Immigrants in East Timor
7.2K foreigners live in East Timor — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in East Timor by country
The 3 largest groups make up 77% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 4066 |
| China | 927 |
| Australia | 547 |
| Philippines | 366 |
| Pakistan | 298 |
| Portugal | 268 |
| Vietnam | 202 |
| Singapore | 78 |
| New Zealand | 69 |
| Bangladesh | 66 |
| Brazil | 63 |
| Malaysia | 62 |
| Thailand | 59 |
| USA | 56 |
| Cuba | 27 |
By region of origin
86% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in East Timor in numbers
Indonesians are the largest group by a wide margin
57% of all immigrants were born in Indonesia, while the next group accounts for just 13%.
Immigrant population in East Timor over time
Foreigners living in East Timor, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 7892 |
| 1995 | 8570 |
| 2000 | 9327 |
| 2005 | 9930 |
| 2010 | 10162 |
| 2015 | 7362 |
| 2020 | 7237 |
| 2024 | 7154 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in East Timor, by year
| Year | Indonesians | Chinese | Australians | Filipinos | Pakistanis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4485 | 928 | 425 | 591 | 190 |
| 1995 | 4893 | 1012 | 451 | 629 | 207 |
| 2000 | 5337 | 1104 | 482 | 673 | 226 |
| 2005 | 5666 | 1172 | 522 | 731 | 240 |
| 2010 | 5779 | 1196 | 543 | 762 | 245 |
| 2015 | 4177 | 953 | 562 | 377 | 306 |
| 2020 | 4113 | 938 | 553 | 370 | 301 |
| 2024 | 4066 | 927 | 547 | 366 | 298 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in East Timor?
Around 7.2K immigrants live in East Timor — the world's #202 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of East Timor are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of East Timor — that's 7.2K out of a total population of 1.4M.
Where do most immigrants in East Timor come from?
Most immigrants in East Timor come from Indonesia, China and Australia — these three countries account for about 77% of all immigrants.
How many Indonesians live in East Timor?
Around 4.1K Indonesians live in East Timor — about 57% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in East Timor growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in East Timor has changed from 7.4K to 7.2K, about 3%.
Where does the data on immigrants in East Timor come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in East Timor. Their children born in East Timor are not included.
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Living in East Timor
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