World Factbook
Timor-Leste
Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle meaning: yellow stands for past colonialism, black for obscurantism that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom; the white star represents peace and a guiding light
Capital
name
Dili
time difference
UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
8 35 S, 125 36 E
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
amendment process
proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum
Country name
note
note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay
former
East Timor, Portuguese Timor
etymology
the name partly derives from the Indonesian and Malay word timur , meaning "east;" leste is the Portuguese word for "east," so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"
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)
conventional long form
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form
Timor-Leste
Independence
28 November 1975 (from Portugal); 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)
Legal system
civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
judge selection and term of office
court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life
Executive branch
note
note: the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
cabinet
Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president
chief of state
President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)
election results
2022 : José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017 : Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%
head of government
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
most recent election date
19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
expected date of next election
April 2027
National holiday
Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
National color(s)
red, yellow, black, white
Political parties
Democratic Party or PD National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) People's Liberation Party or PLP Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
65 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Parliament
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/21/2023
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
35.4%
parties elected and seats per party
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT) (31); Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) (19); Democratic Party (PD) (6); Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) (5); People's Liberation Party (PLP) (4)
National anthem(s)
title
"Patria" (Fatherland)
history
adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Francisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared
lyrics/music
Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
National symbol(s)
Mount Ramelau
Administrative divisions
12 municipalities ( municipios , singular - municipio ) and 1 special adminstrative region* ( regiao administrativa especial ); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 966-3205
chancery
4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 966-3202
chief of mission
Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)
email address and website
info@timorlesteembassy.org
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(670) 331-3206
embassy
Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
telephone
(670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400
mailing address
8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)
email address and website
ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction