East Timor facts for kids
East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It covers the eastern part of the island of Timor. It also includes a small area called Oecusse on the island's northwest side, and the small islands of Atauro and Jaco. Australia is its neighbor to the south, across the Timor Sea. The country is about 14,874 square kilometers in size. Its capital and largest city is Dili.
East Timor was a colony of Portugal for a long time, starting in the 1500s. In 1975, it declared independence, but then Indonesia invaded and took control. The people of East Timor resisted Indonesian rule for many years. In 1999, with help from the United Nations, Indonesia gave up control. On May 20, 2002, East Timor became an independent country again. It was the first new country to become independent in the 21st century.
The country has a government system where a president and a prime minister share power. East Timor works with other countries and is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. The country is still developing and relies a lot on its natural resources, especially oil, and help from other countries.
More than 1.1 million people live in East Timor. Many of them are young because the birth rate is high. Education has improved, and more people can read and write, especially in the two official languages: Portuguese and Tetum. There are many different ethnic groups and about 30 local languages spoken. Most people are Catholic, and their faith is often mixed with old local traditions.
Quick facts for kids
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
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 Emblem
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Motto: Unidade, Acção, Progresso (Portuguese)
"Unity, Action, Progress" |
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Anthem: Pátria (Portuguese)
"Fatherland" |
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| Capital and largest city
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Dili 8°33′S 125°34′E / 8.55°S 125.56°E |
| Official languages |
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| National languages |
15 languages
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| Working languages | |
| Religion
(2015 census)
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| Demonym(s) |
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| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| José Ramos-Horta | |
| Xanana Gusmão | |
| Legislature | National Parliament |
| Independence | |
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• Portuguese Timor
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Early 18th century |
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• Independence declared
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28 November 1975 |
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• Annexation by Indonesia
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17 July 1976 |
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• Administered by UNTAET
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25 October 1999 |
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• Independence restored
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20 May 2002 |
| Area | |
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• Total
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14,950 km2 (5,770 sq mi) (154th) |
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• Water (%)
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Negligible |
| Population | |
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• 2023 estimate
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1,354,662 (153rd) |
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• 2022 census
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1,341,737 |
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• Density
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89.7/km2 (232.3/sq mi) (137th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
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• Total
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 $5 billion (173rd) |
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• Per capita
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$3,747 (157th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
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• Total
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$2 billion (183rd) |
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• Per capita
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$1,497 (151st) |
| Gini (2014) | 28.7 low |
| HDI (2022) | 0.566 medium · 155th |
| Currency | United States dollarb East Timor Centavo (USD) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Timor-Leste Time) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +670 |
| ISO 3166 code | TL |
| Internet TLD | .tlc |
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Contents
History of East Timor
For a long time, Portugal controlled East Timor, calling it the Colony of Portuguese Timor. In 1975, the Portuguese army left. East Timor was then invaded by the Indonesian army. This invasion was very violent. The Indonesian army stayed until 1999, when they gave up control with help from the United Nations.
Secret documents later showed that some officials from the United States government knew about and supported the invasion.
When East Timor became independent on May 20, 2002, it was the first country to gain independence in the 21st century.
Long ago, about 3,000 years ago, East Timor was a mountainous island. People from New Guinea, Australia, and Melanesia migrated there. Other people from South China and North Indochina also arrived. They came looking for trade because East Timor had valuable resources. These included sandalwood, honey, and wax.
During World War II, the Japanese army took over the region. They faced strong resistance from the local people. About 30% of the population died during this time.
In 1974, Portugal decided to give freedom to its colonies. This happened after a military coup in Portugal called the Revolution of Carnations.
Geography and Environment
East Timor is located in Southeast Asia. It is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. To the north are the Ombai Strait, Wetar Strait, and the Banda Sea. The Timor Sea separates the island from Australia to the south. The Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara is to East Timor's west.
Much of the country is mountainous. Its highest point is Tatamailau, which is 2,963 meters tall. The climate is tropical, meaning it is generally hot and humid. It has clear rainy and dry seasons. Dili is the capital, largest city, and main port. The second-largest city is Baucau.
