Timor-Leste Neighbouring Countries and Southeast Asian Borders

East Timor’s Neighbors

Indonesia: Land Border Details

East Timor cozies up next to Indonesia, sharing a border to the west. Here, the island of Timor does a split; East Timor grabs the eastern half while Indonesia claims the western bit. This border stretches about 228 kilometers long and has been pretty chill lately, even though there’s some historical beef in the background.

Smack in this region is the Oecusse enclave—East Timor’s quirky exclave totally surrounded by West Timor of Indonesia. This oddball setup hints at the tangled, shared history between East Timor and its neighbor, Indonesia.

Attribute	East Timor	Indonesia
Border Length	228 km	228 km
Border Area	Eastern Half of Timor Island	Western Half of Timor Island
Unique Feature	Oecusse Exclave	Surrounds Oecusse Enclave

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Australia: Maritime Boundaries

Sailing south, East Timor and Australia share a watery divide—the Timor Sea. This stretch of ocean isn’t just saltwater but a treasure trove of oil and gas. It’s a big deal for both nations, offering a blend of political and economical goodies.

In 2006, the two nations inked the Treaty on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea, which gave way in 2018 to the Timor Sea Treaty. These deals set the terms on who gets what from the sea’s bounty, encouraging a solid partnership between East Timor and Australia (CIA World Factbook) (World Atlas).

Boundary Aspect	Detail
Maritime boundary	Across the Timor Sea
Key Treaties	CMATS (2006), Timor Sea Treaty (2018)
Economic Significance	Oil and gas riches

East Timor’s map isn’t just crayons and outlines; it’s a blend of what it shares and divides with its neighbors. For even more on its political chess plays and treaties, wander through our other detailed articles.

Population and Economy

Here we take a peek at how folks and finances shape up in Timor-Leste, famously called East Timor. Getting to grips with these helps us see where it fits alongside its neighbors.

Population Distribution

Timor-Leste has got more than 1.34 million people hanging out, according to the 2022 count. Youngsters really tip the scales here, all thanks to a sky-high birth rate. With nearly 40% of the population under 15, it says a lot about the country’s plans and priorities moving forward.

Statistic	Count
Total Population	1.34 million
Folks under 15 years	~40%
City Dwellers	~30%
Country Folks	~70%

Most people are more at home in rural places, though the capital, Dili, packs quite a crowd, too, alongside major towns. This spread has fingers in every pie, from healthcare and schoolin’ to finding a job.

Economy Overview

Timor-Leste leans heavily on Mother Nature for its greenbacks, oil being the big cheese, along with outside help (Wikipedia). Yet, even with all this natural bling, money troubles stick around, keeping the country pinching pennies.

Business	Slice of GDP (%)	Jobs (%)
Oil and Gas	80%	<1%
Farming	17%	>50%
Tours and Services	3%	25%

Getting a move on in Timor-Leste’s private biz scene stumbles over bumps like so-so roads and zigzaggy rules. Agriculture reigns supreme here, keeping more than half the residents busy. Given the jaw-dropping scenery and rich culture, tourism’s got plenty of room for growth.

The economy’s heart beats in time with the oil tides of the Timor Sea, putting up 80% of the GDP stakes. But with those oil wells running low, it’s high time to spread those economic eggs out of one basket (Timor-Leste.tl).

For a bit more wanderlust and economic intel on other parts of the Southeast, how about popping over to our articles on Singapore neighboring countries and Thailand neighboring countries.

Border Disputes and Negotiations

The ongoing border disputes between Timor-Leste and its neighbor Indonesia have been a gnarly issue, with the situation in Naktuka being a particular headache. There are other spots too that still need sorting out.

Naktuka Dispute

The Naktuka squabble is about a little border village, nestled within Timor-Leste’s Oecusse enclave and could get tangled up in Indonesian territory. Political tensions bubbled over, especially after Timor-Leste and Indonesia patched things up. But now, there’s talk about possibly passing 270 hectares of precious forest and rice fields to Indonesia, which has folks up in arms about their sovereignty and rights.

Unresolved Border Segments

Back in 2005, Timor-Leste and Indonesia inked a deal about 95% of their shared border. Yet, areas like Naktuka still remain rough around the edges, with disputes tossing back to the early 1900s. A big step forward happened on July 22nd when the two countries had a solid chat and agreed on clearing up two specific land chunks, paving the way for friendlier discussions about maritime borders.

Dispute Area	Status	Area (Hectares)
Naktuka	Ongoing	270
Other Segments	Resolved	N/A

These thorny border disagreements show just how tricky and touchy Timor-Leste’s boundaries can be. If political and geographical tangles pique your interest, peep into other countries’ border tales like Slovenia’s neighbors and Solomon Islands’ neighbors.

Culture and Society

Timor-Leste’s culture and society carry a rich tapestry woven from their storied past and vibrant traditions. Delving into these elements offers a window into the heart of this spirited island nation.

