East Timor

§1. 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.

§2. East Timor 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 coordinates:
  8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references:
  Southeast_Asia

Area:
  total: 15,007 kmē
  land: NA kmē
  water: NA kmē

Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
  total: 228 km
  border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Coastline:
  706 km

Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: NA
  exclusive economic zone: NA
  continental shelf: NA
  exclusive fishing zone: NA

Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain:
  mountainous

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
  highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Natural resources:
  gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

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

Irrigated land:
  1,065 kmē (est.)

Natural hazards:
  floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:
  widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and
  soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:
  NA

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

§3. East Timor 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 growth rate:
  2.08% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  26.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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 mortality rate:
  total: 45.89 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 52.03 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 39.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 66.26 years
  male: 63.96 years
  female: 68.67 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

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)

§4. East Timor 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 type:
  Republic

Capital:
  Dili

Administrative divisions:
  13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, 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 holiday:
  Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

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 branch:
  chief of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 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 Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May
    2002)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election
    last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held in 2007); after the legislature
    was sworn in, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime
    minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future
  election results: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote
    - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

Legislative branch:
  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: (next to be held in 2006); 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 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

Political parties and leaders:
  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
  [Francisco Guterres Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD
  [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader 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]; Timorese Popular
  Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or
  CPD-RDTL [Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is largest political pressure group;
  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 organization participation:
  ACP, ARF, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
  (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
  chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: 202 965-1515
  FAX: 202 965-1517
  consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
  embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
  mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC
    20521-8250
  telephone: (670) 332-4684
  FAX: (670) 331-3206

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; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle

§5. East Timor Economy

Economy - overview:
  In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure 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 (purchasing power parity):
  $370 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  NA

GDP - real growth rate:
  1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 25.4%
  industry: 17.2%
  services: 57.4% (2001)

Labor force:
  NA

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
  50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not
  include underemployed (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  42% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  38 (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.8% (2004)

Budget:
  revenues: $107.7 million
  expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004
    est.)

Agriculture - products:
  coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes,
  bananas, vanilla

Industries:
  printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate:
  8.5%

Electricity - production:
  NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
  NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Exports:
  $10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners:
  Indonesia 100% (2004)

Imports:
  $202 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Debt - external:
  $0

Economic aid - recipient:
  $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)

Currency (code):
  US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates:
  the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

§6. East Timor Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  NA

Telephone system:
  NA

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Television broadcast stations:
  NA

Internet country code:
  .tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005

Internet hosts:
  215 (2005)

Internet users:
  1,000 (2004)

§7. East Timor Transportation

Airports:
  8 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 2 (2005)

Heliports:
  9 (2005)

Roadways:
  total: 5,000 km
  paved: 2,500 km
  unpaved: 2,500 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Dili

§8. East Timor Military

Military branches:
  East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army,
    Navy (Armada) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
  NA

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: NA

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $4.4 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  NA

§9. East Timor Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has 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 fifty years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly
  outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea
  Treaty; dispute with Australia also hampers creation of a southern maritime
  boundary with Indonesia

Illicit drugs:
  NA


<Factbook 2006>
