Population and Demographics

The population of East Timor is just over one million. It has grown considerably recently, not only because of a high birth rate (26.77 births/1,000 population), but also because of the return of refugees. The population is especially concentrated in the area around Dili.

The Timorese consist of a number of distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are of mixed Malayo-Polynesian and Melanesian/Papuan descent. The largest Malayo-Polynesian ethnic groups are:

• the Tetun (or Tetum) (100,000), primarily in the north coast and around Dili
• the Mambae (80,000), in the central mountains
• the Tukudede (63,170), in the area around Maubara and Liquiçá
• the Galoli (50,000), between the tribes of Mambae and Makasae
• the Kemak (50,000) in north-central Timor island
• the Baikeno (20,000), in the area around Pante Macassar

The main tribes of predominantly Papuan origin include:

• the Bunak (50,000), in the central interior of Timor island
• the Fataluku (30,000), at the eastern tip of the island near Lospalos
• the Makasae, toward the eastern end of the island

In addition, like other former Portuguese colonies where interracial marriage was common, there is a smaller population of people of mixed Timorese and Portuguese origin, known in Portuguese as mestiços. East Timor has also small amount of Chinese and pure-blooded Portuguese minorities (most of them left the area after the Indonesian invasion).

Facts and Figures

• Population: 1,084,971
• Age structure:
  • 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 196,825/female 190,454)
  • 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 337,816/female 325,094)
  • 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 16,823/female 17,959)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 21.1 years
  • Male: 21.2 years
  • Female: 21.1 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.059%
• Birth rate: 26.77 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.033 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.039 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.937 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.034 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 44.46 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 38.14 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 66.6 years
  • Male: 64.28 years
  • Female: 69.04 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 3.45 children born/woman
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian)
  • Papuan
  • Small Chinese minority
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 98%
  • Muslim 1%
  • Protestant 1%
• Languages:
  • Tetum (official)
  • Portuguese (official)
  • Indonesian
  • English
  • Note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak spoken by significant numbers of people.
• Literacy: total population: 58.6%