When Indonesia’s permanent representative tothe Association of Southeast Asian Nationsintimated in May 2016 that East Timor would

become a member of ASEAN in 2017, it appeared as ifthe country’s long wait to join the organization (it hadapplied for membership in 2011) was almost over. Inpreparation, three feasibility studies—covering EastTimorese politics and security, economics, and society andculture—were completed. When the Joint Communiquéof ASEAN’s foreign ministers’ meeting was issued in July,however, it only “looked forward” to “continued discus-sion” that would take into consideration the results of thestudies, thus leaving the issue of East Timor’s membershipunresolved.

Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 population (2015): 34.2 (world avg. 19.5).Death rate per 1,000 population (2015): 6.1 (world avg. 8.1).Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (2015): 28.1 (world avg. 11.4).Life expectancy at birth (2015): male 66.2 years; female 69.4 years.

DemographyPopulation (2016): 1,188,000.Density (2016): persons per sq mi205.8, persons per sq km 79.4.

Sex distribution (2015): male 50.17%;female 49.83%.

Population projection: (2020) 1,290,000;(2030) 1,547,000.

Major urban areas (2015): Dili 222,323;Baucau 17,545; Los Palos (Lospalos)12,665; Pante Macassar 12,352;Maliana 12,220.

Urban-rural (2015):

East Timor (Timor-Leste1)

Official name: República Democrática deTimor-Leste (Portuguese); RepúblikaDemokrátika Timor-Leste (Tetum)(Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste[East Timor]).

Form of government: republic with one legislative house (National Parliament[65]).

Head of state: President Taur Matan Ruak.Head of government: Prime Minister RuiMaria de Araújo.

Capital: Dili.Official languages: Portuguese; Tetum.2Official religion: none.Monetary unit: dollar (U.S.$); valuation

(Sept. 1, 2016) 1 U.S.$ = £0.75.

Ethnic composition (1999):

Age breakdown (2015):Religious affiliation (2010):

Area and population area population

2015Districts Capitals sq mi sq km census3

Aileu Aileu 261 676 48,554Ainaro Ainaro 336 870 66,397Ambeno (Oecussi) exclave Pante Macassar 315 817 72,230

Baucau (Baukau) Baucau 582 1,508 124,061Bobonaro Maliana 533 1,381 98,932Covalima Suai 466 1,207 64,550Dili Dili 142 368 252,884Ermera Ermera 298 771 127,283Lautem Los Palos 701 1,813 64,135Liquiça Liquiça 212 551 73,027Manatuto Manatuto 690 1,786 45,541Manufahi Same 512 1,327 52,246Viqueque Viqueque 725 1,880 77,402TOTAL 5,773 14,9545 1,167,242

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National economyBudget (2015). Revenue: U.S.$2,445,000,000 (transfers from petroleum

fund 93.0%; other 7.0%). Expenditures: U.S.$1,736,-000,000 (current expenditure 57.4%, of which generalpublic services 27.2%; other 42.6%).

Public debt (external, outstanding): n.a.Population economically active (2010): total 347,385; par-ticipation rates: age 10 and over, male 72.8%; female36.3%; unemployed (2013) 11.0%, of which youth (ages15–24) 13.3%.

Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture,forestry, fishing (2014): corn (maize) 102,473, rice 88,824,cassava 26,370, sweet potatoes 12,430, coconuts 10,690,dry beans 10,650, coffee 10,00010, mangoes, mango-steens, and guavas 7,81010, peanuts (groundnuts) 4,490,

avocados 4,45010, papayas 2,68410, garlic 73210, cinnamon 10810; live-stock (number of live animals) 390,000 pigs, 180,000 cattle, 180,000goats, 110,000 water buffalo, 20,00010 beehives; roundwood 110,395 cum, of which fuelwood 100%; sandalwood exports were formerly moresignificant; fisheries production 3,256 (from aquaculture 2%); aquaticplants production 1,500 (from aquaculture 100%). Mining and quarry-ing (2006): commercial quantities of marble are exported.Manufacturing (2010): principally the production of textiles, garments,handicrafts, bottled water, and processed coffee. Energy production(consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 2014) 348,000,000 (125,000,000), bysource, n.a.; coal, none (none); crude petroleum (barrels; 2014)27,900,000 (none); petroleum products (metric tons; 2011) n.a.(60,000); natural gas, none (n.a.).

Average household size (2010): 5.8.Gross national income (GNI; 2015): U.S.$2,386,000,000 (U.S.$1,920 percapita); purchasing power parity GNI (U.S.$3,820 per capita).

Land use as % of total land area (2009): in temporary crops or left fal-low 7.1%, in permanent crops 4.0%, in pasture 10.1%, forest area50.7%.

MilitaryTotal active duty personnel (November 2015):

1,330 (army 94.0%, coastal patrol 6.0%).Military expenditure as percentage of GDP(2015): 1.7%; per capita expenditureU.S.$62.

Foreign trade11

Imports (2014): U.S.$1,287,000,000 (mineral fuels,oils, and waxes 12.4%, road vehicles and partsthereof 5.8%, machinery and parts thereof 2.5%,cereals 2.5%). Major import sources:

Exports (2013)12: U.S.$53,278,000 (coffee 29.6%,other domestic exports 0.5%, reexports 69.9%). Major export destinations:

Transport and communicationsTransport. Railroads: none. Roads (2005):total length 3,107 mi, 5,000 km (paved50%). Vehicles (2008)13: pas-senger cars 1,159; trucks andbuses 457.

Education and healthLiteracy (2015): percentage of population age15 and over literate 67.5%; males literate71.5%; females literate 63.4%.

Health: physicians (2013) 2,250 (1 per 2,222 per-sons); hospital beds (2010) 6,417 (1 per 169persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 livebirths (2015) 37.5; undernourished population(2006–08) 300,000 (31% of total populationbased on the consumption of a minimum dailyrequirement of 1,700 calories).

1Timor-Leste is the preferred short-form name per the United Nations. 2Indonesian and English are“working” languages. 3Preliminary. 4Nearly all Indonesian and particularly West Timorese. 5Detail doesnot add to total given because of rounding. 6Most Protestants and Muslims left East Timor after 1999.7Some vestiges of traditional beliefs are also practiced in conjunction with Roman Catholicism.8Includes extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas. 9Taxes less subsidies on products. 102013.11Imports c.i.f.; exports f.o.b. 12Excludes oil and gas. 13Registered vehicles only. 14Subscribers.

Internet resources for further information:• General Directorate of Statistics www.statistics.gov.tl• Central Bank of Timor-Leste https://www.bancocentral.tl/en

Structure of gross domestic product and labour force2013 2014

in value % of total labour % of labourU.S.$’000,000 value force force

Agriculture, forestry, fishing 199.7 4.0 371,000 78.4Mining and quarrying 4,079.18 82.68

Manufacturing 10.7 0.2Public utilities … …Construction 214.8 4.4Transp. and commun. 80.3 1.6 102,000 21.6Trade, hotels 179.7 3.6Finance, real estateServices 380.1 7.7Pub. admin., defenseOther –203.39 –4.19

TOTAL 4,941.1 100.0 473,000 100.0

}

Communications units unitsnumber per 1,000 number per 1,000

Medium date in ’000s persons Medium date in ’000s persons

TelephonesCellular 2015 1,37714 1,17414

Landline 2015 2.7 2.3

Internet users 2015 … …Broadband 2015 1.014 0.914

}

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