The eastern part of East Timor has the Paitchau Range and Lake Ira Lalaro. This area includes the country's first conservation area, the Nino Konis Santana National Park. This park has the last remaining tropical dry forests in the country. It is home to many unique plants and animals. The northern coast has many coral reef systems, which are currently at risk.
Animals and Plants
The island of Timor and its nearby islands like Atauro and Jaco are part of an ecoregion called the Timor and Wetar deciduous forests. This area has a mix of plants and animals from Asia and Australia. Most of the original forests have been cut down for farming, especially along the coasts. Only small patches remain.
Many trees here are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves during the dry season. There are also evergreen trees and thorn trees.
Long ago, during the Ice Age, giant monitor lizards lived in Timor. These were similar to the Komodo dragon. Small relatives of elephants, called stegodonts, also lived here.
Today, unique animals include the Timor shrew and Timor rat. The northern common cuscus, a marsupial (like a small kangaroo), is also found here. The island has many birds, mostly from Asia, with some from Australia. There are 250 bird species, and 24 of them are found only in Timor. These include the slaty cuckoo-dove and the iris lorikeet.
Saltwater crocodiles live in the wetlands, and reticulated pythons can be found in the forests and grasslands.
Different types of frogs also live in Timor. Scientists have recently found a new species of tiny frog here.
Government and Politics
East Timor has a semi-presidential political system, similar to Portugal's. This means that power is shared between the president and the prime minister. The government also has separate branches: the executive (president and prime minister), the legislature (parliament), and the judiciary (courts). This separation helps keep power balanced.
The president is the head of state. People vote for the president every five years, and a president can serve for a maximum of two terms. The president has some power, like being able to stop new laws or call for public votes. However, the president does not directly choose the prime minister.
The prime minister is the head of government. The parliament chooses the prime minister. The president then officially appoints the leader of the main party or group of parties in parliament as prime minister. The prime minister leads the cabinet, which is a group of ministers who run different parts of the government.
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The National Parliament makes the laws. Its members are elected by popular vote for five-year terms. The number of seats in parliament can be between 52 and 65. To get seats, parties must win at least 3% of the votes.
When East Timor became independent, the Fretilin political party was in power. This party had led the resistance against the Indonesian invasion. The political system has remained stable, even during difficult times. Elections are fair, and many people vote.
One out of every three candidates that political parties put forward must be women. This helps ensure that women hold many seats in parliament.
Politics in East Timor can sometimes be divided by geography, especially between the eastern and western parts of the country. Political parties are often linked more to well-known leaders than to specific ideas. The capital city, Dili, is where most of the government and services are located.
Economy and Resources
East Timor has a market economy. It used to rely on selling things like coffee, marble, and sandalwood. Now, it gets a lot of money from its oil and gas reserves found offshore. However, not much of this money has reached the villages, where many people still farm to feed themselves. Almost half of the population lives in extreme poverty.
The Timor-Leste Petroleum Fund was set up in 2005. By 2011, it was worth $8.7 billion. The International Monetary Fund calls East Timor the "most oil-dependent economy in the world." This fund pays for almost all of the government's yearly budget. East Timor's income from oil and gas is expected to increase. This is because it decided to cancel an old agreement with Australia that gave Australia half of the income.
After oil, coffee is the second largest export. It brings in about $10 million a year. Companies like Starbucks buy a lot of East Timorese coffee. In 2012, the country produced 9,000 tonnes of coffee.
About 80% of the working population is employed in farming. In 2009, around 67,000 households grew coffee. Most of these farmers were poor.
East Timor uses the United States dollar as its currency. It also has its own centavo coins.
The country faces challenges in developing its private businesses. This is due to a lack of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and an incomplete legal system.
There are no patent laws in East Timor. A railway system has been suggested, but the government has not yet supported it due to a lack of money and experts.
People and Culture
In 2015, East Timor had a population of 1,167,242 people.
The people of East Timor are called Timorese or East Timorese. The word Maubere was once used by the Portuguese to describe native East Timorese. It was often used to mean uneducated. However, a political party called Fretilin adopted it as a term of pride.
