East Timor

National name: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa’e/Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste

Government Republic.

Geography
East Timor is located in the eastern part of Timor, an island in the Indonesian archipelago that lies between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. East Timor includes the enclave of Oecussi, which is located within West Timor (Indonesia). It is semiarid and mountainous.

Historical Background
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. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state.

Facts & Figures

Name

East Timor

Capital

Dili

Government

Parliamentary republic

Language

Tetum and Portuguese

National Holiday

May 20 - Independence Restoration Day

Religion

Roman Catholic

Literacy Rate

90%

Area

14,874 km2 (159th) 5,743 sq mi

Population

2010 estimate 1,066,582 (155th)

Currency

U.S. Dollar

National Day

November 12 National Youth Day, December 7 National Heroes' Day