The Human Truth Foundation

Timor-Leste (East Timor) (Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste)

https://www.humantruth.info/timor-leste_(east_timor).html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index141st best
CapitalDili
Land Area 14 870km21
LocationAsia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population1.3m2
Life Expectancy67.74yrs (2017)3
GNI$4 461 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesTL, TLS, 6265
Internet Domain.tp, .tl6
CurrencyDollar (USD)7
Telephone+6708

1. Overview

#indonesia #japan #portugal

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 Portuguese 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 Timor Timur (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 Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. Most 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, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president. In late 2012, the UN Security Council voted to end its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country by the end of the year.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverWith mountains to climb and untouched reefs to dive, Asia´s newest country, Timor-Leste, is a winner. It´s home to a youthful population and a diverse international presence that adds just the right amount of spice. Its capital, Dili, has all the bright lights, but venture out for wild cultural experiences. Stay in a grand Portuguese pousada on a misty hilltop, or at a quiet island ecolodge. Get rowdy dancing the night away, journey down roads alongside herds of buffalo, then wind up through rainforests dotted with coffee plants. Keep an eye out for whales as you hug the cliffs along the north-coast road. Photogenic white-sand beaches with aqua waters tempt swimmers and for those who want to delve deeper, Dili-based dive companies have spent the past decade discovering world-class dive sites.Timor-Leste richly rewards those who venture to its mountainous interior for trekking, hot springs, dense jungles and raging rivers. Getting there is a major part of the adventure, whether by vehicle, mountain bike, foot or even Timor pony - however, it is well worth the effort. Trailblaze your way through this amazing country: it´s adventure with a smile.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Timor-Leste (East Timor) National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
137Honduras0.621
138Sao Tome & Principe0.618
139Namibia0.615
140=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.607
140=Laos0.607
140=Vanuatu0.607
143Nepal0.602
144Swaziland0.597
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
145Kyrgyzstan$4 566
146Tajikistan$4 548
147Kenya$4 474
148Timor-Leste (E. Timor)$4 461
149Syria$4 192
150Cambodia$4 079
151Kiribati$4 063
152Sao Tome & Principe$4 021
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
138Rwanda107.5
139Uganda108.0
140Madagascar108.2
141Timor-Leste (E. Timor)108.3
142Burkina Faso108.5
143Tuvalu108.7
144Tanzania108.8
145Sao Tome & Principe109.3
Asia Avg92.0
World Avg88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s population is predicted to rise to 1.989 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.05. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
151Trinidad & Tobago1.4m
152Estonia1.3m
153Equatorial Guinea1.3m
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.3m
155Mauritius1.3m
156Cyprus1.2m
157Swaziland1.1m
158Djibouti1.0m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
146Singapore1.04
147Lesotho2.98
148British Virgin Islands1.02
149Timor-Leste (E. Timor)3.05
150Kazakhstan3.05
151Puerto Rico0.90
152Tajikistan3.14
153Tuvalu3.14
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
52Oman07.8
53Jordan08.0
54Laos08.1
55Timor-Leste (E. Timor)08.2
56Belize08.3
57Gabon08.5
58Pakistan08.6
59Bahrain08.7
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
155Guinea1.0%
156Iraq1.0%
157Mexico0.9%
158Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.9%
159Zambia0.9%
160Bangladesh0.9%
161Tanzania0.9%
162Mozambique0.8%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
161Gabon1.7%
162Vanuatu1.6%
163Djibouti1.5%
164Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.4%
165Zambia1.4%
166Cameroon1.4%
167Malawi1.4%
168Congo, DR1.3%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Asia (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Japan34.5
2Cyprus40.5
3Taiwan43.7
...
17Kyrgyzstan96.7
18Russia96.8
19Nepal96.9
20Timor-Leste (E. Timor)98.1
21Azerbaijan100.8
22Lebanon104.4
23Kazakhstan104.7
24Malaysia105.8
25Tajikistan106.4
Asia Avg103.00
q=52.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
111Kyrgyzstan96.7
112Russia96.8
113Nepal96.9
114Timor-Leste (E. Timor)98.1
115Vanuatu98.7
116Lesotho100.4
117Samoa100.4
118Azerbaijan100.8
World Avg86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway19. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan19.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe19, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia19.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Press Freedom
Higher is better
20
Pos.202520
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
36Costa Rica73.09
37Montenegro72.83
38Slovakia71.93
39Timor-Leste (E. Timor)71.79
40Fiji71.20
41Gabon70.65
42Macedonia70.44
43Dominican Rep.69.87
Asia Avg39.69
World Avg54.65
q=179.
Timor-Leste is one of only 19 countries who in 2025 had better press freedom than in the 2010s.
Slavery
Lower is better
21
Pos.2018
% Victims21
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
...
133Madagascar0.75
134=Malawi0.75
135Uganda0.76
136=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.77
136=Philippines0.77
136=Libya0.77
136=Nigeria0.77
140Guinea0.78
Asia Avg0.79
World Avg0.65
q=167.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.2014
Rank22
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
118=UAE118
118=Guinea-Bissau118
120Oman120
121=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)120
122Burundi122
123Tunisia123
124Mali124
125Gambia125
Asia Avg94.6
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
73Monaco2.0
74=Poland2.0
74=Ghana2.0
76Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.5
77=Senegal2.5
77=Israel2.5
77=Solomon Islands2.5
77=Colombia2.5
Asia Avg5.0
World Avg3.7
q=205.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
23
Pos.2009
Treaties23
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
73Niger18
74=El Salvador18
75Mongolia17
76=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)17
76=Estonia17
76=Turkmenistan17
76=Turkey17
76=Morocco17
Asia Avg12.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
24
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
163Liberia13.61
164San Marino13.63
165Saudi Arabia13.73
166Timor-Leste (E. Timor)13.73
167Grenada13.86
168Bahamas13.93
169Zimbabwe13.95
170Djibouti13.99
Asia Avg10.97
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

