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EAST TIMOR TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 7,400 sq miles; 18,899 sq km
Population: 1,100,000 (2008)Capital City: Dili
Capital City: Dili
People: The main ethnic group is the self-designated Tetum people, who number around 300,000. The most notable of the other ethnic groups are: the Mambai, the Makasai, the Kemak, the Galoli, the Tokodede, the Bunak, and the Fataluku, all with their own languages.
Languages: Official languages: Tetum and Portuguese. Also spoken: Bahasa Indonesian and English.
Religion: Predominantly (over 90%) Catholic plus small Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities.
Currency: US Dollar
Major Political Parties: CNRT - National Congress of East Timor Reconstruction; FRETILIN - Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor; PD - Democratic Party; PSD - Social Democratic Party; ASDT - Timorese Social Democratic Association.
President: Dr Jose Ramos-Horta
Prime Minister and Minister for Defence: Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao
Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and Co-operation: Dr Zacarias Albano Da Costa
Membership of International Groupings: UN; World Bank; International Monetary Fund; Asian Development Bank; Non Aligned Movement (NAM); INTERPOL; Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).

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