of Timor or PST [Pedro da COSTA]; 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]
Political Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic
pressure Republic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL [Antonio-Aitahan
groups and MATAK] is largest political pressure group;
leaders: dissatisfied veterans of struggle against Indonesia,
led by one-time government advisor Cornelio GAMA (also
known as L-7), also play an important role in
pressuring government
International ACP, ARF, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD,
organization IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW,
participation: PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WToO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
representation d'Affaires Constancio PINTO
in the US: chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: 202 966-3202
FAX: 202 966-3205
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
representation embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros,
from the US: Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili
Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the
description: 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
Economy - In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure
overview: of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias, and 300,000 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 the end of 2005, all refugees either returned
or resettled in Indonesia. Non-petroleum GDP growth was
held back in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual
winding down of the international presence but
recovered somewhat in 2004. The country faces great
challenges in continuing the rebuilding of
infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil
administration, and generating jobs for young people
entering the work force. The development of oil and gas
resources in nearby waters has begun to supplement
government revenues ahead of schedule and above
expectations - the result of high petroleum prices -
but the technology-intensive industry does little to
create jobs for the unemployed, because there are no
production facilities in Timor and the gas is piped to
Australia. The parliament in June 2005 unanimously
approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a
repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the
value of East Timor's petroleum wealth for future
generations.
GDP $370 million (2004 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $349 million
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 1.8% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 8.5%
composition by industry: 23.1%
sector: services: 68.4% (2001)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - agriculture: NA%
by occupation: industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment 50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas
rate: reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001
est.)
Population 42% (2003 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 38 (2002 est.)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 1.4% (2005)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $107.7 million
expenditures: $73 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans,
products: cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial 8.5%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - NA kWh
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - NA kWh
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Exports: $10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)
Exports - coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil
commodities: and vanilla exports
Exports - Indonesia 100% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $202 million (2004 est.)
Imports - food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
commodities:
Debt - $0
external:
Economic aid - $153 million (2004 est.)
recipient:
Currency US dollar (USD)
(code):
Currency code: USD
Exchange the US dollar is used
rates:
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications
Telephones - NA
main lines in
use:
Telephones - NA
mobile
cellular:
Telephone NA
system:
Radio AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
broadcast
stations:
Radios: NA
Television NA
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: NA
Internet .tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in
country code: January 2005
Internet 68 (2006)
hosts:
Internet NA
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 1,000 (2004)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 8 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 5
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 3
runways: under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports: 9 (2006)
Roadways: total: 5,000 km
paved: 2,500 km
unpaved: 2,500 km (2005)
Ports and Dili
terminals:
Military
Military East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de
branches: Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 235,198
available for females age 18-49: 223,069 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 179,422
for military females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 12,740
reaching females age 18-49: 12,438 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $4.4 million (FY03)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military NA
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has
international: maintained about 1,000 peacekeepers in East Timor since
2002; 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 Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which prevents
delimitation of the northern maritime boundaries; many
refugees who left East Timor in 2003 still reside in
Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and East
Timor agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of
the boundary for 50 years and to split hydrocarbon
revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development
Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with
Australia has hampered creation of a southern maritime
boundary with Indonesia
Illicit drugs: NA