 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
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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. 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. A 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, the people of East Timor voted for independence
from Indonesia. During 1999-2001, anti-independence militias -
supported by Indonesia - conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20
May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an
independent state. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates: |
8 50 S, 125
55 E |
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Map references: |
Southeast
Asia |
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Area: |
total:
15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km
|
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Area - comparative: |
slightly
larger than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228
km |
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Coastline: |
706 km
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: NA nm
exclusive economic
zone: NA nm
continental shelf: NA nm
exclusive
fishing zone: NA nm
extended fishing zone: NA nm
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Climate: |
tropical;
hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons |
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Terrain: |
mountainous
|
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest
point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest
point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m |
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Natural resources: |
gold,
petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble |
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Land use: |
arable
land: 4.71%
permanent crops: 0.67%
other:
94.62% (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
1,065 sq km
(est.) |
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Natural hazards: |
floods and
landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
|
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Environment - current issues: |
widespread
use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil
erosion |
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Environment - international agreements: |
NA |
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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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Population: |
1,019,252
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2004
est.) |
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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.) |
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Median age: |
total: 20 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 19.9 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
2.11% (2004
est.) |
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Birth rate: |
27.46
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate: |
6.36
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total:
48.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.34 deaths/1,000
live births
female: 42.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 65.56 years
male: 63.31 years
female: 67.92 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
3.7 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
NA |
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Nationality: |
noun:
Timorese
adjective: Timorese |
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Ethnic groups: |
Austronesian
(Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority |
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Religions: |
Roman
Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist,
Animist (1992 est.) |
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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 |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6% (2002) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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 |
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Government type: |
republic
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Capital: |
Dili |
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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 |
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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 |
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National holiday: |
Independence
Day, 28 November (1975) |
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Constitution: |
22 March
2002 (based on the Portuguese model) |
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Legal system: |
UN-drafted
legal system based on Indonesian law (2002) |
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Suffrage: |
17 years of
age; universal |
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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 formally used the name Jose Alexander
GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude
ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of State
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% |
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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 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme
Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and
the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary |
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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 NA]; 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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
the Popular
Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or
CPD-RDTL is the largest political pressure group; it rejects the
current government and claims to be the rightful government; it is
led by Cristiano DA COSTA, a.k.a. Aitahan MATAK; Kolimau 2000 is
another opposition group; leader is Dr. BRUNO (NFI) according to
Indonesian press |
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International organization participation: |
AsDB, IBRD,
ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OPCW, PIF
(observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO |
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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) (2003)
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Vila
10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili
mailing address:
Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472
FAX: (670) 331-3206 |
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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
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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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. |
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GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $440 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
-3% (2003
est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $500 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line: |
42% (2003
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
38 (2002
est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
8% NA (2003
est.) |
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Labor force: |
NA |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
NA |
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Unemployment rate: |
50%
(including underemployment) (1992 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $36 million
expenditures: $97
million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
coffee,
rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes,
bananas, vanilla |
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Industries: |
printing,
soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
8.5% |
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Electricity - production: |
NA kWh (2001)
|
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Electricity - consumption: |
NA kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001)
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Exports: |
$8 million
(2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
coffee,
sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
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Exports - partners: |
NA |
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Imports: |
$237 million
(2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
mainly food
(2001) |
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Imports - partners: |
NA |
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Debt - external: |
NA |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$2.2 billion
(1999-2002 est.) |
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Currency: |
US dollar
(USD) |
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Currency code: |
IDR |
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Exchange rates: |
the US
dollar is the legal tender |
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Fiscal year: |
1 July - 30
June Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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