Timor-Leste

About this destination

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste or East Timor (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e; Portuguese: Timor-Leste) is a country in Southeast Asia or, depending on the definition, in Oceania. The country consists of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, a political exclave of Timor-Leste, on the western side of the island, enclosed by West Timor. West Timor belongs to Indonesia. Before the recognition of independence on 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was harshly occupied by Indonesia for 24 years. When Timor-Leste became a member of the United Nations in 2002, it chose its Portuguese name, Timor-Leste.