Timor-Leste Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Dili

Population

1,404,785 (2025 est.)

Area

14,874 sq km

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

🧭 Background

The island of Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century, it exported sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. The sandalwood trade attracted the Portuguese, who arrived in the early 16th century; by mid-century, they had colonized the island, which was previously ruled by local chieftains. In 1859, Portugal ceded the western portion of the island to the Dutch. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. The eastern part of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, but Indonesian forces invaded and occupied the area nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor or Timor Leste). Indonesia conducted an unsuccessful pacification campaign in the province over the next two decades, during which as many as 250,000 people died. In a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, anti-independence Timorese militias -- organized and supported by the Indonesian military -- began a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution, killing approximately 1,400 Timorese and displacing nearly 500,000. Most of the country's infrastructure was destroyed, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, schools, and most of the electrical grid. Australian-led peacekeeping troops eventually deployed to the country and ended the violence. In 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, Australia and the UN had to step in again to stabilize the country, which allowed presidential and parliamentary elections to be conducted in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In 2008, rebels staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. Since that attack, Timor-Leste has made considerable progress in building stability and democratic institutions, holding a series of successful parliamentary and presidential elections since 2012. Nonetheless, weak and unstable political coalitions have led to periodic episodes of stalemate and crisis. The UN continues to provide assistance on economic development and strengthening governing institutions. Currently, Timor-Leste is one of the world's poorest nations, with an economy that relies heavily on energy resources in the Timor Sea.

🗺️ Geography

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

Geographic coordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area — total

14,874 sq km

Area — land

14,874 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland

Land boundaries — total

253 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Indonesia 253 km

Coastline

706 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain

Mountainous

Elevation — highest point

Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Elevation — lowest point

Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

Natural resources

Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use — agricultural land

23% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

71% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

350 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

Most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

The island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands; the district of Oecussi is an exclave separated from Timor-Leste proper by Indonesia; Timor-Leste is the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

1,404,785 (2025 est.)

Population — male

693,940

Population — female

710,845

Nationality — noun

Timorese

Nationality — adjective

Timorese

Ethnic groups

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority

Languages

Tetun Prasa 30.6%, Mambai 16.6%, Makasai 10.5%, Tetun Terik 6.1%, Baikenu 5.9%, Kemak 5.8%, Bunak 5.5%, Tokodede 4%, Fataluku 3.5%, Waima'a 1.8%, Galoli 1.4%, Naueti 1.4%, Idate 1.2%, Midiki 1.2%, other 4.5% (2015 est.)

Religions

Catholic 90.7%, other 7.1%, Protestant Evangelical 1.9%; less than 1%: Islam, Buddhist, Hindu (2022 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

38.7% (male 299,929/female 283,416)

Age structure — 15-64 years

56.8% (male 418,493/female 437,727)

Age structure — 65 years and over

4.5% (2024 est.) (male 32,243/female 35,101)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

62 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

54.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

7.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

12.9 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

23 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

19.8 years

Median age — female

21.3 years

Population growth rate

1.28% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

23.39 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili

Urbanization — urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.92 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23 years (2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

192 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

41.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

35.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

28.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

70.5 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

68.9 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

72.3 years

Total fertility rate

2.79 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.35 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 87% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 13% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 73.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 26.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

36.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

62.6% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

8.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31.9% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.4% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

2.6% (2016)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

14.9% (2016)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

1.2% (2016)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

4.3% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

72.5% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

73.1% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

71.8% (2022 est.)

People - note

One of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air pollution and deterioration of air quality; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; deforestation and soil erosion from slash-and-burn agriculture; loss of biodiversity

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Land use — agricultural land

23% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

71% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

32.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

63,900 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

99 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8.215 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Country name — conventional short form

Timor-Leste

Country name — local long form

Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)

Country name — local short form

Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese)

Country name — former

East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Country name — etymology

The name partly derives from the Indonesian and Malay word timur, meaning "east;" leste is the Portuguese word for "east," so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"

Government type

Semi-presidential republic

Capital — name

Dili

Capital — geographic coordinates

8 35 S, 125 36 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

12 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque

Legal system

Civil law system based on the Portuguese model

Constitution — history

Drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister

Executive branch — most recent election date

19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022

Executive branch — election results

2022: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017: Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

April 2027

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

65 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

5/21/2023

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT) (31); Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) (19); Democratic Party (PD) (6); Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) (5); People's Liberation Party (PLP) (4)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

35.4%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

May 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts

Political parties

Democratic Party or PD National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) People's Liberation Party or PLP Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 966-3202

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 966-3205

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@timorlesteembassy.org

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

(670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

(670) 331-3206

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

28 November 1975 (from Portugal); 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)

National holiday

Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Flag

Description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle meaning: yellow stands for past colonialism, black for obscurantism that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom; the white star represents peace and a guiding light

National symbol(s)

Mount Ramelau

National color(s)

Red, yellow, black, white

National anthem(s) — title

"Patria" (Fatherland)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Francisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Lower middle-income Southeast Asian economy; government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns; endemic corruption undermines growth; foreign aid-dependent; wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.863 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.995 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$7.322 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

-2.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

-18.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

-20.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$4,200 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,300 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.881 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

16.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

23.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

61% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

70% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

52.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

17.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

3.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

22.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-66.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, pork, beans, coffee (2023)

Industries

Printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate

-57% (2023 est.)

Labor force

615,900 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

1.7% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

1.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

1.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

3.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

3.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

3.7% (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

11.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

9.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$1.877 billion (2022 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$1.826 billion (2022 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$529.738 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$177.336 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$408.059 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$278.047 million (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$701.808 million (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$1.858 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

China 46%, Singapore 25%, Japan 15%, Indonesia 5%, USA 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, scrap iron, telephones (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$1.197 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$1.169 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$1.286 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Indonesia 34%, China 26%, Singapore 9%, Taiwan 5%, India 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, rice, cars, plastic products, trucks (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$736.967 million (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$781.995 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$830.81 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$238.042 million (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

The US dollar is used

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

99.7% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

100%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

277,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas — production

521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

2,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

1.63 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

116 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage; 2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)

Internet country code

.tl

Internet users — percent of population

34% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

0 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4W

Airports

11 (2025)

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

1 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Other 1

Ports — total ports

1 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

1

Ports — very small

0

Ports — ports with oil terminals

0

Ports — key ports

Dili

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Air Force Component, Naval Component Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military is lightly armed with a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)

Military - note

The Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) has both external defense and internal security roles; it also engages in national development missions, international peacekeeping, and regional security cooperation; the F-FDTL has ties with a variety of partners, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2025)