We gathered 8 fun facts about East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste.
While in Darwin, Australia, I wished I had known about Australia’s northern neighbor, East Timor and its stunning natural beauty.
East Timor may be unknown to many tourists, but it is easy to visit with visa-on-arrival available for most countries. East Timor is a great travel destination, particularly for scuba divers and snorkelers, due to its diverse coral reefs. You can find colorful fish, sharks, dolphins, and whale sharks around popular dive spots like Atauro Island and Jaco Island.
| Key Facts About East Timor | Details |
| Population(2025) | 1,418,517 |
| Official Language | Tetun and Portoguese |
| Currency | United States Dollar |
| Capital | Dili |
| Main Religion | Christianity |
| Location | Southeast Asia |
Here are 8 interesting facts about East Timor that will make you want to add this Southeast Asian country to your bucket list!
Schedule a call to discuss student travel programs to East Timor (Timor-Leste)
8 Fun Facts About East Timor (Timor-Leste)
1. Timor-Leste and Indonesia share Timor Island
Timor-Leste and Indonesia divide Timor Island right down in the middle:
- Timor-Leste takes up the eastern half.
- West Timor, a part of Indonesia, takes up the western half of the island.
The word ‘Timor’ means ‘east’ in Malay, which shows the island’s position with Timor-Leste in the east and Western Timor in the west.
2. East Timor is the only Portuguese-speaking country in Asia
East Timor is Asia’s only Portuguese-speaking country. East Timor adopted the Portuguese language during its time under Portuguese rule.
East Timor is linguistically diverse. The two official languages are Portuguese and Tetum. In addition, English and Indonesian are used in the context of work. People speak at least 15 other languages across the country, reflecting its rich cultural heritage.
3. East Timor has great spots for diving and whale watching
East Timor is a top destination for whale and dolphin watching as well as diving due to its location in the Coral Triangle.
Even without UNESCO World Heritage sites, Timor-Leste’s waters are among the most biodiverse, with about 1,200 reef fish species and 400 coral species. As East Timor is a hotspot for marine life, it’s the perfect destination for lovers of the underwater world.
One of the best places to observe whales and dolphins is along the north coast, near places like Atauro Island and the Alor Strait.
4. Timor-Leste is the first new country of the 21st century
Timor-Leste became the first new country of the 21st century after gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002.
That makes Timor-Leste one of the newest countries in the world. What are the other newest countries in the world?
- South Sudan – split from Sudan in 2011
- Kosovo – seceded from Serbia in 2008, not yet fully recognized by United Nations
- Montenegro – separated from Serbia in 2006
- East Timor – became sovereign in 2002
- Palau – graduated from U.N. Trust program in 1994
5. East Timor’s path to independence was long
East Timor’s path to independence was long, beginning with decades as a Portuguese colony from 1702 to 1975, followed by years of conflict and resistance against Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999.
The Indonesian military left in 1999 and Timor Leste was administered by the United Nations (UN) until 2002, when it finally became independent.
During that time, East Timor has had several names:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 16th century – 20th century | During the Portuguese occupation, East Timor was called ‘Portuguese Timor’. |
| 1975 | East Timor declared independence. |
| 1975 (but nine days later) | Indonesia declared East Timor as its 27th province, calling it ‘Timor Timur’. |
| 2002 | East Timor is finally independent and adopted the name ‘Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’ or simply ‘Timor-Leste’. |
6. East Timor has the second-highest percentage of Catholics in the world
East Timor, also known as Timor-Lest, is one of the most Catholic countries in the world after the Vatican. With almost all of Timor-Leste’s population practicing Catholicism it is one of two predominantly Christian countries in Southeast Asia – the other being the Philippines.
The Cristo Rei of Dili, a giant Christ statue gifted by Indonesia, stands as a significant landmark and tourist attraction.
7. Coffee production is a major industry in East Timor
The coffee industry in East Timor is huge with the biggest coffee buyer being Starbucks.
Timor-Leste is famous for its high-quality organic coffee, including the unique Timor hybrid variety, which boosts East Timor’s economy. East Timor’s coffee stands out because of its traditional growing and processing methods.
8. You can bring your US-Dollar banknotes to East Timor
The United States dollar (USD) is the main currency in East Timor, set by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in 2000. However, East Timor uses local East Timorese centavos for coins!