Timor-Leste (E. Timor) has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
25
Pos.202225
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
99Suriname0.41
100Colombia0.41
101Honduras0.42
102Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.42
103Guyana0.42
104Samoa0.42
105Bolivia0.42
106Paraguay0.43
Asia Avg0.33
World Avg0.34
q=166.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
26
Pos.2017
Score26
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
58Bulgaria33
59Fiji32
60=S. Korea30
60=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)30
60=Costa Rica30
60=Suriname30
60=Venezuela30
60=Lithuania30
Asia Avg-02.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
27
Pos.202127
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
51Mali2.5
52=Bhutan2.5
52=Tonga2.5
52=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.5
52=Bulgaria2.5
52=Ukraine2.5
52=Bahamas2.5
52=Central African Rep.2.5
Asia Avg3.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1=Japan44.1
2Hong Kong48.2
3Singapore49.5
...
42Philippines116.9
43Tajikistan118.2
44Syria122.2
45Timor-Leste (E. Timor)124.4
46Pakistan127.9
47Laos135.6
48Iraq139.7
49=Yemen148.2
50Afghanistan155.0
Asia Avg80.90
q=50.
Health (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
153Micronesia122.8
154Guatemala123.6
155Samoa124.2
156Timor-Leste (E. Timor)124.4
157Honduras125.3
158Vanuatu125.3
159Solomon Islands125.5
160Pakistan127.9
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria29.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans29, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia29.

For more, see:

Health:

Timor-Leste (East Timor) is a pretty unhealthy country. Timor-Leste (E. Timor) does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate30 and in its adolescent birth rate31 (but high for Asia). When it comes to most other metrics, Timor-Leste (E. Timor) does not do well. It does worse than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance32, its average life expectancy11, its fertility rate14 and in its immunizations take-up33. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Timor-Leste in 1990 was 45yrs, much lower than the global average of 64.6. But it improved greatly, by +23.3yrs, in the 30 years from then, the third best long-term improvement in the world, and triple the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Timor-Leste's peak fertility rate was 6.32 in 1960.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
30
Pos.2016
Per Capita30
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
43=Nepal2.0
43=Singapore2.0
43=Turkey2.0
46Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.1
47Mozambique2.4
48=Samoa2.5
48=Micronesia2.5
48=Guatemala2.5
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
146Singapore1.04
147Lesotho2.98
148British Virgin Islands1.02
149Timor-Leste (E. Timor)3.05
150Kazakhstan3.05
151Puerto Rico0.90
152Tajikistan3.14
153Tuvalu3.14
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
102Equatorial Guinea102
103Barbados103
104Venezuela104
105Timor-Leste (E. Timor)105
106Serbia106
107Zimbabwe107
108Central African Rep.108
109Benin109
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
%34
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
6Timor-Leste (E. Timor)21.6
7Cambodia21.7
8=Niger22.0
8=Eritrea22.0
10Burundi22.2
11Uganda22.4
12Afghanistan23.0
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
31
Pos.2022
Per 100031
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
91Antigua & Barbuda32.3
92Myanmar (Burma)32.8
93Indonesia32.9
94Timor-Leste (E. Timor)33.3
95Kyrgyzstan33.8
96Vietnam35.0
97Uruguay35.2
98Romania35.4
Asia Avg25.9
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
165Sweden77.8
166Ivory Coast76.9
167Congo, DR76.5
168Timor-Leste (E. Timor)76.5
169Indonesia76.4
170Mali76.0
171India75.1
172Ethiopia73.9
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Nepal47.9
3India49.5
...
43Kyrgyzstan108.7
44Kazakhstan109.8
45Bhutan115.3
46Uzbekistan116.1
47Tajikistan128.6
48Brunei130.2
49N. Korea132.3
50Turkmenistan134.1
51Timor-Leste (E. Timor)137.5
Asia Avg86.44
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
192N. Korea132.3
193Turkmenistan134.1
194Nauru134.4
195San Marino134.9
196Andorra136.3
197Timor-Leste (E. Timor)137.5
198Vatican City138.3
199Eritrea146.2
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Timor-Leste (E. Timor) is positioned 3rd-worst in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 4 data sets. Timor-Leste (E. Timor) does better than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person36. But unfortunately Timor-Leste (E. Timor) gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in its environmental performance37 and in its forested percent change 2000-202038. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
38
Pos.Total38
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
159Central African Rep.-2.6%
160Malaysia-2.9%
161S. Korea-2.9%
162Timor-Leste (E. Timor)-3.0%
163American Samoa-3.4%
164Rwanda-3.5%
165Trinidad & Tobago-3.6%
166Mexico-4.0%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
37
Pos.201837
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
122Micronesia49.8
123Libya49.8
124Ghana49.7
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)49.5
126Senegal49.5
127Malawi49.2
128Guyana47.9
129Tajikistan47.9
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
185Brunei39%
186Nauru39%
187S. Sudan37%
188Timor-Leste (E. Timor)36%
189Bhutan35%
190Palau34%
191Angola33%
192Iraq28%
Asia Avg55.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
36
Pos.2021
kg36
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
26Benin15.6
27Guinea16.7
28Gambia16.7
29Timor-Leste (E. Timor)17.2
30Nepal17.3
31Solomon Islands17.4
32Syria17.8
33Yemen17.8
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Timor-Leste (East Timor)'s Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #corruption #economics #education #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #modernity #peace #politics #poverty #social_development #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1S. Korea22.2
2Japan24.7
3Israel29.5
...
41Bhutan123.9
42Laos124.4
43Iraq124.6
44Timor-Leste (E. Timor)125.5
45Syria126.9
46Myanmar (Burma)137.3
47Cambodia140.0
48Yemen141.2
49Afghanistan147.7
Asia Avg78.26
q=49.
Modernity & Learning (2020)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
144Laos124.4
145Iraq124.6
146Malawi125.4
147Timor-Leste (E. Timor)125.5
148Vanuatu125.6
149Togo125.8
150Sao Tome & Principe126.0
151Syria126.9
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark40. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone40. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots41.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)42

