MigrantoTimorese Diaspora
109.6K Timorese live abroad — 8% of the population of East Timor
Timorese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 100% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 95603 |
| Australia | 11546 |
| Portugal | 2215 |
| Greece | 231 |
| Norway | 9 |
| Cape Verde | 7 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| Iceland | 0 |
By region
87% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Timorese diaspora in numbers
Most Timorese abroad live in Indonesia
87% of the diaspora lives in Indonesia, while the next country accounts for just 11%.
The community in Indonesia is growing fastest
The number of Timorese living in Indonesia has grown 80% since 2015, from 53K to 95.6K.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 98% to 87%.
The share of the diaspora living in Oceania has grown since 1990
0% of the diaspora lived in Oceania in 1990, compared with 10.5% today.
1 in 13 people born in East Timor lives abroad
109.6K people born in East Timor now live in other countries — 7.8% of a population of 1.4M.
Timorese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 27505 |
| 1995 | 35137 |
| 2000 | 188495 |
| 2005 | 43229 |
| 2010 | 45740 |
| 2015 | 64935 |
| 2020 | 96759 |
| 2024 | 109613 |
Largest communities over time
Timorese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Indonesia | Australia | Portugal | Greece | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26838 | 0 | 654 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 | 33706 | 0 | 1411 | 3 | 3 |
| 2000 | 184250 | 1991 | 2227 | 6 | 4 |
| 2005 | 30324 | 10733 | 2040 | 114 | 5 |
| 2010 | 33385 | 10587 | 1516 | 230 | 14 |
| 2015 | 52987 | 9992 | 1717 | 215 | 15 |
| 2020 | 84310 | 10247 | 1969 | 217 | 8 |
| 2024 | 95603 | 11546 | 2215 | 231 | 9 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Timorese in each country has changed since the selected year
Timorese among immigrants in other countries
Where Timorese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Timorese live outside East Timor?
Around 109.6K Timorese live abroad, the world's #151 largest diaspora.
Where do most Timorese abroad live?
Most Timorese live in Indonesia, Australia and Portugal — these three countries account for about 100% of all Timorese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Timorese population outside East Timor?
Indonesia is home to the largest Timorese community abroad — 95.6K people, about 87% of all Timorese living abroad.
What share of the population of East Timor lives abroad?
About 8% of the population of East Timor lives abroad — that's 109.6K out of a total population of 1.4M.
Is the Timorese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Timorese living abroad has grown from 64.9K to 109.6K, about 69%.
Where does the data on the Timorese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in East Timor who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in East Timor
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