Country	Timor-leste
Capital	Dili
Continent	East & Southeast Asia
Currency	United States dollar(USD)
Languages	Portuguese, Tetum, Indonesian & English

Locaion

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 Co ordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Land Boundries

Total:228 km
Border countries:Indonesia 228 km

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

Population

1,154,625
Country comparison to the world:156
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2010 est.)

Nationality

Noun:Timorese
Adjective:Timorese

Ethnic groups

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Religions

Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

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

Country Name

Conventional long form:Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay)
Conventional short form:Timor-Leste
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:East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Government Type

republic

Capital

Name:Dili
Geographic coordinates:8 35 S, 125 36 E
Time difference:UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence

28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Constitution

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Legal system

On 29 March 2009 the president promulgated the Timor-Leste penal code; UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place for civil codes but is to be replaced by civil codes based on Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
Head of government:Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Mario Viegas CARRASCALAO (since 5 March 2009); Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007)
Cabinet:Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Election results:Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary from 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections:last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June 2012)
Election results:percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT 24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (Democratic Alliance) 3.2%, UNDERTIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party - FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court

Political Parties and Leaders

Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Xanana GUSMAO]; National Democratic Union of Timorese Resistance or UNDERTIM [Cornelio DA Conceicao GAMA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Fernanda BORGES]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI]; Social Democratic Association of Timor or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Zacarias Albano da COSTA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors or KOTA [Manuel TILMAN] (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission: Ambassador Constancio da Conceicao PINTO
Chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504,Washington, DC 20008
Telephone:[1] (202) 966-3202
FAX:[1] (202) 966-3205

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Hans G. KLEMM
Embassy:Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
Mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
Telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX:(670) 331-3206

Flag description

red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle

Video

View Larger Map

Government - Government - Timor-Leste Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  East Timor Centre for Investigative Journalism Timor Today
Tourism -         Ministry Of Tourism

Google News

Timor-Leste's critical window on ASEAN - The Interpreter Timor-Leste's critical window on ASEAN The Interpreter Amid the celebrations of ASEAN's 50th birthday last week, the question of whether Timor-Leste will soon be granted full membership lingers. ASEAN membership is the cornerstone of Timor-Leste's foreign policy. In March 2011, Timor-Leste applied for ... WFP Timor-Leste Country Brief, June 2017 - ReliefWeb ReliefWeb WFP Timor-Leste Country Brief, June 2017 ReliefWeb WFP supported the launch of the Timor-Leste Strategic Review: Progress and Success in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, undertaken by local non-governmental organization (NGO) the Centre of Studies for Peace and Development (CEPAD), ... FIBA Oceania President "astonished" in Timor-Leste - FIBA FIBA Oceania President "astonished" in Timor-Leste FIBA TIMOR-LESTE - Bouncing basketballs, laughter and smiles welcomed FIBA Oceania President to the South East Asian country separated from Australia to the south by the Timor Sea, and the Indonesian Province of East Nusa Tenggara to the west. Timor Leste should join Asean: The Jakarta Post columnist - The Straits Times The Straits Times Timor Leste should join Asean: The Jakarta Post columnist The Straits Times AINARO, Timor Leste (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Bright blue election boxes and indelibly inked index fingers. These are just some of the vivid colors of democracy that come to mind as I think back to something momentous that just ... Timor Leste deserves to join ASEANJakarta Post all 3 news articles » Time (and Oil) Running Out for Timor-Leste - The Diplomat The Diplomat Time (and Oil) Running Out for Timor-Leste The Diplomat Elections in Timor-Leste have highlighted the challenges facing one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations, amid predictions that its key oil and gas resources could be depleted by the end of the decade. Preliminary results Sunday from parliamentary ... Timor-Leste set for new coalition after ruling parties win pollSBS Timor-Leste elections suggest reframed cross-party governmentThe Interpreter Timor Leste votes for Parliament amid huge challengesThe Straits Times Asia Pacific Report -Asia Times all 97 news articles » Timor-Leste elections a significant milestone - The Interpreter The Interpreter Timor-Leste elections a significant milestone The Interpreter For a nation that only won its hard-fought battle for independence 15 years ago, Timor Leste has travelled a long way fast. On 22 July, the Timorese people voted for the fourth time in parliamentary elections to elect the 65 members of the National ... cloudyBoss Intern Boosts Digital Profile of Home Country, Timor-Leste - PR.com (press release) cloudyBoss Intern Boosts Digital Profile of Home Country, Timor-Leste PR.com (press release) One of the leading lights of the cloudyBoss Internship Program is Ana Xbelo from Timor-Leste (East Timor). Sydney, Australia, August 17, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Ana is one of a select few to be granted a full undergraduate scholarship by her government to ... US and Timor Leste navies stage joint exercise, SE Asia News ... - The Straits Times The Straits Times US and Timor Leste navies stage joint exercise, SE Asia News ... The Straits Times Navy personnel in Timor Leste practising combat tactics taught by the US Marines during an exercise at a naval base in Metinaro, Dili, yesterday. The United ... and more » Timor-Leste: Failing State or Missed Opportunity? - The Diplomat The Diplomat Timor-Leste: Failing State or Missed Opportunity? The Diplomat There is a lot of doom and gloom about the possibility of Timor-Leste becoming a failed state. Caution is understandable, as failed states create regional instability. However, there is a tendency to overlook the positive steps that Timor-Leste takes ... Timor-Leste Prepares for New Government and Opportunities for Tourist Economy - The Asia Foundation - In Asia The Asia Foundation - In Asia Timor-Leste Prepares for New Government and Opportunities for Tourist Economy The Asia Foundation - In Asia In July, Timor-Leste held its 4th parliamentary election, heralding in a new government, and potentially new leadership both within key ministries and at the prime ministerial level. Such leadership changes come at a critical time for the oil-dependent ...