Discover Fascinating Timor-Leste Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste

Background

๐ŸŒ Timor-Leste has a rich and fascinating history! For centuries, it was part of active trading networks in Southeast Asia. By the 14th century, Timor was exporting products like sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. ๐Ÿฏ๐ŸŒฒ The island was colonized by Portugal in the mid-16th century, shaping its future greatly. ๐Ÿฐ Fast forward to 1976 when it became part of Indonesia as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). Finally, in 2002, Timor-Leste proudly gained its independence and was recognized as a sovereign state! ๐ŸŽ‰

Year Timor-Leste gained independence

2002

Year incorporated into Indonesia

1976

Century of Portuguese colonization

16th century

Century of active trading networks

14th century

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿ“ฆ Timor-Leste's Exports - Commodities ๐ŸŒ

Timor-Leste has a variety of valuable exports that help its economy grow! Here are some of the main products they sell to other countries:

  • Crude Petroleum ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ
  • Coffee โ˜•
  • Natural Gas ๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ
  • Beer ๐Ÿบ
  • Construction Vehicles ๐Ÿšœ

These items are important for trade and show the diversity of products Timor-Leste offers to the world! ๐ŸŒŸ

Capital

๐ŸŒ† The capital city of Timor-Leste is Dili! Nestled along the beautiful coastline, Dili is not just a place on the map; it's the heart of the country, filled with vibrant culture and history! ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Whether you're enjoying the stunning beaches or exploring the rich heritage, thereโ€™s always something amazing happening in Dili! ๐Ÿ–๏ธ๐ŸŒž

Imports - commodities

๐Ÿšข Timor-Leste's Imports - Commodities ๐ŸŒ

Timor-Leste imports a variety of essential commodities that keep its economy moving! In 2022, the country brought in:

  • Refined petroleum
  • Rice
  • Cars
  • Coal
  • Cranes

Each of these commodities plays a vital role in keeping the lights on, the cars running, and the infrastructure growing! ๐ŸŒŸ

Number of Commodities Imported

5

Climate

๐ŸŒด Timor-Leste has a tropical climate! โ˜€๏ธ It is hot and humid, with distinct rainy and dry seasons. This means that while you can enjoy sunny days most of the year, you'll also need an umbrella when the rains come pouring down! โ˜”๏ธ

Climate Type

Tropical

Characteristics

Hot and Humid

Seasons

Distinct Rainy and Dry Seasons

Executive branch

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฑ In Timor-Leste, the Executive branch is led by a couple of important figures! The chief of state is President Josรฉ RAMOS-HORTA, who has been in office since 20 May 2022. On the other hand, the head of government is Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO, who took the position on 1 July 2023. These leaders help guide the country and make important decisions for its future! ๐ŸŒŸ

Current President

José RAMOS-HORTA

President's term start

20 May 2022

Current Prime Minister

Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO

Prime Minister's term start

1 July 2023

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ“œ Timor-Leste's legislative branch is quite unique! It features a unicameral National Parliament that is made up of 65 seats. Unlike some countries that have two separate chambers, Timor-Leste's parliament operates as a single body, making it easier to pass laws and make decisions for the nation. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Total Seats in National Parliament

65

Natural resources

๐ŸŒ Timor-Leste is rich in natural resources! The country proudly boasts gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, and marble. Each of these resources plays a significant role in shaping the economy and providing for its people. Let's take a closer look at what makes these resources important! ๐Ÿž๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Natural Resources Identified

5

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Timor-Leste is classified as a lower middle-income economy in Southeast Asia. The country relies heavily on oil fund drawdowns to fund government expenditures, which highlights its dependence on natural resources. However, endemic corruption is a major problem that hinders economic growth. ๐Ÿ’” Additionally, foreign aid dependence is a significant aspect, and the nation struggles with widespread issues like poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. ๐Ÿ“‰ These factors contribute to a challenging economic landscape for the people of Timor-Leste.

Income Classification

Lower middle-income

Economic Dependence

Foreign aid-dependent

Main Funding Source for Government Expenditure

Oil fund drawdowns

Major Economic Challenges

Corruption, poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy

Government type

๐ŸŒ Timor-Leste is a semi-presidential republic! This means that the country has both a president and a prime minister, sharing the powers of the government together. It's a unique way to govern that allows for a blend of leadership styles and responsibilities. This system helps ensure that different voices are heard and that the government is balanced! ๐Ÿš€

Type of Government

Semi-presidential republic

Ethnic groups

In Timor-Leste, the vibrant tapestry of ethnic groups weaves together a rich cultural heritage! ๐ŸŽจ Let's take a closer look at the different communities that call this beautiful nation home:

  • Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian): This group includes many sub-groups such as Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, and Baikeno. They represent a large part of the population and have significant influence in the country's culture and traditions.
  • Melanesian-Papuan: Encompassing groups like Bunak, Fataluku, and Bakasai, this community adds diversity to Timor-Leste's ethnic landscape.
  • Small Chinese minority: A smaller yet important part of the population, contributing to the country's economic and cultural diversity.

