East Timor Economy Profile 2002

Economy - overview

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

18% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (2001)

Population below poverty line

42% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

NA

Unemployment rate

50% (including underemployment)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38

Budget

revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate

8.5%

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh

Electricity - imports

0 kWh

Agriculture - products

coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Exports

$8 million (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners

NA

Imports

$237 million (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

NA

Imports - partners

NA

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$2.2 billion

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency (code)

USD

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June