ASIA

Timor-Leste

Occupying the eastern half of an island it shares with Indonesia, Timor-Leste became the 21st century's first brand-new sovereign nation and still trades in US dollars.

WHAT THE FLAG MEANS ◢

A red field with a yellow triangle at the hoist reaching half the flag's length, overlaid by a shorter black triangle bearing a white five-pointed star. Section 15 of the 2002 constitution legislates the colours: yellow is the traces of colonialism, black the obscurantism that needs to be overcome, red the struggle for national liberation, and white peace. The same section gives the star itself as the light that guides.

Timor-Leste FACTS ◢

Capital	Dili
Continent	Asia
Population	1,418,517 (2025)
Area	14,919 km²
Population density	95/km²
Currency	United States dollar (USD)
Official languages	Portuguese, Tetum
Calling code	+670
Internet TLD	.tl
Time zone	UTC+09:00
Drives on the	Left
ISO codes	TL / TLS

DID YOU KNOW? ◢

It became fully independent in 2002, making it one of the world's youngest nations.
It shares the island of Timor with Indonesia, holding the eastern half.
Portuguese is one of its official languages, a legacy of centuries of colonial rule.
Its coral-rich waters are part of the Coral Triangle, among the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth.