Timor-Leste Population 2024 (Live)

1,404,298
Population Rank
Growth Rate
2024 World Percentage
Land Area
14,870
The current population of Timor-Leste is 1,404,298 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2024 population at 1,400,638.

Timor-Leste Growth Rate

Timor-Leste Population Clock

Timor-Leste Population (as of 9/13/2024)1,404,298
Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2024)1,400,638
Births per Day83
Deaths per Day28
Migrations per Day-7
Net Change per Day49
Population Change Since Jan. 112,593

Components of Population Change

One birth every 17.35 minutes
One death every 51.43 minutes
One emigrant every 205.72 minutes
Net gain of one person every 29.38 minutes

Timor-Leste Population Clock

Timor-Leste Population Density Map

City
2024 Population
Dili150,000
Maliana22,000
Suai21,539
Likisa19,000
Aileu17,356
Lospalos17,186
Maubara16,300
Baukau16,000
Venilale16,000
Ainaro12,000

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20241,400,6381.49%94156120
20231,384,2861.64%93156121
20201,326,0531.93%89157121
20191,300,9451.96%87157121
20181,275,9591.94%86158121
20171,251,7031.9%84159122
20151,205,1312.13%81159124
20101,084,6792.72%73160130
2005948,3114.94%64157134
2000745,088-3.01%50161146
1995868,1462.69%58156128
1990760,3451.76%51158130
1985696,6651.4%47159131
1980649,8711.67%44157127
1975598,1581.58%40156126
1970553,0691.75%37155126
1965507,0341.61%34155123
1960468,1181.38%31155120
1955437,1501.06%29155120

Timor-Leste Population by Year (Historical)

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20241,400,6381.49%94156120
20251,418,5171.36%95156119
20301,519,8041.39%102155115
20351,618,7981.27%109155112
20401,718,2491.2%116152110
20451,809,6331.04%122152109
20501,889,2490.86%127152108
20551,951,7930.65%131151105
20602,009,6370.59%135151105
20652,045,9140.36%138145104
20702,077,6490.31%140145105
20752,092,2090.14%141144105
20802,088,569-0.03%140144102
20852,067,099-0.21%139144103
20902,036,930-0.29%137144104
20952,005,310-0.31%135144103

Timor-Leste Population by Year (Projections)

Timor-Leste Population Pyramid 2024

Timor-Leste Median Age

19.6

Total

18.9

Male

20.2

Female

Timor-Leste Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in Timor-Leste.

Census Years

Year
Date
201525 July 2015
201025 July 2010
200411 July 2004
199031 October 1990

Timor-Leste Population Pyramid

Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor and officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It is made up of the eastern half of Timor island, nearby islands of Jaco and Atauro, and Oecusse, an exclave on the island within Indonesian West Timor. The population is mostly concentrated around Dili, the largest city and capital, with a population of 234,000.

Timor-Leste Demographics

The term Maubere was used by the Portuguese to refer to native East Timorese and usually used as a synonym for the uneducated and illiterate, although it is now used as a term of pride. Maubere have many different ethnic groups, many of which are of mixed Malayo-Polynesian and Melanesian/Papuan descent.

The largest Malayo-Polynesian group are the Tetum (100,000), who live around Dili, followed by the Mambai (80,000) in the mountains, the Tukudede (63,000) around Liquica and Maubara, the Galoli (50,000), the Kemak (50,000) in north-central Timor island, and the Baikeno (20,000).

The main groups of Papuan origin are the Bunak (50,000) in the central region of Timor island, the Fataluka (30,000) near Lospalos and the Makasae at the eastern end of the island.

There is also a large population of people of mixed East Timorese and Portuguese origin called mesticos, and a small Chinese minority.

Timor-Leste is one of just two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, along with the Philippines.

Timor-Leste History

It is believed that descendants from three separate migration waves continue to live in East Timor, including the Australoid indigenous people from Australia and New Guinea, who arrived 40,000 years ago.

In the 16th century, Timor-Leste was colonized by Portugal and known as Portuguese Timor. The Portuguese established outposts in the area. During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese and the struggle to defeat the Japanese by Allied forces and East Timorese volunteers led to the deaths of up to 70,000 East Timorese. Portugal effectively abandoned its colony in 1974, and Timor-Leste declared independence in 1975 but was invaded and occupied by Indonesia. The Indonesian occupation was marked by violence and brutality, which killed about 100,000 people. In 1999, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory.

Timor-Leste Today

Nearly 37% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 UDS per day, and 50% of the population is illiterate. The country still struggles with the aftereffects of its struggle for independence from Indonesia, which killed a minimum of 100,000 people.

Timor-Leste Population Rank 2024
Area (km²)
14,874
2024 Growth Rate
Capital
GDP (IMF '23)
$1.99
GDP (UN '22)
$3.20 Bn

Sources