Together, these groups create a unique blend of languages, traditions, and lifestyles that reflect the rich history of Timor-Leste! ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฑโœจ

Austronesian Population Percentage

70%

Melanesian-Papuan Population Percentage

20%

Chinese Population Percentage

10%

Ethnic Groups in Timor-Leste

Religions

Religions of Timor-Leste ๐ŸŒโœ๏ธ๐Ÿ•Œ

Timor-Leste is a diverse nation when it comes to religion! Hereโ€™s a quick look at the percentages of different religious groups in 2015:

  • Roman Catholic: 97.6%
  • Protestant/Evangelical: 2%
  • Muslim: 0.2%
  • Other: 0.2%

As you can see, the majority of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, making it a significant part of their cultural heritage! ๐Ÿ˜‡

Percentage of Roman Catholics

97.6%

Percentage of Protestants/Evangelicals

2%

Percentage of Muslims

0.2%

Percentage of Other Religions

0.2%

Distribution of Religions in Timor-Leste

Languages

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into the fascinating world of languages spoken in Timor-Leste! According to the 2015 estimates, the population speaks a variety of languages, with Tetun Prasa leading the way at 30.6%. ๐ŸŽ‰ Here's a breakdown of the 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%

๐Ÿ“Š This chart will help you see how each language shares the spotlight in this vibrant country!

Percentage of Tetun Prasa speakers

30.6%

Percentage of Mambai speakers

16.6%

Percentage of other languages combined

4.5%

Languages Spoken in Timor-Leste (2015)

Imports - partners

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฑ Timor-Leste has a diverse set of trading partners for its imports in 2022! Here's the scoop on where its goods come from:

  • Indonesia: 27% ๐Ÿ“ฆ
  • China: 23% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Singapore: 9% ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
  • Australia: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ
  • Malaysia: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ

Together, these countries make up the whole pie of Timor-Leste's imports! ๐Ÿฐ Letโ€™s take a closer look at how these percentages add up!

Total Import Partners

5

Highest Import Partner

Indonesia (27%)

Second Highest Import Partner

China (23%)

Timor-Leste's Import Partners (2022)

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Exports Partners of Timor-Leste (2022) ๐ŸŒ

Timor-Leste has some key partners when it comes to trade! Here's how the country's exports break down among its major partners:

  • China: 25% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Indonesia: 20% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ
  • Japan: 14% ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
  • South Korea: 13% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Thailand: 7% ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ

Together, these partners play a huge role in helping Timor-Leste share its goods with the world! Let's take a closer look at the percentage breakdown of these trading relationships.

Total Export Partners Count

5

Exports Partners of Timor-Leste (2022)

Population

Did you know that Timor-Leste has a population of 1,506,909 people? ๐ŸŒ That's a diverse and vibrant community living on this beautiful island nation! With each person contributing to the cultural tapestry, it's exciting to think about all the stories and traditions that make up the population! ๐ŸŽ‰

Total Population

1,506,909

Area

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Let's explore the area of Timor-Leste! ๐ŸŒ

Timor-Leste is a beautiful country with a total area of 14,874 square kilometers! That's quite spacious for all the amazing sights and attractions it has to offer! ๐Ÿ˜

Here's a quick look at the different types of area:

  • Land Area: 14,874 square kilometers
  • Water Area: 0 square kilometers ๐ŸŒŠ

This means that all of Timor-Leste's area is land! How cool is that? ๐Ÿž๏ธ

Total Area

14,874 sq km

Land Area

14,874 sq km

Water Area

0 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐ŸŒTimor-Leste's Real GDP ๐ŸŒŸ

Timor-Leste's economy is on the rise! Hereโ€™s a quick look at its Real GDP (purchasing power parity) over the past few years:

  • 2021: $9.207 billion
  • 2022: $7.316 billion
  • 2023: $6.265 billion

It seems like the GDP has decreased since 2021. ๐Ÿ“‰ Maybe challenges came up that affected the economy. Understanding how this works is important for the bright future of Timor-Leste! ๐ŸŒˆ

Real GDP in 2021

$9.207 billion

Real GDP in 2022

$7.316 billion

Real GDP in 2023

$6.265 billion

Timor-Leste Real GDP Over the Years

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ“Š Let's take a look at the economic growth of Timor-Leste! The Real GDP per capita shows how much money each person would get if all the money in the country was shared equally. Here's how it has changed in the last few years:

  • In 2021, the GDP per capita was $7,000.
  • It dropped to $5,500 in 2022, which is a bit concerning.
  • By 2023, it is estimated to be $4,600.

This means that the money available for each person is getting lower! But why could that be? Let's visualize the data! ๐Ÿ“‰

GDP per Capita in 2021

7000 USD

GDP per Capita in 2022

5500 USD

GDP per Capita in 2023

4600 USD

Real GDP per Capita in Timor-Leste (2021 - 2023)

Imports

๐Ÿ“‰ Let's take a look at Timor-Leste's imports over the past few years! In 2021, the country's imports were valued at $1.298 billion. The following year in 2022, this number increased to $1.405 billion! By 2023, imports further grew, reaching an estimated $1.179 billion. It's interesting to see how the imports have fluctuated! ๐Ÿ“Š

Import Value in 2021

1.298 billion USD

Import Value in 2022

1.405 billion USD

Estimated Import Value in 2023

1.179 billion USD

Timor-Leste Imports Over Time

Exports

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at the exports of Timor-Leste over the years! The exports have noticeably changed from 2021 to 2023. In 2021, Timor-Leste exported a total of $2.772 billion. The following year, in 2022, this amount decreased to $1.858 billion. As of the latest estimate in 2023, exports decreased further to $701.808 million. It's interesting to see how these numbers have shifted! ๐ŸŒ

Have a closer look at the timeline below for a clearer view!

Total exports in 2021

$2.772 billion

Total exports in 2022

$1.858 billion

Total exports in 2023

$701.808 million

Exports of Timor-Leste (2021-2023)

Population growth rate

๐ŸŽ‰ Timor-Leste is experiencing a notable population growth rate of 2.04% in 2024! This means more people are calling this beautiful country home every year. ๐ŸŒ Let's dive into what this number means for the future of Timor-Leste! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Population growth rate for 2024

2.04%