Timor-Leste is a country in Asia, in Southeast Asia, with about 1.42 million people (2025) and an area of 14,870 square kilometres. Its capital is Dili, and its only land neighbour is Indonesia.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of Timor-LesteTimor-Leste in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Timor-Leste's 5, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 5
Half an island at the edge of Southeast Asia
Timor-Leste occupies the eastern half of Timor Island, plus the Oecusse enclave on the northwestern coast surrounded by Indonesian territory. The country is mountainous, rising to 2,963 meters at Mount Ramelau, with a rugged interior that has historically made internal communication difficult. Facing Australia across the Timor Sea to the south and Indonesia to the west, Timor-Leste sits at the geographic boundary between Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
More on Oecusse
This coastal enclave on the north side of western Timor is separated from the rest of Timor-Leste by Indonesian territory. It was the site of the first Portuguese landing in the 16th century and retains special administrative status, though reaching it from the capital Dili requires either a sea crossing or transit through Indonesia.
4 more lenses on Timor-Leste in the app
STORY The youngest nation in Asia was born in violence
NOW Oil wealth is running out before the economy can stand on its own
THREAD Timor-Leste is trying to join ASEAN while keeping one eye on Australia
STORY A Catholic nation in a Muslim archipelago
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Common questions
What is the capital of Timor-Leste?
The capital of Timor-Leste is Dili. Also known as East Timor. Dili lies at about 8.6 degrees south and 125.6 degrees east. Timor-Leste is in Asia, in the region often called Southeast Asia. It is home to about 1.42 million people.
What is the population of Timor-Leste?
About 1.42 million people live in Timor-Leste, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 151st most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 14,870 square kilometres, that is about 95 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste shares land borders with 1 country: Indonesia. The map on this page outlines each of them around Timor-Leste. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake. Borders here follow Natural Earth at the 1:50 million scale, with Crimea shown as part of Ukraine and Western Sahara as a separate territory.
How big is Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste covers 14,870 square kilometres, or about 5,741 square miles. That makes it the 154th largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 1.42 million gives a density of 95 people per square kilometre.
Timor-Leste is a country in Asia, in Southeast Asia, with about 1.42 million people (2025) and an area of 14,870 square kilometres. Its capital is Dili, and its only land neighbour is Indonesia.
Capital
Dili
Continent
Asia
Region
Southeast Asia
Population
1,418,517 2025, World Bank. 151st of 195.
Area
14,870 km² (5,741 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 154th largest of 195.
Population density
95 people per km²
Land neighbours
1: Indonesia
Official name
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
Half an island at the edge of Southeast Asia
Timor-Leste occupies the eastern half of Timor Island, plus the Oecusse enclave on the northwestern coast surrounded by Indonesian territory. The country is mountainous, rising to 2,963 meters at Mount Ramelau, with a rugged interior that has historically made internal communication difficult. Facing Australia across the Timor Sea to the south and Indonesia to the west, Timor-Leste sits at the geographic boundary between Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/timor-leste/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Timor-Leste
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Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/timor-leste/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