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe40, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia40.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
43
Pos.2021
Years43
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
122Nicaragua12.6
123Qatar12.6
124Maldives12.6
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)12.6
126Cape Verde12.6
127Guyana12.5
128Uzbekistan12.5
129Bangladesh12.4
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
70China70
71Burundi71
72Tunisia72
73Timor-Leste (E. Timor)73
74Chile74
75Argentina75
76Costa Rica76
77Jamaica77
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
44
Pos.201644
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
194Myanmar (Burma)3%
195Sierra Leone2%
196Niger2%
197Guinea2%
198Somalia2%
199Burundi2%
200Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1%
201Eritrea1%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
45
Pos.2017
Ratio45
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
131=Tonga0.0
131=Myanmar (Burma)0.0
131=Morocco0.0
131=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.0
131=Honduras0.0
131=Syria0.0
131=Nicaragua0.0
131=Solomon Islands0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

National Culture:

On the Corruption Index, Timor-Leste scored on average 30.8 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 11.2 points.

Corruption
Higher is better
46
Pos.2022
Points46
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
74Bulgaria43.0
75=Benin43.0
75=Ghana43.0
77Timor-Leste (E. Timor)42.0
78=Vietnam42.0
78=Trinidad & Tobago42.0
78=Burkina Faso42.0
78=Solomon Islands42.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
130Bangladesh130
131Kazakhstan131
132Guinea132
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)133
134Mali134
135Chad135
136Saudi Arabia136
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
26Zimbabwe26
27Canada27
28Trinidad & Tobago28
29Timor-Leste (E. Timor)29
30Burkina Faso30
31Lebanon31
32Barbados32
33Mongolia33
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
47
Pos.2023
Score47
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
46Laos1.78
47Sierra Leone1.79
48Oman1.79
49Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.80
50Uruguay1.80
51Ghana1.80
52Senegal1.83
53Indonesia1.83
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
46Burkina Faso46
47Philippines47
48UK48
49Timor-Leste (E. Timor)49
50Ireland50
51Norway51
52Finland52
53France53
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
99Mexico99
100Senegal100
101Georgia101
102Timor-Leste (E. Timor)102
103Barbados103
104Armenia104
105Suriname105
106Namibia106
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better48
Pos.201948
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
132Madagascar21.10
133Senegal21.20
134Eritrea21.40
135Timor-Leste (E. Timor)21.70
136Namibia22.10
137=Kenya22.50
137=Bolivia22.50
139Laos22.60
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
49
Pos.2023
%49
1Slovakia24.1%50
2Slovenia24.3%50
3Belarus24.4%51
...
20Denmark28.3%50
21=Poland28.5%50
21=Bhutan28.5%52
23Timor-Leste (E. Timor)28.7%53
24Croatia28.9%50
25Kosovo29.0%54
26=Hungary29.2%50
26=Kazakhstan29.2%50
Asia Avg33.0%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for East Timor - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
55
Pos.2018
Severity55
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
66Bangladesh.198
67Pakistan.198
68Haiti.200
69Timor-Leste (E. Timor).210
70Ivory Coast.236
71Yemen.241
72Cameroon.243
73Malawi.243
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below56:

Christian99%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)57.

Links: