factbook.json/east-n-southeast-asia/tt.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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 an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. <br><br>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.</p> <p>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.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "8 50 S, 125 55 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Southeast Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "14,874 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "14,874 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "253 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Indonesia 253 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "706 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mountainous"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "25.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "49.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "25.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "350 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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 has the unique distinction of being the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,506,909"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "750,665"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "756,244 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Timorese"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Timorese"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "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.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by mother tongue; Tetun and Portuguese are official languages; Indonesian and English are working languages; there are about 32 indigenous languages"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic 97.6%, Protestant/Evangelical 2%, Muslim 0.2%, other 0.2% (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Timor-Leste’s high fertility and population growth rates sustain its very youthful age structure – approximately 40% of the population is below the age of 15 and the country’s median age is 20.  While Timor-Leste’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – decreased significantly from over 7 in the early 2000s, it remains high at 4.3 in 2021 and will probably continue to decline slowly.  The low use of contraceptives and the traditional preference for large families is keeping fertility elevated.  The high TFR and falling mortality rates continue to fuel a high population growth rate of nearly 2.2%, which is the highest in Southeast Asia.  The country’s high total dependency ratio – a measure of the ratio of dependents to the working-age population – could divert more government spending toward social programs. Timor-Leste’s growing, poorly educated working-age population and insufficient job creation are ongoing problems.  Some 70% of the population lives in rural areas, where most of people are dependent on the agricultural sector.  Malnutrition and poverty are prevalent, with 42% of the population living under the poverty line as of 2014.</p> <p>During the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999) and Timor-Leste’s fight for independence, approximately 250,000 Timorese fled to western Timor and, in lesser numbers, Australia, Portugal, and other countries. Many of these emigrants later returned.  Since Timor-Leste’s 1999 independence referendum, economic motives and periods of conflict have been the main drivers of emigration.  Bilateral labor agreements with Australia, Malaysia, and South Korea and the presence of Timorese populations abroad, are pull factors, but the high cost prevents many young Timorese from emigrating.  Timorese communities are found in its former colonizers, Indonesia and Portugal, as well as the Philippines and the UK.  The country has also become a destination for migrants in the surrounding region, mainly men seeking work in construction, commerce, and services in Dili.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "38.7% (male 299,929/female 283,416)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "56.8% (male 418,493/female 437,727)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "4.5% (2024 est.) (male 32,243/female 35,101)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "90.3"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "59.4"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "8.9"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "11.2 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "20.6 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "2.04% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "29.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "32.5% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "23 years (2016 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "204 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "32.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "35.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "28.9 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "70.5 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "68.9 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "72.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.98 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.92 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "26.1% (2016)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 98% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 82.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 87.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 17.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "9.9% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 88.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 56.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 66.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 11.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 43.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 33.7% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "3.8% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39.2% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "67.6% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "10.8% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "31.9% (2020)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "55.9% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "2.6%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "14.9%"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "1.2% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "68.1%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "71.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "64.2% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "People - note": {
      "text": "one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines"
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion;&nbsp;loss of biodiversity"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "25.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "49.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "25.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "32.5% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.13% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "20.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "0.5 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "4.74 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "63,875 tons (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "8.22 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Timor-Leste"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese)"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "East Timor, Portuguese Timor"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "timor\" derives from the Indonesian and Malay word \"timur\" meaning \"east\"; \"leste\" is the Portuguese word for \"east\", so \"Timor-Leste\" literally means \"Eastern-East\"; the local [Tetum] name \"Timor Lorosa'e\" translates as \"East Rising Sun\""
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay"
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "semi-presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Dili"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "8 35 S, 125 36 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system based on the Portuguese model; note - penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "17 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Jos&eacute; RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the President of the Republic"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 19 March 2022 with a runoff on 19 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em>2022</em>: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9%<br><em><br>2017</em>: Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "National Parliament"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "65 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "5/21/2023"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "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)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "35.4%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "May 2028"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 and being rolled out in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reforms"
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Democratic Party or PD <br>National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT <br>National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) <br>People's Liberation Party or PLP <br>Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), 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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Jos&eacute; Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 966-3202"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 966-3205"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@timorlesteembassy.org"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Donna Ann WELTON (since 16 July 2024)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "(670) 331-3206"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ConsDili@state.gov<br><br>https://tl.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past, black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome, red stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "Mount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Patria\" (Fatherland)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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) 2023": {
        "text": "$5.992 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$7.318 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$9.214 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "-18.12% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "-20.58% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "5.32% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$4,300 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$5,300 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$6,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$2.08 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "8.42% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "7.01% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "3.7% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "16.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "23.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "61% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "70% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "52.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "17.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "3.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "22.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-66.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, coffee, beans, pork (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-56.97% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "607,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "1.52% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "1.54% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "2.34% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "3.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "41.8% (2014 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014": {
        "text": "28.7 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "4% (2014 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "24% (2014 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "9.28% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "5.12% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "4.14% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.877 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.684 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "3.8% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "21.64% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "-$17.331 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "$474.005 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$1.524 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$701.808 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$1.858 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$2.772 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 25%, Indonesia 20%, Japan 14%, South Korea 13%, Thailand 7% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "crude petroleum, coffee, natural gas, beer, construction vehicles (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$1.204 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$1.405 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$1.298 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Indonesia 27%, China 23%, Singapore 9%, Australia 6%, Malaysia 6% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, rice, cars, coal, cranes (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$781.995 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$830.81 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$934.781 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$259.088 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "text": "<p>the US dollar is used</p>"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "99.7% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "100%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "100%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "283,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "414.76 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "100 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "99.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "imports": {
        "text": "122,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "2.925 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "2.925 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "637,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "637,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "6.497 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "2,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2023 est.) less than 1"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.56 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "110 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Timor-Leste has been moving forward with the regeneration of its economy and rebuilding key infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, that were destroyed during the years of civil unrest; fixed-line and fixed broadband penetration in Timor-Leste remains extremely low, mainly due to the limited fixed-line infrastructure and the proliferation of mobile connectivity; in an effort to boost e-government services; the number of subscribers through to 2026 is expected to develop steadily, though from a low base; by August 2020, Timor-Leste had three telecom service providers who jointly achieved a 98% network coverage nationally; the mobile broadband market is still at an early stage of development, strong growth is predicted over the next five years; at the end of 2020, the government issued new policy guidelines to maximize the use of spectrum in Timor-Leste; it invited mobile operators to submit applications for the allocation of spectrum in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands; in November 2020, the government approved the deployment of a submarine fiber link connecting the south of the country to Australia via the North Western Cable System (NWCS) (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line services less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular services is 110 per 100 (2022)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 670; &nbsp;international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS);&nbsp;geostationary earth orbit satellite"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage;&nbsp;2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".tl"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "41% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2023 est.) less than 1"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "2"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "4W"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "10 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "2 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6,040 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "2,600 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "3,440 km (2008)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "other 1"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "1 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Dili"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Joint Headquarters with Land, Air, Naval, Service Support, and Education/Training components<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2024)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 1,500-2,000 personnel (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the military is lightly armed and has a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; compulsory service was authorized in 2020 for men and women aged 18-30 for 18 months of service, but the level of implementation is unclear (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the F-FDTL is a small and lightly equipped force with both external defense and internal security roles; it has two infantry battalions, a small air component, and a handful of naval patrol boats<br><br>since achieving independence, Timor-Leste has received security assistance from or has made defense cooperation arrangements with Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  }
}