Native East Timorese people come from different ethnic groups. Most are a mix of Austronesian and Melanesian/Papuan descent. The largest groups include the Tetum, Mambai, and Bunak people. There is also a small Chinese minority.
Languages Spoken
East Timor has two official languages: Portuguese and Tetum. English and Indonesian are also used and are considered working languages. Tetum belongs to the Austronesian language family, which is spoken across Southeast Asia.
The 2010 census found that the most common mother tongues were Tetum Prasa (spoken by 36.6% of people), Mambai (12.5%), and Makasai (9.7%). Portuguese was spoken by less than 600 people as their native language.
During Indonesian rule, Portuguese was banned. Only Indonesian was allowed in government and schools. Tetum and Portuguese became important for East Timorese people to unite against Indonesian rule. Because of this, Portuguese was made an official language in 2002. This also helped connect East Timor to other Portuguese-speaking countries.
The government believes that Portuguese will become the most widely used language in East Timor in the coming years. This is because more people are learning it quickly. English is understood by about 31.4% of the population.
East Timor is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. This group includes countries where Portuguese is spoken.
Education in East Timor
In 2010, 58.3% of adults in East Timor could read and write. This was a big increase from 37.6% in 2001. At the end of Portuguese rule, 95% of people could not read or write.
The National University of East Timor is the country's main university. There are also four other colleges.
Since independence, more schools have started teaching in Portuguese. In 2001, only a small percentage of students were in Portuguese-speaking schools. By 2005, this number had greatly increased.
Religion and Beliefs
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According to the 2010 census, most people in East Timor are Roman Catholic (96.9%). A smaller number are Protestant (2.2%) or Muslim (0.3%). Some practice other religions or no religion.
The number of churches grew a lot under Indonesian rule. This is because Indonesia's state rules required everyone to believe in one God. Traditional East Timorese beliefs did not fit this rule, so many people became Christian. In 1975, only 20% of East Timorese were Catholic. By the end of the first ten years after the invasion, this number had jumped to 95%. In rural areas, Roman Catholicism is often practiced alongside local traditions. East Timor is now one of the most Catholic countries in the world.
East Timor's constitution says that people have the freedom to choose their religion. It also says that the church and government are separate. However, it also mentions the Catholic Church's role in the country's fight for freedom. After independence, East Timor and the Philippines became the only two countries in Asia with mostly Roman Catholic populations.
Culture and Traditions
East Timorese culture is a mix of influences. These include Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Indonesian traditions. It also has strong roots in the local Austronesian and Melanesian cultures.
Many East Timorese legends come from Austronesian stories. For example, one creation myth says that an old crocodile turned into the island of Timor. This happened because the crocodile owed a debt to a young boy who had helped it. The island is shaped like a crocodile, and the boy's descendants are the native East Timorese people. The saying "leaving the crocodile" means the sad feeling of East Timorese people being away from their island.
Arts and Crafts
East Timor has a strong tradition of poetry. Even the Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, is a well-known poet. People sometimes call him the "poet warrior."
You can see Portuguese-style buildings in East Timor. There are also traditional totem houses from the eastern region. These are called uma lulik (meaning "sacred houses") in Tetum. They are known as lee teinu (meaning "legged houses") in Fataluku. Craftsmanship is important, and people often weave traditional scarves called tais.
Food and Cuisine
The food in East Timor includes popular local dishes. These often feature pork, fish, basil, tamarind, beans, corn, rice, root vegetables, and tropical fruits. East Timorese food has influences from Southeast Asian dishes. It also has flavors from Portuguese dishes because Portugal ruled the island for centuries. You can find tastes and ingredients from other former Portuguese colonies too.
Images for kids
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A demonstration for independence from Indonesia held in Australia during September 1999
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The fourteen municipalities of East Timor
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Demonstration against Australia in December 2013
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Nominal GDP of East Timor (previous and data)
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Igreja da Imaculada Conceição church, in Viqueque
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Traditional Timorese dancers
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Players of the Timorese club Sport Dili e Benfica
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See also
In Spanish: Timor Oriental para niños
