Southeast Asia's Youngest Nation
About Timor-Leste
A land of extraordinary resilience, breathtaking nature, and living cultural traditions — waiting to be discovered.
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35,000 years of resilience
History
From Neolithic settlements and Portuguese colonisation to the struggle for independence — discover the remarkable story that shaped modern Timor-Leste.
Mountains, coasts & islands
Geography
Explore the rugged landscapes of Timor-Leste — from the Coral Triangle's pristine reefs to the 2,963m peak of Mount Ramelau and the remote paradise of Jaco Island.
Timor-Leste at a Glance
Timor-Leste (East Timor) occupies the eastern half of Timor island in maritime Southeast Asia, along with the enclave of Oecusse on the northwest coast of West Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. It is bordered by Indonesia to the west and the Timor Sea to the south.
After 450 years of Portuguese colonisation and 24 years of Indonesian occupation, Timor-Leste achieved formal independence on 20 May 2002, becoming the first new sovereign state of the 21st century. Today it is a young democracy with a predominantly Catholic population and a rich tapestry of languages, including Tetum and Portuguese as official languages.
The country is renowned for its biodiversity — sitting within the Coral Triangle, the world's most biodiverse marine region — its organic Arabica coffee, traditional tais weaving, and the warmth of its people.