The Role of Religion

In Timor-Leste, Catholicism reigns supreme, thanks to a significant role it played during the years of Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999. The Church wasn’t just a place of worship; it stood as a beacon of hope, resilience, and stubborn defiance against oppression. The faithful’s unity and perseverance mirrored the Church’s guidance, hatching a strong community spirit (Wikipedia).

Mixing in a little historical spice, Portuguese, Roman Catholic, and Malay influences blend into a delightful cultural cocktail alongside native Austronesian customs. These influences shape Timorese life from top to bottom, visible everywhere from grand festivals and everyday rituals to the schoolhouse and beyond (Wikipedia).

Religious Affiliation	Percentage
Catholic	Approximately 97%
Protestant and Evangelical	Approximately 2%
Muslim	Less than 1%

Sporting Spirit

Timor-Leste doesn’t just rest on its cultural laurels; it’s sprinting into the world of sports too. This spirited nation strides into international competitions with vigor, rallying under banners like the International Olympic Committee, International Association of Athletics Federations, and others. It’s a small country making big waves! (Wikipedia).

Timor-Leste’s athletes hit the Olympic tracks, snatch the occasional medallion in Arnis at the Southeast Asian Games, and stand tall, showing the world what Timorese talent can do.

Here are a few highlights from their sporting adventures:

• International Olympic Committee: Gracing both summer and winter Olympic events.
• International Association of Athletics Federations: Sprinting and leaping into the spotlight in track and field.
• Southeast Asian Games: Medaling in Arnis, among other sports.

If you’re curious for more sporty tales and how Timor-Leste stacks against nearby nations, check out our featured articles — you’ll find all the juicy details there!

Timor-Leste’s culture is nothing short of a colorful mosaic of spiritual, historical, and athletic flair, setting it charmingly apart from its neighbors like Singapore’s nearby pals across Southeast Asia.

Geographical Features

When you start looking at Timor-Leste’s geographical features, it’s like unraveling a map filled with high peaks, cozy coastal plains, and intriguing bits of history and politics.

Territorial Landscape

Sitting comfortably in Southeast Asia, Timor-Leste sits on the island of Timor, sharing its boundaries with Indonesia. Picture an area about 265 kilometers long and 97 kilometers wide, giving it a total area of 14,874 square kilometers. The country isn’t just a flat piece of land; it boasts mighty mountains and hills nestled in the middle, with the southern coast offering an inviting stretch of lowland plains.

Feature	Description
Total Land Area	14,874 sq km
Length	265 km
Width	97 km
Major Landscape	Mountainous interior, coastal plains

Now, imagine a coastal enclave named Oecussi sitting apart from the mainland because, well, Indonesian land snuggles in between. This little detail gives you a hint about the geographic and political maze of this region.

Population Centers

In Timor-Leste, folks mostly gather in the western section, packing in around bustling Dili, the capital. It’s the beating heart of the country’s economy and government hustle. Meanwhile, some smaller towns are scattered across the interior and along the shorelines.

Population Centers	Description
Dili	Capital, economic and administrative hive
Other Urban Areas	Scattered across interior and coastlines

Keeping tabs on where everyone hangs out in Timor-Leste tells you a lot about its social vibes and cultural beats. To sink deeper into the pulse of the region, check out the section on Population and Economy.

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Diplomatic Relations

Timor-Leste plays a crucial role in keeping the peace with its nearby countries. Two of the big players in this friendship game are Australia and Indonesia.

Australia Relations

The two nations, Timor-Leste and Australia, ironed out a major deal with the Treaty on Maritime Boundaries in March 2018. This treaty settled old arguments over where to draw lines in the Timor Sea and who gets what in terms of resources. Thanks to it, Timor-Leste gets a bigger bite of the revenue pie from the Greater Sunrise gas field, giving its economy a healthy boost.

Key Point	Details
Treaty Signed	March 2018
Resource Sharing	Bigger slice for Timor-Leste
Major Benefit	Amicable ties and economic perk

Curious about how they drew those lines? Dive into our piece on timor-leste neighboring countries.

Indonesia Relations

Since snagging independence in 2002, Timor-Leste and Indonesia have been on the mend. They inked a deal in 2005 that clarified about 95% of their shared border. A few spots, like the Naktuka area, still stir the pot due to old claims.

July 22nd marked a turning point when both countries agreed on two tricky sections of their land border (RSIS). This step forward shows their willingness to talk things through and paves the way for future sea-related chitchats.

Key Point	Details
Independence Marked	2002
Border Deal	2005
Knotty Dispute	Naktuka area
Turning Point	July 22nd land boundary agreement

For nitty-gritty details on border lines and spats, have a peek at our section on border disputes and negotiations.

Timor-Leste’s connections with nearby nations are key to its stable politics and economy. For more takes on neighbors elsewhere, browse our articles on Saudi Arabia neighboring countries and Solomon Islands neighboring countries.