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Background:
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The
Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in
the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century.
Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually
resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the
western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied
East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed
colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World
War II. East Timor declared itself independent from
Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and
occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was
incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province
of East Timor. An unsuccessful campaign of pacification
followed over the next two decades, during which an
estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their
lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular
referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of
East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia.
Between the referendum and the arrival of a
multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999,
anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and
supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a
large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The
militias killed approximately 1,300 Timorese and
forcibly pushed 300,000 people into West Timor as
refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure,
including homes, irrigation systems, water supply
systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's
electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the
Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International
Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country
and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, East
Timor was internationally recognized as an independent
state. |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser
Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian
archipelago; note - East Timor 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 |
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 50 S,
125 55 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast
Asia |
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Area:
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total:
15,007 sq km
land: NA
water: NA |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km |
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Coastline:
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706 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: NA
exclusive economic zone: NA
continental shelf: NA
exclusive fishing zone: NA |
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Climate:
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tropical;
hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons |
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Terrain:
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mountainous |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold,
petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 4.71%
permanent crops: 0.67%
other: 94.62% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,065 sq
km (est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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floods
and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones |
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Environment - current issues:
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widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion |
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Environment - international agreements:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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1,040,880
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 37.1% (male 196,108/female 189,753)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 318,173/female 305,479)
65 years and over: 3% (male 15,353/female 16,014)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
20.41 years
male: 20.46 years
female: 20.35 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.09%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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27.19
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.3
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
47.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 65.9 years
male: 63.63 years
female: 68.29 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.61
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Timorese
adjective: Timorese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese
minority |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%,
Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.) |
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Languages:
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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 |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6% (2002) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor
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: Portuguese Timor |
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Government type:
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Republic
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Capital:
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Dili |
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Administrative divisions:
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13
administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau,
Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera,
Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same),
Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque |
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Independence:
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28
November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from
Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of
international recognition of East Timor's independence
from Indonesia |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 28 November (1975) |
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Constitution:
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22 March
2002 (based on the Portuguese model) |
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Legal system:
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UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains
in place but will be replaced by civil and penal codes
based on Portuguese law (2004) |
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Suffrage:
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17 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20
May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic
role but is able to veto some legislation; he formerly
used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude
ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next
to be held in April 2007); after the first legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party was
appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a
precedent for the future
election results: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected
president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO
82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can
vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms); note - for its first term of office,
the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an
exceptional basis
elections: (next to be held August 2006); direct
elections for national parliament were never held;
elected delegates to the national convention named
themselves legislators instead of having elections;
hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the
national parliament.
election results: percent of vote by party -
FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT
2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST
1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party -
FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2,
PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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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
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Political parties and leaders:
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Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco
Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor
or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of
Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic
Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL
[leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader
NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];
Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or
FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor
or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or
PST [leader Avelino COELHO]; Sons of the Mountain
Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic
Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or
PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party
or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic
Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA
COSTA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Popular
Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of
East Timor or CPD-RDTL [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is
largest political pressure group; it rejects current
government and claims to be rightful government; Kolimau
2000 [leader Dr. Bruno MAGALHAES] is another opposition
group; dissatisfied veterans of struggle against
Indonesia, led by one-time government advisor Cornelio
GAMA (also known as L-7), also play an important role in
pressuring government |
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International organization participation:
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ACP,
AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF
(observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone: 202 965-1515
FAX: 202 965-1517
consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador
resides in New York) (2004) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos
Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili
Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206 |
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Flag description:
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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; there is a white star
in the center of the black triangle |
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Economy - overview:
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In late
1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East
Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and
anti-independence militias, and 300,000 people fled
westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive
international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers
(8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to
substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural
areas. By 2003, all but about 30,000 of the refugees had
returned. Growth was held back in 2003 by extensive
drought and the gradual winding down of the
international presence. The country faces great
challenges in continuing the rebuilding of
infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil
administration, and generating jobs for young people
entering the workforce. One promising long-term project
is the planned development of oil and gas resources in
nearby waters, which have begun to supplement government
revenues ahead of schedule. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$370
million (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $400 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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50%
(including underemployment) (1992 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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42% (2003
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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38 (2002
est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (2003
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $107.7 million
expenditures: $73 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee,
rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage,
mangoes, bananas, vanilla |
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Industries:
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printing,
soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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8.5% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Exports:
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$8
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee,
sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and
vanilla exports |
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Exports - partners:
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Indonesia
100% |
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Imports:
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$167
million (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
gasoline, kerosene, machinery |
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Imports - partners:
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NA |
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Debt - external:
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none |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$2.2
billion (1999-2002 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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US dollar
(USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US
dollar is the legal tender |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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NA |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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NA |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM NA, FM
NA, shortwave NA |
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Radios:
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NA |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.tl; note
- ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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NA |
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Internet users:
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NA |
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Highways:
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total:
3,800 km
paved: 428 km
unpaved: 3,372 km (1995) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Dili |
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Airports:
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8 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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East
Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este,
FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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NA |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: NA |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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NA |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$4.4
million (FY03) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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NA |
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Disputes - international:
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UN
Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has
maintained about a thousand peacekeepers in East Timor
since 2002; East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee
continues to meet, survey, and delimit the land
boundary, but several sections of the boundary
especially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved;
Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the
uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai,
which prevents delimitation of the northern maritime
boundaries; many of 28,000 East Timorese refugees still
residing in Indonesia in 2003 have returned, but many
continue to refuse repatriation; East Timor and
Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to
delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share
unexploited potential petroleum resources that fall
outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by
the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Australia also
hampers creation of a southern maritime boundary with
Indonesia |
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Illicit drugs:
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NA |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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