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Introduction | East Timor

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 during 1942-1945, 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 1,300 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 | East Timor

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 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: | total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: | 706 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: NA nm extended fishing zone: NA nm exclusive economic zone: NA nm continental shelf: NA nm exclusive fishing zone: NA nm
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: 4.71% other: 94.62% (2001) permanent crops: 0.67%
Irrigated land: | 1,065 sq km (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

People | East Timor

Population: | 1,019,252 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 37.8% (male 196,007; female 189,584) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 308,254; female 295,584) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 14,663; female 15,160) (2004 est.)
Median age: | total: 20 years male: 20.1 years female: 19.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.11% (2004 est.)
Birth rate: | 27.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate: | 6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 48.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 55.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 65.56 years male: 63.31 years female: 67.92 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 3.7 children born/woman (2004 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% (2002)

Government | East Timor

Country name: | 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: | 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 (2004)
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 some legislation; 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 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: 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 August 2006); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention 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 [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader Avelino COELHO]; 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 [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is largest political pressure group; it rejects current government and claims to be rightful government; Kolimau 2000 [leader Dr. Bruno MAGALHAES] is another opposition 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, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2004) FAX: 202 965-1517 telephone: 202 965-1515 chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
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

Economy | East Timor

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 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. Growth was held back in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual winding down of the international presence. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the workforce. One promising long-term project is the planned development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters, but the government faces a substantial financing gap over the next several years before these revenues start flowing into state coffers.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | -3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 25.4% industry: 17.2% services: 57.4% (2001)
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): | 8% NA (2003 est.)
Labor force: | NA
Labor force - by occupation: | NA
Unemployment rate: | 50% (including underemployment) (1992 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $36 million expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, rice, maize, 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 (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Exports: | $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: | coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners: | NA
Imports: | $237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: | mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners: | NA
Debt - external: | NA
Economic aid - recipient: | $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency: | US dollar (USD)
Currency code: | USD
Exchange rates: | the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Communications | East Timor

Telephones - main lines in use: | NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA
Telephone system: | NA
Radio broadcast stations: | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: | NA
Television broadcast stations: | NA
Televisions: | NA
Internet country code: | .tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | NA
Internet users: | NA

Transportation | East Timor

Highways: | total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Ports and harbors: | NA
Merchant marine: | none
Airports: | 8 (2003 est.)
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 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports: | 1 (2003 est.)

Military | East Timor

Military branches: | East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy
Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability: | NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | NA (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | NA

Transnational Issues | East Timor

Disputes - international: | 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 Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which may delay decision on the northern maritime boundaries; numbers of East Timor refugees in Indonesia refuse repatriation; East Timor and Australia continue to disagree over the delimitation of a permanent maritime boundary and over the sharing of petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty
Illicit drugs: | NA

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005