- Geography
Area: 15,007 sq. km.
Cities: Capital--Dili; Baucau.
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Tropical; hot, semi-arid; rainy and dry seasons.
Cities: Capital--Dili; Baucau.
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Tropical; hot, semi-arid; rainy and dry seasons.
- People
Nationality: Noun--Timorese; adjective--Timorese.
Population (2010 census): 1,066,582.
Religion: Catholic 96.5%.
Languages: Portuguese, Tetum (official languages); English, Bahasa Indonesia (working languages).
Education: Literacy--50%.
Health: Life expectancy (2010)--62 years. Child mortality rate (2010; under 5)--64 per 1,000 population.
Population (2010 census): 1,066,582.
Religion: Catholic 96.5%.
Languages: Portuguese, Tetum (official languages); English, Bahasa Indonesia (working languages).
Education: Literacy--50%.
Health: Life expectancy (2010)--62 years. Child mortality rate (2010; under 5)--64 per 1,000 population.
- Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence (from Portugal): November 28, 1975.
Restoration of independence: May 20, 2002 (see History section).
Constitution: March 2002.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court and supporting hierarchy. The Supreme Court has not yet been formed; the Court of Appeal functions on an interim basis as the Supreme Court.
Major political parties: Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), Democratic Party (PD), Social Democratic Party (PSD), Timorese Social Democratic Association (ASDT), National Unity Party (PUN), People's Party of Timor (PPT), Klibur Oan Timor Asuwain (KOTA), National Union of Timorese Resistance (UNDERTIM), and Frenti-Mudanca.
GDP per capita (nominal, non-oil, 2010 est.): $597.
GDP composition by sector (2010): Services 55%, agriculture 32%, industry 13%.
Industry: Types--oil and natural gas, coffee.
Trade: Exports--oil and natural gas, coffee. Major markets--Australia, Japan, United States. Imports--basic manufactures, commodities. Major sources--Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore.
Independence (from Portugal): November 28, 1975.
Restoration of independence: May 20, 2002 (see History section).
Constitution: March 2002.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court and supporting hierarchy. The Supreme Court has not yet been formed; the Court of Appeal functions on an interim basis as the Supreme Court.
Major political parties: Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), Democratic Party (PD), Social Democratic Party (PSD), Timorese Social Democratic Association (ASDT), National Unity Party (PUN), People's Party of Timor (PPT), Klibur Oan Timor Asuwain (KOTA), National Union of Timorese Resistance (UNDERTIM), and Frenti-Mudanca.
- Economy
GDP per capita (nominal, non-oil, 2010 est.): $597.
GDP composition by sector (2010): Services 55%, agriculture 32%, industry 13%.
Industry: Types--oil and natural gas, coffee.
Trade: Exports--oil and natural gas, coffee. Major markets--Australia, Japan, United States. Imports--basic manufactures, commodities. Major sources--Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore.
- GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
Timor-Leste is located in Southeast Asia, on the southernmost edge of the Indonesian archipelago, northwest of Australia. The country includes the eastern half of Timor island as well as the Oecussi exclave in the northwest portion of Indonesian West Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. The mixed Malay and Pacific Islander culture of the Timorese people reflects the country’s location at the juncture of those two cultural areas. After centuries of Portuguese colonial rule, a substantial majority of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic. Some of those who consider themselves Catholic practice a mixed form of religion that includes local animist customs. Approximately 50% of Timorese speak Portuguese, 55% speak Bahasa Indonesia, and 31% speak English, according to the 2010 census; the percentages are likely significantly lower among adults. Over 85% speak Tetum, the most common of the local languages; about 45% speak Tetum Prasa, the form of Tetum dominant in the Dili district. Mambae, Kemak, and Fataluku are also widely spoken. This linguistic diversity is enshrined in the country's constitution, which designates Portuguese and Tetum as official languages and English and Bahasa Indonesia as working languages. Please find more information about Timor Leste, through this link:
