Tag: East Timor

According to thereligionfaqs, East Timor is a predominantly Catholic nation, with over 98% of the population identifying as Catholic. Catholicism has had a long presence in East Timor, with missionaries first arriving during the 16th century. Other Christian denominations present in East Timor include Protestantism, Pentecostalism, and other smaller denominations. Other religions present in East Timor include Islam and Buddhism. The Muslim community in East Timor dates back to colonial times when traders from the Middle East settled there. Buddhism was first introduced to East Timor by Asian immigrants who arrived during the 20th century while Baha’i Faith is practiced by a small but growing minority in the country due to its emphasis on peace and tolerance among all people. Despite religious diversity in East Timor, it still maintains strong ties to its Catholic roots and is known for its respect for religious freedom and tolerance of all religions. The Constitution of East Timor guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination on religious grounds. In 2011, East Timor was a Southeast Asian nation located on the eastern half of the island of Timor in the Indian Ocean with a population of around 1.1 million people and an area of 14,609 square kilometers. The official language was Tetum but Portuguese and English were also widely spoken. In 2011, East Timor had an economy that was largely dependent on foreign aid and remittances from overseas workers. The country’s GDP per capita was estimated at around $1,300 USD and its unemployment rate at 20%. The economy was mainly powered by agriculture which accounted for around 40% of GDP followed by services (20%) and industry (18%). Despite these successes there were still major challenges facing East Timor in 2011 such as poverty; income inequality; inadequate infrastructure; environmental degradation due to pollution and deforestation; aging population; high birth rate; high mortality rate among children under five years old; low literacy rates particularly among rural populations; inadequate access to healthcare services; and high crime rates due to drugs, human trafficking, and organized crime. To address these issues government initiatives such as increased investment in public infrastructure, improved access to finance for small businesses, increased focus on sustainable development practices through conservation efforts, free trade agreements with other countries, and environmental protection laws had been implemented throughout the country. These efforts had led to positive changes such as improved living standards for many families while also preserving East Timor’s rich cultural heritage. Check physicscat for East Timor in 2013.