Facts

  • Population » 1.2 million
  • Major languages » Tetum and Portuguese (official)
    • Indonesian and English (working languages)
  • Major religion » Christianity
  • Life expectancy » 62 years (men), 70 years (women)
  • Electricity » 220V, 50Hz with sockets and plugs Type C, Type E, Type F and Type I.
  • Currency » US dollar (USD)
  • Emergency Number » 115

Geography

  • Area » 14,609 sq km (5,641 sq miles)

Maps

Tourism

Overland

  • Many overlanders ship their vehicles between the capital city, Dili, to Darwin, Australia.
  • Drives on the left
  • Poor road quality, poor driving standards and a rapidly increasing number of cars and motorbikes on the roads, especially in Dili, makes driving hazardous and accidents are frequent, especially at night when lighting can be minimal.
  • Part of the adventure is definitely the roads, some of which are notorious with their blind corners and pot-holes.
  • In general the north coast road is in good condition following a major upgrade from the Batugade border to Lospalos in the east, but the roads inland crossing the mountains to the south coast are variable.
  • Road access to Hato Builico (Mt Ramelau) and Valu (Jaco Island) requires a strong 4WD.

Notes

  • Reports that automatic teller machines are rare in Timor-Leste.
  • Travellers are advised to respect religious, social, and cultural traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.
    • Modesty and discretion should be exercised.

World Rankings

Safety and Security

  • Continued clashes between security services and groups challenging the government mean travel to the eastern side of the country challenging. Check for updates.

Government Travel Advice